Supported by the US-ASEAN Connect Series, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA)’s Foreign Agriculture Service, in collaboration with the Vietnam Agriculture Newspaper, the event highlighted the UN's resolution designating 2026 as the International Year of the Woman Farmer.
In her speech, Vu Thi Phuong Lan, Chairwoman of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development’s Trade Union said that the forum provided a venue for participants to share experiences in building a sustainable future, which women can maximise their potential.
She called for closer cooperation between government agencies, international organisations and local communities, to promote the role of women in the development of the agriculture sector.
"We need more supportive policies to help women in rural areas access capital, technology and markets. It is necessary to raise awareness of gender equality so that every woman has the opportunity to participate and contribute to the common development," she stated.
For her part, US Mission to Vietnam's Deputy Chief of Mission Courtney Beale emphasised the important contributions made by women in advancing agriculture globally as well as in addressing the challenges facing female farmers.
The event welcomed two US farmers Jennifer Schmidt and Jaclyn Wilson, who shared their experiences in crop production and livestock farming. Their presence at the forum evidenced the significance of cross-border knowledge and experience sharing in empowering women in agriculture.
