COMPLETION REPORT

Organic Agriculture Development:
The Relevant Experience from Japan to Vietnam
Dr. Nguyen Mau Dung (+1)
Lecturer
Faculty of Economics and Rural Development, Vietnam National University of Agriculture
Since organic agriculture is a production management system that aims to create integrated human,
environmentally and economically sustainable agricultural production, promoting organic agriculture is consideredas the effective way to deal with the environmental threat and food safety problems that caused by the intensive
agriculture with the focus on maximizing yields and to be heavily dependent on external inputs, especially chemicalfertilizers and pesticide. While organic agriculture in Japan has initiated in 1970s and achieved significantdevelopment, the organic agriculture has just practiced in Vietnam since 1990s and still faced many constraints. This
study is therefore designed to find out what Vietnam could learn from Japanese experience for developing its soundorganic agriculture. The specific objectives of the study include: (1) to provide history of organic agriculture
development in Japan and Vietnam; (2) to make the comparative analysis of legislative regulations, institutionalarrangements and specific measures for promoting organic agriculture between Japan and Vietnam, and (3) todraw the relevant experience on the development of organic agriculture from Japan to Vietnam.
The study results show that in Japan, the organic farming movement started in the early 1970s with theestablishment of Japan Organic Agriculture Association (JOAA) and various supportive activities implemented byMinistry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fishery (MAFF). The number of certified business entities reached up to 5,842
in 2010, the domestic production rose up drastically from 33,734 tons to 56,415 tons between 2001 and 2010 andthe value of organic products was estimated at US$500 million in 1994 and increased to approximately US$1.8
billion in early 2010s. The success of the organic agriculture in Japan are thanks to (1) to stablish and familiarize thetechnical system of the farming, and to strengthen support measures for efforts in the farming as well as enhance
application of these measures in order to facilitate the farming; (2) make bridges between organic farmers, farmorganizations, distributors, dealers, and consumers in order to help farmers and related personnel to engage actively
on the production, distribution and sales of organic farm products, especially the performance of "teikei" system
between farmers and consumers; (3) promote information on production, distribution, sales and consumption of theproducts and the proper labeling of organic products to help consumers access the products easily; and (4) Promoteinteraction between organic farmers, related people and consumers through food education and activities whichfurther local consumption of local food, farm studies and exchanges between urban and rural areas.
In Vietnam, development of organic agriculture is recently considered an indispensable step for stable agriculturethat can produce clean food for consumers. Organic agriculture in Vietnam has just put been paid more attention
since 2010s with the issuance of decision No. 01/2012/QD-TTg to support good agricultural practices included
organic agriculture practice, and the establishment of Vietnam Organic Association. However, the area of organic
agriculture is still small and the development of OA has been facing with many difficulties such as limited awarenessof farmers on OA, quality assurance problems; consumers’ distructs (and low price); low yields and high risk due topest and diseases attacks.
The lessons learned from Japan for organic agriculture development in Vietnam include technology systemdevelopment; strengthening extension service; enhancing consumers’ understanding on organic agriculture;developing the quality assurance systems for organic agriculture; and implementing supportive policies for organicagriculture development.

Publication of the Results of Research Project:
Verbal Presentation (Date, Venue, Name of Conference, Title of Presentation, Presenter, etc.)
The authors have presented the research results in the seminar entitled Organic agriculture development:
the Relevant Experience from Japan to Vietnam on 25 May 2016 in the faculty of Economics and RuralDevelopment, Vietnam National University of Agriculture.
Thesis (Name of Journal and its Date, Title and Author of Thesis, etc.)
Book (Publisher and Date of the Book, Title and Author of the Book, etc.)