Workshop on Micro-organic Fertiliser for Cassava Production

The Vietnam Challenge Fund (VCF) and Quang Tri One-member Trading Company recently co-hosted a workshop on developing micro-organic fertilizer for cassava production. The total investment capital of the project was over US$423,000, of which the Vietnam Challenge Fund provided US$167,400.

 

This highly innovative project has developed a slow-release micro-organic fertilizer derived from the brown skin (solid waste) of cassava starch processing. It has also trained poor, less-educated Paco and Van Kieu farmers in Quang Tri province to use this product to fertilize their cassava for better yield and quality.

 

Initial estimates suggest that the project has benefited over 1,800 local households, through improved income from cassava cultivation.   A further 350 workers have also benefited, through seasonal jobs with improved income in farming, transport and processing.

According Andrew Head, ADB Deputy Country Director for Vietnam, beyond income improvement for poor cassava farmers, it also brings hope and an innovative way out of poverty to poor farmers, especially poor ethnic minority households, in the province.