By Doan Thu Thuy, CISDOMA
The Agroecology Learning Alliance in Southeast Asia (ALiSEA) organized a webinar titled “Promoting Ecological Agriculture to Support Agricultural Product Markets in Vietnam” on October 4, 2024 under the Agroecology and Safe Food System Transitions in Southeast Asia (ASSET) project. This initiative is funded by the Agence Française de Développement (AFD) and the European Union (EU).
The webinar was hosted by the Consultative Institute for Socio-Economic Development of Rural and Mountainous Areas (CISDOMA), the Vietnam Association of Rural Development Sciences (PHANO), and the Vietnam National University of Agriculture (VNUA). It brought together 30 participants, including students, experts, NGO staff, and representatives from private companies.
Dr. Pham Van Hoi, Director of CARES and Policy Dialogue Manager for ALiSEA in Vietnam, welcomed participants and provided an overview of the ALiSEA network. He highlighted the critical role of agroecology in mitigating the impacts of climate change, particularly in the aftermath of Typhoon Yagi, which struck northern Vietnam earlier in October. Dr. Hoi stressed the need for strategic solutions to support agroecological development as a vital component of climate resilience.
Dr. Pham Văn Hoi, CARES Director, Policy dialoge Management – ALISEA in Viet Nam
Expert Presentations
1. Mr. Nguyen Dang Cuong (Director, Ltd. LUCAVI Company)
Mr. Cuong provided an enterprise-level perspective on the agroecological product market in Vietnam, emphasizing small farms, cooperatives, and individual farmers. His key points included:
- Current Policies: The importance of regulations on environmental protection in agricultural production and support for research and application of environmentally friendly technologies.
- Recommendations:
- Establishing specific policies to promote agroecology.
- Introducing dedicated credit support packages for agroecological development.
- Providing technical and financial support to help farmers transition to agroecological practices.
- Developing infrastructure for agroecological production and processing.
- Organizing capacity-building seminars and training programs for farmers.
Mr. Nguyen Dang Cuong presents on the supports of agricultural product market
2. Ms. Pham Thi Hanh Tho (Deputy, CASRAD)
Ms. Tho presented on agroecological development efforts in Moc Chau, Son La province, under the ASSET project. Her presentation covered:
- Impact Studies: Activities involving local authorities, trademark development agencies, and stakeholders in Moc Chau.
- Regional Approach: Leveraging Moc Chau’s assets to develop a governance mechanism for trademarks.
- Institutional Development: Creating favorable policies and legal frameworks to support agroecological branding and rural agricultural tourism.
- Branding Strategies: Focusing on intellectual property and the creation of community-based brands.
Ms. Pham Thi Hanh Tho presented on the supports of agricultural product market
Participants engaged in discussions about:
- The effectiveness of biological products developed by LUCAVI Company in collaboration with Japan, particularly for controlling sweet potato pests for export markets.
- The success of the “Moc Chau” eco-regional brand as a foundational step for provincial leaders to accelerate agroecological transitions beyond the ASSET project.
Mr. Dam Trong Tuan, Chief Representative of Rikolto Vietnam and Manager of the Good Food for Cities (GF4C) Program, concluded the webinar by highlighting the three stages of agroecological transition:
- Reducing Input Costs: Implementing technical solutions to minimize production expenses.
- Market Linkages: Enhancing connections between producers and consumers to maximize benefits.
- Regional Landscape Approach: Conducting further research to support sustainable agroecological transitions at the regional level.
The webinar underscored the importance of ecological agriculture in building climate resilience and developing sustainable markets for agroecological products in Vietnam.