Over the next five years, enhanced training and capacity-building programs will be crucial to step-by-step developing a contingent of digital, professional farmers and modern cooperative managers.
On the morning of September 8, the Department of Cooperatives and Rural Development, in coordination with the German Raiffeisen Association (DGRV), held a workshop on “Sharing Experiences and Innovative Solutions for Training and Capacity Building in the Collective Economy Sector in Agriculture, 2026-2030.”
Speaking at the workshop, Nguyen Thi Hoang Yen, Deputy Director of the Department of Cooperatives and Rural Development, emphasized the need to reform human resource training and capacity building to keep pace with major changes in the collective economy sector, as Viet Nam’s agriculture is undergoing a strong shift toward ecological, circular and transparent production, alongside digital transformation.
The workshop on human resource training and capacity building for the collective economy sector in agriculture was held on the morning of September 8. Photo: Tung Dinh.According to Deputy Director Nguyen Thi Hoang Yen, there remains a gap between training content and practical requirements at the grassroots level. The challenge is to ensure that training programs genuinely reflect the needs of cooperatives, enabling participants not only to acquire theoretical knowledge but also to apply it immediately to management, production organization and business operations.
Standardizing the teaching workforce and improving training quality are also priorities, particularly as training resources need to be used more efficiently while greater participation from the socialized sector should be encouraged.
Nguyen Thi Hoang Yen, Deputy Director of the Department of Cooperatives and Rural Development, speaks at the workshop. Photo: Tung Dinh.Towards a digital and professional farming workforce
For 2026-2030, human resource training and capacity building for the collective economy sector will be aligned with new policies and development orientations.
According to Nguyen Thi Hoang Yen, a key goal is to gradually build a workforce of digital and professional farmers, along with modern cooperative management teams capable of adapting to the demands of a new agricultural sector.
However, implementation should avoid setting goals that are too far removed from reality. Instead, these orientations need to be translated into practical actions suited to the capacity of each locality and the specific conditions of individual cooperatives.
Dr. Nguyen Thi Tuyet Minh, Director of the DGRV Project Office in Viet Nam, speaks at the event. Photo: Tung Dinh.As part of this effort, the Department of Cooperatives and Rural Development is developing two key programs: the Agricultural Core Training Program and a capacity-building program on internal control in agricultural cooperatives.
The programs aim to strengthen the capacity of key cooperative personnel in production, management, operational control and modern, transparent governance.
At the workshop, Dr. Nguyen Thi Tuyet Minh shared experience and proposed solutions to strengthen internal control and internal auditing in cooperatives.
According to Minh, as cooperatives become more involved in production organization, value-chain linkages and business activities, effective governance and internal control are increasingly important. A sound internal control system helps cooperatives reduce risks, protect assets, ensure legal compliance, improve information quality and enhance operational efficiency.
In recent years, the DGRV Project in Viet Nam has assessed internal control and auditing practices at cooperatives and organized training for cooperative alliance officials and cooperative staff in several localities. It has also conducted pilot audits at selected cooperatives, providing hands-on experience in audit procedures and methods.
The project has supported SVCT in piloting a basic course for control board members and developing an internal control handbook for cooperatives. These activities are expected to equip cooperatives with the knowledge and skills to strengthen internal control, identify risks and improve governance.
Training based on practical needs
Nguyen Thi Hoang Yen said the workshop should focus on identifying the skills cooperatives lack or need to improve, so training programs can better reflect their actual needs.
Training methods should also become more practical and address specific challenges in production, business and management. The ultimate goal is to help participants apply what they learn directly to their work, rather than simply acquire theoretical knowledge.
Professionalism is becoming increasingly important for cooperatives and farmers. Photo: Tung Dinh.Training institutions also need to define their role in providing long-term support to cooperatives, while government agencies should develop appropriate policies to coordinate, connect and make effective use of resources from different stakeholders.
Nguyen Thi Hoang Yen expressed hope that discussions at the workshop would lead to practical and feasible solutions, laying the groundwork for effective human resource training and capacity building in the collective economy sector during 2026-2030.