Financing Agrochemical Reduction and Management (FARM) in Agri-Food Value Chains To promote financing for improved agrochemical and agricultural plastic management in agri-food value chains. Note: Disbursement data provided is cumulative and covers disbursement made by the project Agency. Considerable benefits are expected thanks to this project, especially including more sustainable/green jobs created for local farmers and market actors along the value chain. It is remarkable that junk collectors and junk shops (those who are currently in the informal sector and not fully recognized by the society) will be considered to work in a formal sector, being provided with full social protection schemes. Junk collectors are mainly women and so it is important to receive support so that they can have decent jobs. At the end of the plastics pathway there are recycling facilities, who are currently quite limited in terms of quantity and receive almost no support from authorities. It is expected that the project will help them access loan for their operational expansion in planned areas (industrial zones for example) located far away from the residential areas, and promote incentives to expand the eco-systems of clean lifestyle in Vietnam. Consumers of clean products with clear traceability information are key beneficiaries, covering both those in domestic markets.Regarding economic aspect, farmers no longer have to rely on synthetic pesticides/fertilizers. They can save costs especially in the medium and longer term thanks to their use of bio/organics substances, as well as alternatives towards agricultural by-products. In Central Highland region, income and livelihoods of coffee farmers of which many are ethnic people are totally dependent on the profitability of their plantations. Therefore, reducing production costs while maintaining or improving yields are very important. In addition, improved income from coffee production would allow households to spend more on nutritious food and education of adults and children thus eventually create positive social impacts. Environmental costs regarding collecting and treating plastic waste and pesticide packaging will be reduced. The success of this project also implies environmental benefits via soil/water/air improvement and plant resistance to pests. Other market actors also benefit thanks to sustainable supply chains to be set up and sustained and their accessibility to export markets.Apart from direct benefits, this GEF is expected to have spill-over positive impact on the area of landscape under provinces and districts located within about 200 km distance away from recycling facilities, with recyclable waste being delivered and recycled at facilities where project interventions are undertaken. It is expected that three large scale recycling facilities and about a dozen of small-scale recycling ones in Dak Lak, Dak Nong and Gia Lai will benefit from this project. Besides, landscapes under provinces and districts located 300 kilometres away from hazardous waste disposal facilities are expected to be cleaned up, with hazardous waste being delivered and disposed there. It is estimated that 37 out of a total of 119 hazardous waste disposal facilities which are located in South Central and Southeast region within affordable distance from project provinces will also get indirect support via access to loan and grant from VEPF, commercial banks and other sources.Greenhouse gas emissions are expected to cut down given direct support to 20 pilot models on no/low plastics alternatives, together with 20 circular economy models for cooperatives/ SMEs, with indirect impact from scaling-up activities.                Similarly impacts from reduction, disposal/destruction, phase out, elimination and avoidance of chemicals of global concern and their waste in the environment and in processes, materials and products are also taken into account covering nearby districts and provinces. The number of direct beneficiaries therefore covers also farmers and other relevant actors in the districts and provinces within the distance away from the recycling and disposal facilities as highlighted earlier.