Vietnam's agricultural extension system has undergone a major transformation towards consolidation and efficiency. However, this has led to the abolition of the grassroots agricultural extension system in many localities, as well as creating a breakdown in the system, preventing agricultural extension activities from being deployed and maintained according to a unified plan. The number and quality of agricultural extension staff have tended to decrease while they still have to maintain functions serving state management, such as investigating production situations, pest and disease situations, and the application of technical advances in their area.

The results of the RATES project survey show that many agricultural extension activities of the Central Agricultural Extension Agency do not involve the participation of lower-level units, which creates difficulties in maintaining and spreading technology, as well as enhancing the capacity of local agricultural extension. After a project ends, local agricultural extension units often lack information to continue deploying and sustainably maintaining the models.