CO-506696 Project Overview:
In Yen Bai province, ethnic minority farmers produce some special local rice varieties such as Chiem Huong and Seng Cu rice and Tu Le sticky rice. These special rice varieties have recognized as high quality, tasty and rich in nutrition by consumers, therefore they have a high market demand even though the prices are 40-50% higher than other normal rice. In 2020, around 2,500 farmers, including 1,650 ethnic minority women have cultivated these local varieties in Yen Bai province. The current study showedthat there is great potential for expanding production areas of these indigenous varieties and engaging more ethnic minority women in this local rice value chain due to the appropriateness of agri-ecology and high market potential.
However, there are a number of barriers for expanding the production areas of these indigenous varieties and even maintaining the existing production areas. Shortage and unavailability of quality seeds is considered the main reason. In fact, most of farmershave not self-produced rice seeds for many years. They are mostly cultivating hybrid rice/new varieties and therefore buying packaged seeds from seed companies due to thepolicy of agricultural modernization in Vietnam. Moreover, the current government’spolicy and regulations on seed certification andregistration are complicated and challenging for small scale farmers to engage in seed production and trade. The farmers’ uncertified seeds are not allowed to be sold in the formal market. Consequently, manyfarmers have lost skills in seed production and improvement. In addition, private sector engagement is lacking as they have not seen significant incentives to invest in indigenous seed production and business. This also negatively impacts the conservationand development of the indigenous rice varieties as well as the sustainable development of local rice value chain as a whole.
In order to increase income and sustain livelihood of small scale farmer, especially ethnic minority women engaging in localrice value chain, the problem of local rice seed production and quality improvement needs to be solved through an integrated approach which consists of: enhancing farmer rice seed production and improvment skills;  farmer’s collective action capacity; strengthening linkage amongst value chain actors, especially between ethnic minority woman groups  and private sectors; and improving government policy/regulation on seed certification and registration. Application of the System of Rice Intensification (SRI) method is also critical to produce good-quality rice seed, and Oxfam’s extensive experience promoting SRI in Vietnam will be instrumental in successfully implenting this project.
The planned intervention requires an increase in field activities compared tothe previous interventions. Oxfam in Vietnam and our provincial partner will invest in farmer trainings,setting up demonstrations (farmer field school), market linkages, policy research and advocacy works, and bringing success stories from the provincial level as evidence for advocacy with the central government at the national level.
Through creating public private linkages in rice value chains, capacity building for small scale farmers, and policy influencing at the provincial and national level,thiswork will have long term impacts for farmers’ livelihoods, in particular ethnic minority women engaging in local rice value chain, and for improving the sustainability of rice production in Vietnam.
Project Objectives:
Small scale farmer, especially ethnicwomen are empowered and to push for more inclusive local rice value chain
Expected Outputs and Outcomes:
(1) At least 3 woman-led rice seed production groups will be established and capable to link up with private actors in local rice value chain
(2) Improved capacity of small-scale farmer, especially ethnic women on rice seed improvement and production to meet demand of community on local rice seeds.
(3) Provincial government provides support to promote farmer’s rice seed production
(4) Project’s good practices will be documented and shared to other provinces/regions
Target beneficiaries:
The project intends to benefit about 4,280 small scale farmers(60% female), in which:
• Direct beneficiaries: 680 small scale farmers
• Indirect beneficiaries: 3,600 small scale farmers