H.E. Dr. Vu Xuan Truong, Ambassador of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam to the Philippines, discussed how agriculture and rural development (ARD) in Vietnam has changed over the years during the SEARCA Agriculture and Development Seminar Series (ADSS) held November 22.

H.E. Dr. Vu Xuan Truong, Vietnam Ambassador to the Philippines

According to him, Vietnam had seen improvement in terms of agricultural productivity over the last 20 years. Despite being an agricultural country, Vietnam was a big rice importer back in the 1970s and 80. Institutionalization of policy reforms such as the doi moi catalyzed the development of the rice sector. The said policy pushed for a collective approach in the industrial and agricultural operations of Vietnam through state-private sector partnerships. Agricultural intensification and the gradual shift from planting rice to other crops and animal husbandry also helped increase productivity.

“At present, a portion of Vietnam’s population still remains poor; but we at least have food security,” he shared. However, there are still many problems confronted by the country in agriculture. The biggest of these is the large gap between the income of farmers and workers in the industry and service sectors. The lack of appropriate technologies for agricultural production and high opportunity cost of agriculture compared to other industries also pose difficulties. The lack of investments in irrigation, seeds, post-harvest efficiency, and processing of agricultural products further catalyze these challenges.

Having studied migration trends in Vietnam, he observed that most Vietnamese who finish advanced degrees migrate and work in urban areas instead of going back to their respective homes. This is because opportunities for higher income and career growth abound in the city. With this mentality, Vietnam’s countryside is lagging behind and unable to cope.

As such, he challenged the Vietnamese participants, some of whom are SEARCA scholars, to help bridge the gap between Vietnam’s countryside and city. He ended his lecture with a piece of advice: share your expertise with the rural poor (who mostly live in the countryside) to help build their capacity in adapting to developments in urban areas.

Aside from his lecture, Dr. Vu Xuan Truong also discussed his book titled “"Doing Business in Vietnam and the Philippines: Information and Experience." It is written specifically for Filipino and Vietnamese doing business in the two countries. The book aims to answer concrete and practical questions on the nature of economic activities in Vietnam and the Philippines.

Prior to the seminar, the Ambassador made a courtesy call to SEARCA officials led by Deputy Director for Administration Dr. Francisco F. Peñalba. He commended SEARCA’s efforts of continuously building Southeast Asian’s capacity through graduate scholarships and short-term trainings. Possible areas for collaboration between the Philippines and Vietnam were also discussed during the courtesy call.

A weekly scientific and policy forum, the ADSS is held at SEARCA every Tuesday at 4-5 p.m. The ADSS encourages the presentation and discussion of development and research issues, as well as their implications for agriculture and rural development. Through the ADSS, SEARCA proactively contributes to having a vibrant scientific exchange within, and even beyond, the Los Baños Science Community.