Dr. Cao Đức Phát has devoted a total of 22 years to serving as Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development (now the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment) and as Chairman of the Board of the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI).
He has made lasting contributions to the transformation and restructuring of Vietnam’s agricultural sector during the renewal period, as well as to the development of global rice production amid the challenges of climate change and food security. Above all, he has always seen the farmer as the central figure in agricultural development and in efforts to mitigate the effects of climate change.
VIETRISA is honored to present his speech delivered at the Export Ceremony of the First Shipment of “Low-Carbon Green Vietnamese Rice” to Japan, held in Can Tho on June 5, 2025.
The Heart of Vietnamese Farmers in Every Grain of Rice Sent to the World
When these trucks roll away from here, they carry not just rice, but pride, dedication, and the dreams of a modern Vietnamese agriculture.
Farmers — The “Green Soldiers” Against Climate Change
From the very beginning, when IRRI and Vietnam began collaborating on low-emission farming techniques under the “One Million Hectares of High-Quality, Low-Emission Rice” program, we believed that Vietnamese agriculture must not only produce more — it must produce cleaner and more sustainably.
Most importantly, farmers must be placed at the heart of every policy and every technology.
Over the past years, during my field visits to provinces across the Mekong Delta, I have witnessed the remarkable transformation of our farmers — from initial hesitation about changing long-standing cultivation practices to genuine confidence and enthusiasm once they saw tangible results: lower costs, higher income, and a contribution to environmental protection.
Today, the answer is clear. Farmers are not only earning more; they are proud to play a part in protecting the global environment. They are not just food producers — they are “green soldiers” in the fight against climate change.
Exporting the Heart of Vietnamese Farmers
Vietnamese rice now comes in many high-quality varieties. But today, we are not merely exporting delicious rice — we are exporting a philosophy of life, a sense of responsibility to the Earth, and above all, the heart of the Vietnamese farmer.
When the Japanese people taste this rice, they will not only experience the rich flavor of the southern land of Vietnam, but also feel the care, love, and meticulous craftsmanship of Vietnamese farmers’ hands.
I hope that from this success, we will continue to expand green rice production — not only for the Japanese market but also for other demanding markets around the world.
Yet what I hope for most is that every Vietnamese farmer will take pride in their work and recognize its noble purpose — not only to feed humanity but also to nurture the planet.
Today, as the trucks roll out, they carry not just rice — they carry the pride, the dedication, and the dreams of a modern, green, and sustainable Vietnamese agriculture.