Danida Grants about US$43Mln

On December 11, 2007, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) and the Danish Ambassador signed the new Danida supported Agricultural and Rural Development Sector Programme Support 2007 – 2012 (ARD SPS) agreement.

In accordance with the priorities in Vietnam’s Socio-Economic Development Plan and MARD’s strategies, the program aims to reduce poverty and improve the living conditions of the rural population, especially for the upland poor and vulnerable groups, ethnic minorities and women headed households.

 

The program operates in and through the existing government structures to strengthen decentralisation and democratization. Five underprivileged mountainous provinces are part of the program: Lai Chau, Lao Cai, Dien Bien, Dak Lak and Dak Nong.

 

The capacity of local government and service providers, including Agricultural Extension Centres, is strengthened to meet the demands and needs of the rural population. Through participatory village development plans, Farmer Interest Groups and Farmer Field Schools for the upland population will complement the services from the local government.

 

Sustainable agriculture, market access for ethnic minorities, handicraft development for women, product processing, environmental awareness and stronger grass-roots democracy are a few of the topics that are in focus.

 

Innovative research working with the farmers’ actual needs will include local professional staff and help build up local capacity for poverty reduction. Through research and policy dialogue between the provinces and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the initiatives tackling rural development and reducing poverty will be guided by grassroots information about the opportunities in the upland areas.

 

230 million Danish Kroner, about US$43 million, will be channelled to the five provinces and the Ministry for Agriculture and Rural Development during the next five years.