The MARD is a governmental agency performing the state management in the fields of agriculture, forestry, salt production, fishery, irrigation/water services and rural development nationwide. It is also tasked to undertake the state management over the delivery of public services of its branches and in the fields under its management scope.

On agriculture, the ministry is responsible for setting up and inspecting master plans of crop and livestock farming regions, safe production of agricultural products, plans of using, protecting and improving the fertility of agricultural land; and preventing land erosion, desertification and landslide.

In addition, it also sets up and governs the implementation of strategies, master plans and plans against plant and animal diseases nationwide.

On irrigation, the MARD performs state management over upgrading and consolidating dikes and irrigation works in mandated areas nationwide.

The ministry will be in charge of reservoir and dam safety as regulated.

It is tasked to guide, govern, and inspect the implementation of resettlement for those who have to move because of hydropower plants and irrigation works, especially in disadvantaged and border areas, and implement farming and residential resettlement in rural areas, ethnic minority-inhabited and mountainous areas in accordance to the national socio-economic development scheme.

Organizational structure

The MARD has 26 agencies including the Planning Department, the Finance Department, the Science, Technology and Environment Department, the International Cooperation Department, the Legislation Department, the Organization and Personnel Department, the Ministry Inspectorate, the Ministry Administrative Office, the Viet Nam Forest Administration Office, the Directorate of Fisheries, the Directorate of Water Resources, the Department of Crop Production, the Department of Plant Protection, the Department of Livestock Husbandry, the Department of Animal Health, the Department of Processing and Trade for Agro-forestry-Fisheries Products and Salt Production, the Department of Construction Management, the Department of Cooperatives and Rural Development, the National Agro-Forestry-Fisheries Quality Assurance Department, the Centre for Informatics and Statistics, the National Centre for Rural Water Supply and Environmental Sanitation, the National Centre for Agriculture and Fisheries Extension, the Viet Nam Agriculture Newspaper and the Viet Nam Journal of Agriculture and Rural Development.

By Thuy Dung