Conference announcing the TRVC project in Vietnam’s Kien Giang province

Funded by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) from 2023 – 2027, SNV, in collaboration with the Department of Crop Production, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD), and the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD) is set to implement the Project 'Transforming the Rice Value Chain for Climate Resilient and Sustainable Development in the Mekong Delta (TRVC)' in Vietnam's three provinces of An Giang, Dong Thap, and Kien Giang,.

On October 10th, 2023, the People's Committee of Kien Giang province issued Decision 2508/QĐ – UBND, which approved the aid for the implementation of the TRVC Project with a total budget of AUD 1.425.220, equivalent to about 22 billion VND. On November 10th, 2023, at Rach Gia City, the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Kien Giang province, in coordination with the Netherlands Development Organisation SNV, successfully organised a Conference to officially announce the TRVC Project for enterprises in the Rice Value chain located in Kien Giang province.

Nearly 100 delegates participated in the event, including representatives from enterprises, cooperatives, and various departments such as Finance, Planning and Investment, Foreign Affairs, Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs, and The Women's Union of Kien Giang province. The delegates actively asked questions about the application process to participate in the TRVC project, the contest regulations, and expressed their enthusiasm for this significant opportunity to develop the rice industry in both Dong Thap province and the Mekong Delta region.

During the Q&A session, enterprises/cooperatives voiced concerns and opinions, particularly about the challenges in applying sustainable rice farming techniques like 1M5R and SRP. Furthermore, cooperatives expressed their desire to form linkages with enterprises through the TRVC Project's support, aiming to produce and do business together in a more profitable and sustainable direction.

'The TRVC Project is implemented in three provinces of An Giang, Kien Giang and Dong Thap to develop livelihoods, increase value for the rice industry, bringing economic and social benefits to about 200,000 farming households,' said Ms. Tran Thu Ha – Team Leader of the TRVC Project.

'Accordingly, the Project’s model uses a pull mechanism and through the participation of enterprises in the rice value chain, the Project creates an effective and pioneering catalyst to promote enterprises to organize production areas towards multi-value sustainability, bringing socio-economic and environmental benefits and co-benefits. At the same time, it creates a premise for carbon credit certification, ready for transactions when the voluntary carbon credit market is piloted in 2025 and operates from 2028. In addition to seasonal monetary prizes, the TRVC Project also has grand prizes for top five enterprise with the highest emission reduction index at the end of the competition.'

Mr. Le Huu Toan – Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Kien Giang province, concluded the conference with: 'Kien Giang Province is one of three provinces selected by SNV to implement the TRVC project. During the implementation process, the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Kien Giang commits to continue accompanying the SNV, continuing to join hands with Enterprises to sustainably develop the rice industry, actively contributing to green growth of Kien Giang province in particular, and of the entire Mekong Delta region in general.'

'Currently, global consumer trends have gradually shifted to consuming eco-friendly products. In particular, with rice products, consumers are also very interested in rice brands that are certified to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Therefore, the TRVC Project is a great opportunity for Enterprises, with agencies and units to promote production and build sustainable, low-carbon rice brands.'

'The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Kien Giang will advise the Provincial People's Committee to establish a Steering Committee and Project Management Board to direct and implement the Project. The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development requests that the People's Committees of districts/cities continue to pay attention to communication works, create favorable conditions for Enterprises, strengthen direction and accompany implementation to ensure the completion of these set goals.'