Implementation of the Low-Emission Crop Production Project

According to the project, the crop production sector aims to contribute to reducing at least 15% of greenhouse gas emissions by 2035 compared to the 2020 baseline.

Unlocking markets for low-emission crop products

In his opening remarks, Deputy Minister Hoang Trung emphasized that the project is issued at the right time, meeting the requirements for sustainable development of the crop sector amid climate change and deeper integration into international markets. The main goal of the project is to ensure both productivity and value growth while reducing greenhouse gas emissions, moving toward green, circular agriculture.

The Deputy Minister noted that the project focuses on six major groups of tasks, including restructuring crops to suit ecological conditions and market demand; developing and applying emission-reduction technical packages along the value chain; completing a measurement, reporting, and verification (MRV) system to support greenhouse gas inventories; implementing good practice production models; and establishing carbon credit mechanisms in agriculture to attract investment and encourage participation from businesses and cooperatives.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Environment is developing a draft Action Plan, listing 31 specific task groups. These require local authorities to thoroughly assess current production, emissions, and ecological and social conditions to proactively design emission-reduction measures suited to local realities. Coordinated implementation from central to local levels will provide the foundation for the crop sector to achieve sustainable emission reductions and move toward carbon neutrality by mid-century.

Deputy Minister Hoang Trung affirmed the guiding principle for implementing the project: “Clear responsibility, clear tasks, clear timeline, clear outputs, and clear geographic scope.” Accordingly, the Plant Production and Protection Department, as the lead agency, will update reporting and guidance systems in alignment with the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC).

The department is responsible for working with local authorities to select appropriate crop transition models. The Steering Committee will provide continuous oversight, reviewing progress, summarizing results, and resolving implementation obstacles. Regarding resources, the Ministry will convene meetings with state agencies, international partners with approved or upcoming projects, and, importantly, mobilize socialized resources from businesses and associations to contribute sustainably.

In terms of policy mechanisms, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment has directed the Department of Climate Change to pilot a domestic carbon trading scheme before 2028, which will serve as the foundation for participating in international carbon trading. “We must be able to sell and unlock the market for the people,” the Deputy Minister emphasized.

Reaffirming the ambition of the Project, Deputy Minister Hoang Trung shared: The Project “Emission Reduction in Crop Production for the 2025-2035 Period, with a Vision to 2050” is not merely a program of the Ministry, but a national movement for action - a commitment of Vietnam’s agriculture to the world, demonstrating its responsibility toward climate change and its pursuit of a green and sustainable development path.

Many aspects of the project align with ADB’s programs

At the conference, Mr. Vu Ngoc Chau, Senior Project Officer for Agriculture and Natural Resources at the Asian Development Bank (ADB), noted that many components of the emission reduction project in crop production being developed by the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment align with ADB’s ongoing programs and projects in Vietnam, such as irrigation investment projects and the one-million-hectare high-quality rice initiative in the Mekong Delta.

According to Mr. Chau, ADB is particularly interested in carbon credits - a “new commodity” that can be generated through emission reductions in agricultural production. ADB stands ready to purchase carbon credits if Vietnam establishes a transparent, feasible, and sustainable trading mechanism. This direction is seen by ADB as a continuation of its investments in green infrastructure and agricultural transformation across Southeast Asia.

ADB is currently preparing to approve a technical assistance project on rice production for the region, with Vietnam identified as a key focal point thanks to its strong cultivation advantages and commitment to achieving net-zero emissions. The potential for cooperation between ADB and the emission reduction project in crop production is therefore substantial, Mr. Chau emphasized.

However, the ADB representative also emphasized that to attract international financial institutions, Vietnam needs to soon complete its legal framework for the carbon market. Once a clear regulatory foundation is in place, partners such as ADB will be able to engage more deeply - not only in crop production but also in forestry, which holds significant potential for carbon absorption.

In addition to market mechanisms, Mr. Chau also underscored the importance of technical infrastructure. While Vietnam has advanced rice cultivation techniques, the effective implementation of emission reduction models, especially in the Mekong Delta, requires a capable irrigation system that can proactively drain water and regulate flow.

Without timely water drainage, farmers will be unable to apply the alternate wetting and drying (AWD) cultivation method, a key practice for reducing methane emissions from rice paddies. Drawing from ADB’s collaboration with Vietnam’s agriculture sector, Mr. Chau suggested that the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment continue improving the approval process for financial mechanisms, thereby facilitating ADB’s more active participation in the project.

FAO accompanies Vietnam in its green transition

“The project on emission reduction in crop production is the outcome of a long process, during which Vietnam has gradually implemented various sustainable production models over the years. It also reflects the dual trend of digital and green transformation in Vietnam’s agriculture,” shared Mr. Nguyen Song Ha, Assistant FAO Representative in Vietnam, at the conference.

According to Mr. Ha, in the area of emission reduction, FAO has recently worked with Vietnamese agencies to improve farming practices for rice, mango, and coconut production models; build branding for key national agricultural products; and promote circular and garden-based economy models.

FAO is also supporting the implementation of the One Million Hectares of High-Quality, Low-Emission Rice Program in the Mekong Delta, while collaborating with scientific institutes to develop and refine projects on water resources and soil health - contributing to the overall goal of low emissions across the crop production sector.