A project funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) is supporting farmers and cooperatives in Son La with training, technical models, and branding to strengthen safe crop value chains in northern Vietnam.
The project, a partnership between the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), will run from 2022 to 2026 in seven northern provinces and cities, including Son La. With a total budget of nearly 78 billion VND, the initiative is funded by over 69.8 billion VND in non-refundable ODA from the Japanese government, with the remainder coming from Vietnamese central and local counterpart funds. Its goal is to improve production capacity and market access for farmers and cooperatives through technical training, support for safe production chain linkages, and product branding.
A JICA expert directly guides farmers in preparing substrates for vegetable seedling cultivation. Photo: Duc Binh.In Son La province, the JICA project has selected five target cooperatives for support: Nong Xanh, Bao Sam, Son La Agriculture, Son La Agricultural Products, and Xuan Tien Agriculture. These cooperatives specialize in key local fruit crops such as mangoes, bananas, custard apples, chili peppers, and safe vegetables.
Alongside technical assistance, the project has organized 15 training courses on topics ranging from cultivation techniques to customer-oriented marketing. Over seven practical demonstration models have been established to help farmers easily apply new methods. Additionally, 10 Training of Facilitators (TOF) courses on marketing and basic GAP (Good Agricultural Practices) have been conducted for 250 participants, including cooperative managers, members, and other stakeholders.
The project's reach extends beyond the target cooperatives, collaborating with district-level agricultural service centers to disseminate techniques more widely. In 2023, five training sessions on intensive fruit tree cultivation were held for 75 participants. Numerous classes on making organic compost using rice wine yeast or EMUNIV microbes have also been conducted, helping to improve soil quality, reduce production costs, and enhance farming sustainability.
The National Agricultural Extension Center, in collaboration with the Son La Provincial Department of Agriculture and Environment, held a seminar on September 9 to "Raise Awareness for Safe Vegetable Production”. Le Quoc Thanh, Director of the National Agricultural Extension Center, emphasized, "The project brings about a shift in economic awareness, which is not just about quality or efficiency. The value chain is built comprehensively, from the grower to the distributor, and importantly, consumers are now willing to pay for quality products." According to Thanh, the team of Japanese experts has not only provided techniques but has also imparted a culture of safe production and insights into Japanese consumer habits.