Directive of the Secretariat on leading the Farmers' Union Congresses at all levels, term 2023 - 2028

Closing ceremony of the 7th National Congress of the Vietnam Farmers' Union. Photo: hoinongdan.org.vn

The Directive clearly states: Over the past 5 years, the activities of the Vietnam Farmers' Union and the farmers' movement have achieved important results. Farmers' Unions at all levels have actively innovated the content and methods of operation, focusing on the grassroots, focusing on building a strong Farmers' Union and peasant class; strengthening propaganda, mobilizing and organizing well the activities of services, consulting, vocational training, supporting farmers to develop production, business, increase income, improve life; promoting the role of farmers, participating in socio-economic development, building new rural areas, ensuring national defense and security; participating in social supervision, criticism, building a clean and strong Party, government and political system, enhancing farmers' trust in the Party and State.

However, the work of the association and the farmers' movement still has limitations: Slow innovation in content and methods of operation; the capacity of association officials has not met the requirements and tasks; the effectiveness of supervision and social criticism is not high. The work of the association and the farmers' movement has not developed evenly, and has not strongly aroused the potential and creativity of farmers in developing production, building new rural areas, and building cultural life in residential areas. The awareness and responsibility of some Party committees, organizations, and authorities towards the work of the association and the farmers' movement, and building the peasant class are not really adequate and appropriate...

In 2023, the Congress of Farmers' Associations at all levels and the 8th National Congress of Delegates of the Vietnam Farmers' Association, term 2023 - 2028, will take place - an important political event of the peasant class and the Vietnam Farmers' Association; an opportunity to promote the work of building Farmers' Associations at all levels, building a strong peasant class; promoting the great role of farmers in participating in socio-economic development, ensuring national defense and security, especially in building and developing agriculture and rural areas.

In order for the Farmers' Union Congresses at all levels to achieve high results, the Secretariat requests Party committees and organizations at all levels to focus on leading and directing the implementation of the following tasks:

Raise awareness of Party committees, Party organizations and authorities at all levels about the position and role of the Vietnam Farmers' Union and the peasant class in the new period; identify farmers as the subject and center of the process of agricultural development, rural economy and new rural construction in the direction of "ecological agriculture, modern rural areas, civilized farmers"; link the construction of the peasant class with the process of agricultural development, industrialization and rural urbanization. Effectively implement Resolution No. 19-NQ/TW dated June 16, 2022 of the Party Central Committee on agriculture, farmers and rural areas; continue to build, perfect and well implement policies and laws on agriculture, farmers and rural areas, creating favorable conditions for farmers to proactively access markets, resources, start-up support programs, and application of science and technology in production and business; have specific policies to support poor farmers, disadvantaged areas, border areas and islands; improve material and spiritual life for farmers and rural residents.

Leaders of Nghe An Province Farmers' Association inspect rice growing model. Photo courtesy of Thanh Le

Continue to implement Conclusion No. 21-KL/TW, dated October 25, 2021 of the Party Central Committee on Party building and rectification and the political system, focusing on building, rectifying and consolidating the Farmers' Union at all levels, improving the quality of the union's staff, especially key leaders; strongly, comprehensively and synchronously innovate the content and methods and improve the quality and effectiveness of the union's activities. Step up propaganda, mobilization and gathering farmers into the union; build a comprehensively developed, civilized and socially responsible Vietnamese peasant class; arouse and promote patriotism, the spirit of solidarity, self-reliance, mutual love and affection, the will and aspiration to rise up, build a prosperous and happy homeland and country; pay attention to training to improve the qualifications, knowledge and production organization capacity of farmers; Encourage and support farmers to transform digitally, build production models according to linked chains, green, organic, and circular agricultural products..., change the mindset from agricultural production to agricultural economic development associated with market demand.

The Executive Committees of the Farmers' Associations at all levels prepare and organize the Congress well. The report submitted to the Congress needs to correctly assess the actual situation of the Association's activities in the past 5 years; affirm the results achieved; clearly state the limitations, weaknesses and causes, draw lessons; based on the actual situation, the Party's policies and guidelines and the functions and tasks of the Association to propose directions for the Association's work and the farmers' movement in the next term to ensure suitability, creativity, practicality, feasibility, overcoming limitations and weaknesses, contributing to improving the lives, meeting the legitimate needs and aspirations of members and farmers.

Personnel work must ensure compliance with principles and procedures according to regulations of the Party, the State and the Charter of the Vietnam Farmers' Union; select people with sufficient qualifications, capacity, prestige, and enthusiasm for the work of the union and the farmers' movement; build a union leadership body at all levels with sufficient quantity, ensuring quality, reasonable structure, inheritance and development. Pay attention to arranging young cadres, female cadres, cadres from ethnic minorities, people with knowledge of agriculture, farmers, and rural areas to the union leadership body. Implement well the policy for union cadres who do not have enough time to be re-elected.

The Central Propaganda Department coordinates with the Party Delegation of the Vietnam Farmers' Union to direct and guide the promotion of propaganda work on the Congress, the work of the union and the farmers' movement before, during and after the Congress; to fight against wrong, hostile, divisive and destructive views that undermine the great national unity bloc. To launch and organize emulation movements at all levels of the union with many typical and practical agricultural works and products to welcome the Congress; to promptly discover, commend and replicate advanced models in the work of the union and the farmers' movement.

Authorities at all levels, relevant departments and agencies coordinate and ensure necessary conditions for Farmers' Associations at all levels to organize the Congress solemnly, economically, effectively and on schedule. The Party Delegation of the Vietnam Farmers' Association coordinates with the Standing Committees of Provincial and Municipal Party Committees to lead and direct the Executive Committees of Farmers' Associations at all levels to develop plans to organize the Congress and the process of organizing the Congress.

The grassroots Farmers' Union Congress will be completed in the first quarter of 2023; the district Farmers' Union Congress will be completed in the second quarter of 2023; the provincial Farmers' Union Congress will be completed in the third quarter of 2023; and the 8th National Congress of the Vietnam Farmers' Union will be held at the end of the fourth quarter of 2023.

The Central Committee for Mass Mobilization shall preside over and coordinate with the Party Delegation of the Vietnam Farmers' Union and the Central Party Office to assist the Secretariat in monitoring the implementation of this Directive.

This directive is disseminated to the Party cell.