JICA continues to support Vietnam in developing agriculture

Agriculture cooperation between Vietnam and Japan is a part of the two countries' overall relationship, which has flourished and grown over the last 50 years. The two nations have collaborated well in a variety of fields and upgraded ties to a new height of extensive strategic partnership for peace and prosperity in Asia in 2014.

The two sides established and implemented a Mid- and Long-Term Agriculture Cooperation Vision (stage 1 in 2015 - 2019 and stage 2 in 2020 - 2024). This serves as the foundation for the two parties to guide the development of strategic priority cooperation in agriculture and rural development throughout time.

By 2019, the Vietnam agriculture sector would have participated in 10 ODA projects funded by Japan in a variety of fields, considerably contributing to the industry's development and restructuring. During the period 2020-2024, the two sides agree to continue promoting cooperation to improve agricultural infrastructure, establish food value chains, attract private sector investment and implement cutting-edge technologies, strengthen support for comprehensive policies, scale-up local-level cooperation, and cooperate in mitigating disaster risks.

"We are extremely appreciative of JICA's companionship, support, and effective assistance in the process of establishing collaboration between the two nations over the years," Minister Le Minh Hoan stated.

Mr. Shimizu Akira - JICA's representative from Japan - highlighted during the reception that the unit is developing a food value chain project in the northern region, which is planned to begin in March 2022. The initiative addresses a variety of issues, including strengthening cooperative capacity and function, generating safe agricultural goods, and green agriculture. The Japanese side likewise dispatched a large number of specialists to work on and exchange their knowledge on these subjects.

Mr. Shimizu Akira also agreed with the idea of boosting private sector participation in agriculture, particularly agriculture that utilizes information technology; JICA would provide certain support for MARD in this area.

According to the JICA official, disaster prevention is one of the organization's primary areas of involvement in Vietnam. He anticipated the two sides would be more technically aligned and would improve communication between partner agencies, allowing projects to run more smoothly.

He stated that JICA will participate in two disaster prevention projects in the coming years, including one to build a master plan for flood and natural disaster prevention in the Central region and another to lower the danger of landslides and flash floods in the North.

Regarding agricultural human resource development in Dong Thap province, Mr. Shimizu Akira stated that JICA would collaborate with Dong Thap to construct programs that will send students to Japan to study and then return to Vietnam to work.

MARD Minister Le Minh Hoan also recommended several agricultural-related materials to the JICA office during the meeting.

The Minister anticipated that JICA would provide technical assistance to Vietnam in the following areas: capacity building for the Vietnamese fisheries surveillance force; establishment of a national steering and management center for natural disaster prevention and control; and support for new rural development initiatives such as human resources, community tourism, smart villages, agritourism, and development.

The Minister proposed that JICA construct the project in the Mekong Delta, a region severely hit by climate change and home to 50-60 percent of Vietnam's agriculture.

Additionally, Minister Le Minh Hoan requested assistance from JICA in developing content related to institutions, agricultural policies, and innovative rural models as part of the process of completing the Strategy for Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Development until 2030, with a vision to 2050.