The challenges posed by the Middle East conflict are not only a shared difficulty but also a test of the resilience and adaptability of Vietnam’s agriculture and environment sector, according to Minister of Agriculture and Environment Tran Duc Thang.

In an open letter to the business community and industry
associations in the Vietnamese agriculture sector, Minister of Agriculture and
Environment Tran Duc Thang called for proactive responses to global volatility
to ensure this year’s growth targets are met.

In the letter, as quoted by the Vietnam News Agency on March
22, the minister expressed his view that the challenges posed by the Middle
East conflict are not only a shared difficulty but also a test of the
resilience and adaptability of Vietnam’s agriculture and environment sector.

Escalating tensions in the Middle East are negatively
affecting the global economy, including Vietnam, Mr. Thang said.

The most immediate consequences include risks of supply
chain disruptions, rising logistics costs, and increasing prices of input
materials, according to the minister.

These factors directly affect production costs, business
efficiency, and the competitiveness of Vietnam’s agricultural products in
international markets, he affirmed.

In this context, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment
(MAE) has identified key priorities, including stabilizing production, ensuring
the supply of inputs, reducing costs, and strengthening self-reliance. At the
same time, the sector must maintain export chains and make effective use of
natural resources such as land and minerals.

To respond proactively to these challenges, the minister
called on businesses and industry associations to adapt flexibly to market
fluctuations and share difficulties with producers, based on the principle of harmonized
interests and shared risks.

A key solution highlighted is the stabilization of input
prices. The minister urged suppliers of agricultural inputs such as fertilizers,
animal feed and plant protection products, along with logistics companies, to
maintain or reduce prices while maximizing capacity to ensure supply and
support production.

At the same time, maintaining stable purchasing of
agricultural products is considered crucial to protecting farmers. The minister
encouraged businesses to increase purchasing, storage and processing during
peak harvest periods to avoid the familiar scenario of “bumper crops but
falling prices”, thereby boosting farmers’ confidence in production.

Another key direction is strengthening value chain linkages
in agriculture. The minister called on businesses, cooperatives and farmers to
enhance co-operation across the entire chain, from production to consumption,
with a focus on sustainable contract farming models.

Amid ongoing challenges in international logistics, the
domestic market continues to be seen as an important pillar. The ministry
recommended that businesses boost domestic consumption, support the campaign
“Vietnamese people prioritize using Vietnamese goods”, and flexibly adjust
export plans to adapt to changing conditions.

Alongside consolidating the domestic market, the minister
also emphasized the need to diversify export markets.

Businesses are encouraged to expand their presence in
potential regions such as East Asia, South Asia, Europe, Africa and Latin
America to reduce dependence on traditional markets and offset disruptions
caused by conflicts.

Effectively utilizing free trade agreements, strengthening
trade promotion, participating in trade fairs, and developing cross-border
e-commerce are also identified as key measures to expand market access.

In addition, green transformation is seen as an inevitable
trend. The MAE encourages businesses to adopt circular economy and low-carbon
models, while meeting international standards to enhance the value and
competitiveness of Vietnamese agricultural products.

In particular, adapting to new international regulations
such as the EU Deforestation Regulation is highlighted as a way to strengthen
the global positioning of Vietnam’s agricultural brands.

In his letter, the minister also underlined the role of
industry associations in connecting businesses with regulators.

Associations are encouraged to proactively gather and promptly
report difficulties faced by businesses related to mechanisms, policies,
administrative procedures, credit, taxation, logistics and insurance.

On that basis, MAE pledged to listen, address issues, and
advise the Government on timely solutions, thereby creating more favorable
conditions for business development, the minister confirmed.

VNA-Pham Long