PAA explores cooperation in sustainable rice development

On August 3, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment Nguyen Hoang Hiep paid a courtesy visit to Mr. Shaun Seow, Chief Executive Officer of the Philanthropy Asia Alliance (PAA).

Seeking resources to expand the One Million Hectares project

Deputy Minister Nguyen Hoang Hiep said the MAE is directing and organizing the implementation of key projects to develop the rice sector and promote responsible agricultural production, with farmers placed at the center of the transformation process.

According to the Deputy Minister, the goal is to improve farmers' well-being, enhance production value, and increase their incomes. To achieve this, farming practices must be transformed towards greater efficiency, reducing input costs while generating higher value.

"The transformation starts with the use of high-quality rice varieties, improved sowing techniques, field leveling, along with the modernization of irrigation systems, applying AWD, water savings, emission reduction, and the adoption of mechanization," he told the PAA CEO.

The MAE is also directing localities to restructure rice varieties by increasing the share of high-quality, fragrant, and specialty varieties, while gradually reducing the share of low-quality varieties. At the same time, efforts are underway to enhance deep-processing capacity and post-harvest preservation to better meet the requirements of export markets.

According to Deputy Minister Nguyen Hoang Hiep, the current challenge is mobilizing sufficient resources for synchronized implementation. He emphasized that the engagement of international funds and development organizations will play an important role in the scaling-up phase.

For low-emission rice, Viet Nam is pursuing two approaches to increase value. The first is to develop markets for low-emission, responsibly produced rice. The Deputy Minister called on PAA and its member partners to support communication efforts and raise global consumer awareness of the value of Viet Nam’s low-emission rice. The second is to promote the trading of carbon credits.

After three years of implementing the One Million Hectares Project, Viet Nam has established MRV for the rice sector. More importantly, the country’s emission-reduction achievements by farmers are gradually being recognized by the international community, laying the foundation for carbon credits to become an additional source of income for producers.

Speaking with PAA representatives, Deputy Minister Nguyen Hoang Hiep said Viet Nam is expanding the concept of responsible production from rice to other agricultural products.

PAA seeks to accompany Viet Nam

CEO Shaun Seow said Viet Nam is among the leading countries in transforming rice production towards low-emission practices and expressed his interest in gaining deeper insights into Viet Nam’s practical experiences.

PAA is collaborating with the Food Innovation Hubs, a network under the World Economic Forum (WEF), which brings together more than 60 partners from businesses, financial institutions, governments, and farmer organizations.

As the regional coordinator for rice in Southeast Asia, PAA is connecting scientific initiatives, catalytic funding sources, and market demand to achieve the goal of bringing 5 million hectares of rice land in the region under improved management by 2030.

PAA representatives also expressed their desire to cooperate with MAE agencies to conduct research, share experiences, mobilize resources, and scale up sustainable rice production models across the region.

Rather than operating as a traditional funding organization, PAA focuses on connecting stakeholders, facilitating multi-party collaboration and collective action, recognizing that complex challenges in the region require joint solutions.

The Deputy Minister affirmed that Viet Nam always welcomes opportunities to exchange experiences with international partners, considering this a foundation for promoting cooperation between the MAE and PAA in the coming period.