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Under the agriculture competitiveness project (ACP), the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development organized the workshop on the enhancement of agricultural technology and the establishment of new productive partnerships between small-holder farmers and agribusinesses. The ACP aims to strengthen the competitiveness of smallholder farmers, promoting the sustainable development of the province’s agricultural production.
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The ACP is expected to boost the province’s sustainable agricultural development.
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A multi-benefit project
The ACP worth US$75 million has been implemented in 8 provinces of Thanh Hoa, Nghe An, Binh Dinh, Ninh Thuan, Binh Thuan, Gia Lai, Dak Lak, and Lam Dong from 2009 to 2013. It has been carried out in Binh Dinh with the total capital of more than US$8 million.
It is aimed at enhancing the competitiveness of smallholder farmers in collaboration with the agri-business sector. There are four components to the project.
The first component of the project is enhancement of agricultural technology. This component will support the identification and implementation of applied research and the dissemination of proven technologies that are cost-efficient, responsive to market demands and incentives, and enhance the environmental sustainability of increasingly competitive farming practices. There are three subcomponents: (i) conducting technology research and development (R&D) for a competitive agriculture; (ii) enhancing sustainable farming practices; and (iii) monitoring and controlling chemical residues.
The second component of the project is support to productive partnerships. This component will demonstrate the feasibility of fostering the competitiveness of small-holder farmers and agribusinesses by facilitating the establishment, development, and operation of private, demand-driven productive partnerships (through public support provided on the basis of competitive and transparent procedures), improving private service delivery supporting productive partnerships, and enhancing the provincial rural investment climate. There are three subcomponents: (i) establishing new productive partnerships; (ii) scaling up successful value chain initiatives; and (iii) implementing an information campaign, networking, and match-making.
The third component of the project is provision of critical infrastructure. This component will support critical public infrastructure needs supporting the competitiveness of the agricultural sector. These investments will contribute to increased agricultural productivity and the reduction of marketing costs. There are two subcomponents: (i) supporting locally-identified infrastructure priorities; and (ii) providing infrastructure support to productive partnerships.
The fourth component of the project is support for project management and institutional strengthening. This component will provide the required resources to allow for an effective management of the project and to strengthen institutional capacity in key areas, particularly at provincial, district and community level, to monitor and evaluate project activities and to sustain project interventions.
Boosting sustainable agricultural development
At the workshop, most participants agreed that the project plays a key role in helping farmers access to markets, provide them with technological advances, organize production teams or groups, and build critical production infrastructure.
After two years of implementing the project, the enhancement of agricultural technology saw many progresses. Some studies were carried out, particularly the Vietgap-certified sustainable cultivation model for rice growing.
As for the second component, there were 44 proposals for the establishment of new productive partnerships. Among them, 13 met the project’s requirements. The judging panel also selected two proposals, one for soybean and the other for cross-bred cows. They were approved to be financially supported in early November, 2010.
The province’s agricultural production still sees many shortcomings, according to Tran Thi Kim Oanh, vice director of provincial ACP management unit (PPMU). Via the subcomponents of the project, the local farmers will receive full support to improve their production capacity.
The PPMU will closely coordinate with the local authorities, farmers and agribusinesses to effectively implement the ACP, promoting the province’s agricultural development.
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