Japanese cooperation shares vegetabale cultivation techniques to Vietnamese agricultural extension members

Members of the Vietnamese agricultural extension network (VAN) are taught techniques for cultivating vegetables by the Japanese government.

Earlier this year, the National Agricultural Extension Center (NAEC) entered into a triple Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Hai Phong Investment, Trade, and Construction One Member Company Limited and IHS Holdings Joint Stock Company (Japan).

According to the document, individuals employed as agriculture extension officers within the State agricultural extension system, aged between 20 and 35, and possessing a college degree or higher education in agriculture or related fields, will be selected to participate in a pilot cooperation program focused on high-tech agricultural training in Japan.

The objective of this collaboration is to enhance the friendly relationship between Vietnam and Japan while fostering cooperation in labor and knowledge exchange. This will be achieved by the implementation of a pilot program when agricultural extension officers from Vietnam will be sent to Japan to engage in work, study, and experiential exchange pertaining to advanced agricultural practices.

After Deputy Minister Tran Thanh Nam's visit to Japan in June, which involved a meeting with representatives of the Kawakamimura Cooperative Association, NAEC, and the two companies agreed on detailed plan and the selection of agricultural extension personnel to take part in a training program.

During the meeting with the leader of MARD, Mr. Yui Haruhiko, President of the Kawakamimura Cooperative Association introduced that, the cooperative located in the eastern region of Nagano Prefecture, is positioned within the watershed of the Chikuma River, where it homes to mountains reaching elevations of around 2,000 meters. The primary agricultural production in the region is vegetables, mainly highland crops such as lettuce and napa cabbage. The Kawakamimura Cooperative is renowned for its significant lettuce output, which is widely consumed across Japan.

Mr. Yui conveyed his desire to welcome the agricultural extension officers of MARD in order to collaborate on the development of initiatives pertaining to lettuce and other vegetable growing in Japan.

The organization is presently benefiting from substantial assistance by young individuals from Southeast Asian nations. At present, the Association has a total of 3,500 individuals, with over 1,000 individuals being trainees from other nations. Among these trainees, Vietnamese trainees constitute the second largest group, with over 200  members. 

"With the backing of Hai Phong Trading and Construction Investment Co., Ltd. and IHS Holdings Joint Stock Company, this project aims to augment the number of Vietnamese interns at the Cooperative", Mr. Yui expressed his anticipation that the Cooperative Association will serve as a representative of Japan in guiding young officials of the MARD on growing and caring for of lettuce plants. He further anticipates the activation of this initiative in the spring of 2024.

This program aims to provide MARD officials with comprehensive knowledge and cultivation techniques. The objective is for these officials to apply the acquired expertise upon their return to Vietnam, specifically in the Northern region, in order to develop lettuce-growing areas on a scale comparable to that of Japanese cooperatives.

Deputy Minister Tran Thanh Nam acknowledged the idea put out by the Japanese party and expressed MARD's support of the trilateral collaboration. According to the Deputy Minister, the successful collaboration between the two firms and representatives of the Cooperative Association requires concerted efforts to facilitate the participation of agricultural extension members in Japan for educational and professional purposes.

The Deputy Minister expressed optimism that Vietnamese agricultural cooperatives, through their study tour in Japan, would be able to enhance their technological capabilities, production efficiency, and operational and managerial expertise. This improvement is expected to be driven by the cooperatives' enthusiasm, dedication, hard work, and passion for agriculture.

"We anticipate that the personnel dispatched to Japan will receive comprehensive training in cultivation methods and techniques. Additionally, they will gain valuable insights into chain cooperative management, particularly in relation to agricultural commerce and logistics, as well as a deep understanding of Japanese culture in agricultural production", said the Deputy Minister.