In an exclusive interview with the Vietnam News Agency in Hanoi, Mr. Vinod Ahuja, the FAO Representative in Vietnam, commended Vietnam’s advances in sustainable agriculture, particularly in low-emission rice cultivation. He highlighted the evolving partnership between the FAO and Vietnam’s Ministry of Agriculture and Environment under the Country Programming Framework (2022–2026), noting a shift from individual projects to systemic transformation in areas such as food systems, agroecology, nutrition, and reduction of food loss and waste. The FAO has mobilized nearly USD 40 million and supported key initiatives on One Health, climate adaptation, forest governance, and producer organization strengthening.
Mr. Ahuja praised the “One Million Hectares of High-Quality, Low-Emission Rice” scheme as a promising step toward climate-friendly agriculture but stressed the need to scale it up. He recommended priorities including strong incentives for farmers, value-chain rewards for low-emission rice, credible measurement systems, and blended finance. To enhance food security and Vietnam’s role in global supply chains, he urged greater investment in climate resilience and early action, stronger plant and animal health systems, improved sustainability standards and traceability, and the use of digital tools like artificial intelligence.
