HISTORY OF FORMATION AND DEVELOPMENT OF VIETNAM FARMERS' ASSOCIATION

1. The birth of the Red Farmers' Association - the predecessor of today's Vietnam Farmers' Association.
      In the 1920s, the movement to fight against land grabbing, heavy taxes, etc. by farmers was still spontaneous and initially guided by the Kuomintang, and later led by the predecessor organizations of the Communist Party of Vietnam. During the struggle, the peasant class was tempered and matured, and many organizations emerged, such as the Roofing Ward, the Hieu Hi Ward, the Tuong Te Ward... to protect the interests of the peasants.
      In early 1930, the Conference to establish the Communist Party of Vietnam was held in Kowloon (Hong Kong - China), raising fundamental issues for the peasant class: "The Party must unite the vast majority of peasants, must rely firmly on poor peasants to carry out agrarian revolution to overthrow the big landlords and feudalists"; At the same time, the Party emphasized that "Farmers are the great force of the revolution", so it is necessary to gather farmers into an organization under the leadership of the working class, to fight for independence and freedom and carry out the land revolution.
      The Party Central Committee Conference in October 1930 passed many important Resolutions, including the Resolution on the establishment of the Indochina General Farmers' Association and the Charter of the Indochina General Farmers' Association consisting of 8 articles clearly stating the purpose of "Unifying all Indochina General Farmers' Associations to fight and defend the daily interests of farmers and to carry out the land revolution". The Resolution marked an important turning point in the history of the Vietnamese peasant class, the maturity and growth in all aspects of the peasant movement under the leadership of the Party.
      Although, in fact, the Peasant Association had not yet held a founding Congress, the peasant movements were all under the guidance of the Red Peasant Association (the predecessor of the current Vietnam Peasant Association). Under the leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam and the direct guidance of the Farmers' Association, farmers across the country rose up to fight together with workers, gradually winning the revolutionary high tide of 1930 - 1931, culminating in the Nghe Tinh Soviet.
2. The Vietnam Farmers' Association and the revolutionary movement for national liberation 1930 - 1945.
      The 2nd Central Party Conference in March 1931 emphasized "the need to promote the organization of village Farmers' Associations, widely propagate the Party's policies, in the conditions of white terror of the enemy, farmers and all classes of people unite to fight, raise high the slogans: against taxes, land rent, unemployment, against white terror, against war". Implementing the 2nd Central Party Resolution, Farmers' Associations were consolidated and directly led the farmers' struggle movement. Under the leadership of the Farmers' Associations, the farmers' movement took place strongly in the years 1932 - 1935, 1936. In March 1937, the Party Central Committee met, proposed new political lines and organizational methods and names of the organizations. The Anti-Imperialist Farmers' Association, abbreviated as the Farmers' Association, replaced the Red Farmers' Association. The Party's correct and timely policies have helped Farmers' Associations throughout the country promote their role in gathering and leading farmers to join forces with workers and laborers to fight for people's rights and democracy.
      The forms of organization of Farmers' Associations are very diverse: planting associations, harvesting associations, happy associations, clan contribution associations, hunting guilds, rowing associations, national language learning groups... attracting a large number of farmers to fight for the rights of their class.
      In 1941 - 1942, under the leadership of Farmers' Associations, farmers fought against rice collection, against uprooting rice to plant jute, uprooting corn to plant castor oil... From 1943, with the slogan "Unite the people to expel the Japanese - French". The Farmers' Association brought farmers to participate in vibrant movements in forms such as anti-Japanese demonstrations, armed resistance against the Japanese... After the Japanese coup against the French (March 9, 1945), the movement "Breaking Japanese rice warehouses to solve hunger" attracted millions of farmers to rise up and fight directly against the enemy.
      The great success of the August Revolution is a testament to the spirit, ability and great revolutionary role of farmers in the revolutionary cause of the nation. At the same time, it is a victory of the Party's correct leadership over the peasant class, demonstrating the vital connection between the Party and the peasants, and the peasants and the Party.
3. Vietnamese farmers, the Vietnam Farmers' Association in the cause of building Socialism in the North, fighting to liberate the South, fighting against the American imperialists, and unifying the country (1945-1975).
      In the context of increasingly widespread and fierce war, the resistance mission required mobilizing all farmers to participate on all fronts. Our Party advocated the establishment of the Central Farmers' Mobilization Committee consisting of 6 comrades with comrade Ho Viet Thang as its Head, and the organization at the central level (at this time there was no Central Farmers' Association).
      To implement the above policy, the first National Farmers' Conference was convened from November 28 to December 7, 1949 in Phong Van village, Tan Tien commune, Yen Son district, Tuyen Quang province. The conference approved the project on the program and actions of the Association in 1950 and the following years.
      Regarding the organization, the Conference discussed and agreed to establish the Central Farmers' Association for National Salvation (later renamed the National Farmers' Liaison Committee). The task of the Farmers' Association for National Salvation is to lead the farmers' movement and organize the Association at all levels. For the first time in the history of the farmers' movement and the Vietnam Farmers' Association, the peasant class had an association at the central level, meeting the aspirations of the farmers and the requirements of the long-term resistance war against the French.
      To properly assess the results of the farmers' movement and the activities of the Farmers' Association, the National Farmers' Liaison Committee decided to convene the second National Farmers' Conference in March 1951. The conference focused on thoroughly grasping the Party's new tasks to lead and direct the farmers' movement and build the Association to meet immediate requirements. With the spirit of "All for the front, all for victory", farmers across the country enthusiastically participated in the "Patriotic Emulation Movement for Production and Achievements" launched by the Party and the Government.
      During the 9 years of resistance against the French colonialists, the peasant class and the Farmers' Association made great contributions to the victory of the campaigns. The historic victory of Dien Bien Phu and our victory at the 1954 Geneva Conference on Indochina opened a new era in the history of the Vietnamese revolution. Peace was restored in Indochina, the North was completely liberated, entering a transitional period, advancing to socialism.
      In the North:
      During the transition to socialism, the peasant class, together with the peasant class and other classes of people, had the task of simultaneously carrying out two strategic revolutionary tasks set forth by the Party: carrying out the socialist revolution in the North, while continuing to fight to complete the cause of national democratic revolution in the South, moving towards national reunification.
      In the South:
      Implementing the Party and Government's policy of shifting the direction of struggle, under the leadership of Party organizations in rural areas in the South, the Farmers' Association actively organized and mobilized farmers to prepare for a long-term struggle, while urgently seizing time before handing over areas to the enemy to implement land allocation, consolidate production, and stabilize life.
      On December 20, 1960, the National Congress of Delegates of the South met at Tan Bien base, Tay Ninh, declaring the establishment of the National Liberation Front of South Vietnam.
      Anti-American period: Southern farmers participated in political struggles, preserved and developed revolutionary forces. From mid-1955 onwards, the Southern farmers' struggle movement flared up strongly. Millions of farmers stood side by side with the working class and working people to continuously organize demonstrations and rallies to apply political pressure on the enemy. Many revolutionary movements were organized in localities from the Central region to Ca Mau.
      On April 21, 1961, the Liberation Farmers Association of South Vietnam was officially established and became a member of the National Liberation Front. The birth of the Liberation Farmers Association was a historical milestone marking the development of the farmers' organization in the South. Thousands of National Salvation Farmers' Associations in regions, provinces, districts and communes were restored in the uprising. In January 1969, the Liberation Farmers' Association of South Vietnam held a Congress to summarize the farmers' struggle movement in 8 years, and at the same time thoroughly grasp the new requirements and tasks of farmers in the struggle against the enemy's "rapid pacification" plan. The Association gathered, mobilized and propagated farmers to properly implement the Party's line of resistance against the US and national salvation.
      Farmers continuously rose up to destroy and destroy many concentrated areas, break the stranglehold, and gain control over many important areas. The liberated area expanded to the edge of Saigon. In the plains, the peasant uprising opened many more liberated areas and depressions, connecting the liberated areas into a chain of communes and districts.
      The victory of the peasant uprising movement and the Spring-Summer 1972 strategic offensive fundamentally changed the situation of the war and led to the "General Offensive" in the Spring of 1975, achieving complete victory, and the country reunified the North and South.
4. The Vietnam Farmers' Association in the period of national construction and defense
      Promoting the role of the Farmers' Association in the revolutionary cause and moving towards the National Farmers' Congress. On September 27, 1979, the Party Central Committee Secretariat issued Directive No. 78/CT - TW on the organization of the Vietnam Collective Farmers' Union (unifying the common name of the Union nationwide). The Directive affirmed that the Vietnam Collective Farmers' Union is a broad mass organization of working farmers throughout the country. The Union has the task of gathering and uniting farmers to educate and mobilize farmers to implement the policies of the Party and State.
      However, due to many different reasons, our country's agriculture has not had positive changes. The model of agricultural cooperatives has not been improved to suit the period of peaceful construction. Its limitations have led to signs of decline in production, and signs of crisis and irrationality are increasingly evident.
      In September 1981, the Secretariat issued Directive No. 116/CT-TW on strengthening the leadership of Party committees at all levels over the organization and operation of the Vietnam Collective Farmers' Union. At the same time, it decided to promulgate the Charter of the Vietnam Collective Farmers' Union and prepare to open the First National Congress of the Vietnam Collective Farmers' Union.
      On March 1, 1988, the Central Party Secretariat issued Decision No. 42-QD/TW to change the name of the Vietnam Collective Farmers' Union to the Vietnam Farmers' Association. At the meeting on January 17, 1991, the Central Party Politburo agreed to take October 14, 1930 as the founding date of the Vietnam Farmers' Union.
      Since its establishment (October 14, 1930) to date, the Vietnam Farmers' Association has gone through 6 congresses. Each congress is an important historical milestone affirming the position and great role of the Vietnamese peasant class in the cause of building and defending the Fatherland.

      * The First National Congress (term 1988-1993) took place from March 27 to 31, 1988 in Hanoi. 613 delegates attended the congress. The congress affirmed: The Vietnam Farmers' Union is a large socio-political organization of the peasant class, closely united with other member organizations in the Vietnam Fatherland Front, determined to follow the revolutionary path set forth by President Ho Chi Minh and the Communist Party of Vietnam. The congress elected an Executive Committee of 95 comrades and elected 17 members of the Standing Committee. Comrade Pham Bai, member of the Party Central Committee, was elected to hold the position of President of the Vietnam Farmers' Union. At the congress, President of the State Council Truong Chinh, on behalf of the Party and State, awarded the Gold Star Order to the Vietnamese peasant class.
      * The 2nd National Congress (term 1993-1998), took place from November 15 to 19, 1993 in Hanoi. The congress was attended by 600 delegates. With the theme: "Innovation of organization, content and methods of operation", the congress demonstrated the wisdom, belief, will and aspirations of the peasant class determined to innovate and build a strong Vietnam Farmers' Union in all aspects. The congress elected 77 comrades to the Executive Committee and 15 members of the Standing Committee. Comrade Nguyen Van Chinh, member of the Party Central Committee, was elected to hold the position of President of the Vietnam Farmers' Union.
      * The 3rd National Congress (term 1998-2003), took place from November 17 to 20, 1998 in Hanoi. The congress was attended by 700 delegates. The Congress has the task of continuing to innovate and strongly promote the core role of the association, organizing and mobilizing the peasant class to promote internal strength, thrift and build the country, carry out the task of industrialization and modernization of agriculture and rural areas. The Congress elected 114 members of the Executive Committee and 19 members of the Standing Committee. Comrade Nguyen Duc Trieu, member of the Party Central Committee, was elected to hold the position of President of the Vietnam Farmers' Union.
      * The 4th National Congress (term 2003-2008), took place from November 22 to 25, 2003 in Hanoi. This was the "Solidarity-Innovation-Democracy-Development" Congress. 860 delegates attended the Congress. The Congress elected 120 members of the Executive Committee and 21 members of the Standing Committee. Comrade Vu Ngoc Ky, member of the Party Central Committee, was elected to hold the position of President of the Vietnam Farmers' Union.
      * The 5th National Congress (term 2008-2013) took place from December 22 to 25, 2008 in Hanoi. 1,175 delegates attended the Congress. With the theme "Solidarity - Innovation - Integration - Development", the Congress expressed the will and aspiration to build a peasant class that is politically strong, organizationally strong, and unified in action, and is the center and core of the peasant movement, contributing to the construction of new rural areas during the period when the country is promoting industrialization, modernization, and integration into the world economy. The Congress elected 124 members of the Executive Committee and 21 members of the Standing Committee. Comrade Nguyen Quoc Cuong, member of the Party Central Committee, was elected to hold the position of President of the Vietnam Farmers' Union.
      * The 6th National Congress of Delegates (term 2013-2018), took place from July 1 to 3, 2013 in Hanoi. With the theme "Solidarity - Innovation - Proactivity - Integration - Sustainable Development", the congress assessed the results of implementing the Resolution of the 5th National Congress of Delegates of the Vietnam Farmers' Union, set out the directions, goals, tasks and solutions of the Union and the patriotic emulation movement of farmers for the term 2013-2018; approved the Charter of the Vietnam Farmers' Union (amended). The congress determined: Enhance the role and responsibility of the Vietnam Farmers' Union in agricultural development; build new rural areas and build the Vietnamese peasant class for the period 2010-2020. The congress elected 122 members of the Executive Committee and 21 members of the Standing Committee. Comrade Nguyen Quoc Cuong, member of the Party Central Committee, was re-elected as Chairman of the Vietnam Farmers' Union.
      * The 7th National Congress (term 2018-2023) took place from December 11 to 13, 2018 at the My Dinh National Convention Center, Hanoi. With the theme "Democracy - Solidarity - Innovation - Integration - Development" with the participation of 999 official delegates representing more than 10 million members and farmers nationwide. The Congress discussed and unanimously approved important documents such as the Report of the Executive Committee of the Vietnam Farmers' Union, term VI; Charter of the Vietnam Farmers' Union (supplemented and amended); Review report of the Executive Committee of the Vietnam Farmers' Union, term VI, 2013 - 2018, and approval of the Congress Resolution, with 14 targets, five tasks and solutions for the term 2018 - 2023. The Congress elected the Executive Committee of the Vietnam Farmers' Union, term VII, consisting of 119 comrades; elected the Standing Committee of the Vietnam Farmers' Union, term VII, consisting of 21 comrades. Comrade Thao Xuan Sung was re-elected as Chairman of the Vietnam Farmers' Union, term VII.
      90 years of accompanying the country, with the glorious revolutionary tradition, ardent patriotism and absolute loyalty to the Party; with the intelligence and creativity, bravery in combat, diligence in production labor of the peasant class, the Vietnam Farmers' Union has been tempered and constantly grown; At any stage or historical moment, the Vietnam Farmers' Union is a representative organization and a political nucleus that plays the role of a core center gathering the peasant class, organizing peasant movements to achieve glorious victories in the revolutionary cause of the Party and the nation, and enhancing the representative role of the peasant class in participating in building a clean and strong Party and government.