The “Sustainable rural livelihood–linking rural producers to markets” project funded by the New Zealand’s International Aid and Development Agency (NZAID) has helped farmers in Binh Dinh improve their income.
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The “safe vegetable” component is expected to improve the rural producers’ income in Tay Son district. Photo T.S
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A practical project
The sustainable rural livelihood project is expected to be implemented within four years, from 2009-2013, with the total capital of more than US$2.138 million, of which NZAID funds US$1.737 million and the province contributes the rest.
The project comprised of four components has been implemented in seven districts across the province.
The component 1 focuses on building a safe vegetable model granted license in Tay Son district and Quy Nhon city. The model will offer clean vegetables to people, benefiting poor rural producers, ensuring both producers and consumers’ health, and protecting the environment.
The component 2 is aimed at promoting the market-oriented opportunities to help palm tree growers in districts of Phu My and Hoai Nhon improve their income.
The component 3 aims to perform the profit-increasing capacity of large- and small-scale livestock farming systems, effectively linking rural producers to markets in districts of An Nhon, Hoai An, and Phu Cat.
The component 4 sees services for project management and monitor, effectiveness evaluation, and the support for the combination of activities.
Binh Dinh has great potential for domestic animal farming, including the cross-bred cow breeding. However, the farming is still facing many difficulties due to the unstable output.
The project is, thus, expected to assist the local producers in the sustainable livelihood-related issues, helping them link to the markets.
Initial results
A workshop was held last year, providing participants with an overview of the project as well as its strategies. Also, some workshops are scheduled to be held in participating localities this year.
“The project will help improve the source of livelihood for many poor rural producers and promote the agri-business, bringing the socio-economic benefits and sustainable environment to poor farmers,” sai director of Binh Dinh Department of Rural and Agriculture Development and head of the provincial project management unit, Phan Trong Ho. “A detailed plan was built, aiming to cooperate with the local authorities to quickly implement its components.”
The NZAID manager Margaret Lowe held a meeting with the province’s project management unit on August 13. She highly appreciated its effort in implementing the project, believing that the project will meet expectations thanks to the province’s all-out effort and determination.
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