As part of its green growth initiative in the Mekong Delta, the Vietnam Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) launched a project of 1 million hectares specializing in high-quality and low-emission rice cultivation. The Government, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, and the Mekong Delta provinces have committed to implementing this project with the assistance of international organizations.
Speaking at the launching ceremony, Minister Le Minh Hoan said that the project connects green growth in the Mekong Delta, with the goal of forming 1 million hectares of high-quality and low-emission rice growing areas, organizing Reorganize the production system along the value chain.
During the implementation of the Project, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and partners will pilot new policies such as: payment of carbon credits based on results; focus on low emission production associated with green growth; develop a circular agricultural economy, making the most of by-products from rice production; Multi-value exploitation, creating many products processed from rice,…
Successful pilots in the Mekong Delta will be expanded nationwide, aiming to make “Green development, reduced emissions, high quality” become the brand of Vietnamese rice. Changing perceptions of rice producers and traders; effective public-private cooperation; and support from international organizations such as WB, IFC, ADB, IRRI… will be the key to the success of the Project.
“The project of 1 million hectares specializing in high-quality and low-emission rice cultivation associated with green growth in the Mekong Delta is each step on the ladder to bring rice growers to prosperity,” the Minister emphasized.
Carolyn Turk – Country Director of the World Bank (WB) in Vietnam – said that she has accompanied the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to develop a project to develop 1 million hectares of rice cultivation with high quality and low emissions associated with growth. green in the Mekong Delta. She also expressed her belief that this project will effectively support farmers and Vietnamese agriculture, contribute directly to the economic sector as well as improve people’s lives.
“The World Bank is committed to accompanying and supporting this Project through mechanisms so that Vietnam can participate in the voluntary carbon market. In the future, we can use a sustainable financial source to continue development and livelihood activities,” said Ms. Carolyn Turk.
Dr. Cao Duc Phat, Chairman of the Board of Members of the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), former Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development shared: “IRRI warmly welcomes the Vietnamese government for launching the 1 million hectare project. High quality rice, low emissions associated with green growth in the Mekong Delta until 2030. This is the first large-scale project in the world in this direction. The project is extremely necessary, allowing to simultaneously solve three major problems facing the world rice industry and Vietnam in particular. That is to increase rice production, increase income for rice farmers, and adapt and mitigate climate change.”
