Manya Rathore
Research expert covering India
Agriculture in Vietnam - statistics & facts
Since the Doi Moi economic reform in the 1980s, Vietnam has transformed from being a nation heavily affected by food shortage to one of the world鈥檚 leading producers and exporters of many agricultural products, such as coffee, peanuts, and rice. Although the agricultural sector鈥檚 contribution to Vietnam鈥檚 GDP fluctuated over the past five years as the nation shifted towards a service and manufacturing economy, its GDP value remained stable. In addition, the agriculture sector has been the largest employer across economic sectors in Vietnam, employing over 13.9 million Vietnamese in 2022.
Major agricultural products of Vietnam
After Vietnam鈥檚 trade liberalization and agricultural reforms, both the volume of production and the value of exports of the agriculture sector increased significantly. Since the 1990s, several major intensive monoculture systems emerged across the country, such as the rice monoculture in the Mekong Delta and the intensive production of coffee and pepper in the Central Highlands. Many of the agricultural products in the country primarily addressed domestic consumption. For instance, Vietnam鈥檚 rice consumption is one of the highest worldwide, and the country has become one of the largest paddy rice producers in the world. Meanwhile, several other agricultural products have become major export commodities, such as coffee, pepper, cashew nuts, and rubber. In recent years, Vietnam has constantly been the second-largest coffee exporter globally, after Brazil. In addition to agricultural products, fishery and aquaculture products have also made significant contributions to Vietnam's economy.Sustainable development in Vietnam's agriculture sector
Despite being an agriculture-focused country, Vietnam has encountered sustainability challenges in recent years. The agricultural sector has been dealing with various issues, notably the impacts of climate change. Rice production in the Mekong Delta, the most important growing region in the country, has been negatively influenced by the effects of climate change. Due to drought and related saltwater intrusion, the volume of rice produced in the Mekong Delta has been fluctuating. Furthermore, income inequality is significant in Vietnam, with a noticeable income gap between the agricultural and non-farm sectors. By 2030, the Government of Vietnam aims to enhance the sector鈥檚 sustainability by improving the quality of life in rural areas, implementing integrated digital technology transformations, and monitoring carbon footprint levels.
