Global scientific community hopes to support the One Million Hectares of High-quality Rice Project

CGIAR (the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research)stands as the world's largest agricultural innovation network. Comprising 14 Research Centers and one Intergovernmental Research Center (AfricaRice), CGIAR has been at the forefront of the Excellence in Agronomy (EiA) initiative since 2020. This initiative is designed to support smallholder farmers in navigating the complexities of global climate change and maintaining a balanced livelihood. Annually, agricultural innovation scientists select a country implementing CGIAR projects.

In conjunction with the International Festival of Vietnam Rice Industry - Hau Giang 2023, 91 experts from across the globe visited the Mekong Delta. Drawing on their extensive experience and playing a coordinating role between farmers, policymakers, and United Nations agencies, CGIAR chose to engage in Vietnam, expressing its commitment to supporting the government in rice development and sustainable agriculture.

Ms. Barbra Muzata, Global Communications Lead of CGIAR, shared her perspective: "The invitation from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to participate in the Launching Ceremony of the 1 Million Hectare of High-quality Rice Program is a tremendous honor for CGIAR. We highly value our collaboration with our Vietnamese friends.

We are eager to immerse ourselves in the rice production business in solidarity with the Ministry to see what our collaborative efforts have enabled us to do so that we become part of the launch. Soon, we will learn from a demonstration of the mechanized sowing process and the circular economy model based on rice straw in the Mekong Delta region. Our presence here reflects our commitment to learning at the highest level. We hope the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development will recognize CGIAR's collaborative efforts in Vietnam over the years and join us in transferring technology to other countries."

On the afternoon of December 12, scientists actively participated in the "Vietnam - Africa Policy Dialogue Workshop: South - South Cooperation to Support Food System Transformation." The African agricultural sector grapples with various challenges, including low productivity due to limited access to quality inputs, outdated farming methods, and underdeveloped infrastructure. Climate change exacerbates these issues, leading to crop failures that threaten food supplies in the region. Post-harvest losses, transportation challenges, and difficulties in market access further hinder the agricultural economy.

Aligned with the principles of the Vietnam - Africa Policy Dialogue, the Excellence in Agronomy Initiative seeks to enhance productivity and profitability for farmers by 2030, improve soil health, and assist smallholder farmers in resource management and smart farming. CGIAR aims to provide a comprehensive perspective on reshaping the global food system by focusing on agricultural development, in harmony with the conference's goals.

The event sheds light on the principles of South-South and Trilateral Cooperation (SSTC), emphasizing international collaboration to enable each country to achieve food self-sufficiency and meet sustainable development goals. Through multilateral cooperation, efforts will be directed toward fostering sustainable and equitable agricultural systems in Africa, offering solutions to overcome current challenges.

Following their participation in the Festival in Hau Giang, the CGIAR delegation organized scientific seminars on sustainable agricultural practices. Over three working days and covering 14 topics, international experts assessed the progress in 2023, analyzed challenges, discussed solutions, and referenced agricultural initiatives from project areas worldwide.

Particularly noteworthy was the "Workshop on Agronomic Solutions to Adapt and Mitigate Climate Change in Vietnam" organized by the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), a CGIAR member, on December 14. The international scientific community eagerly awaits Vietnam's insights into the details of the 1 million hectares Program and the launch ceremony of the Manual on mechanized sowing. These details are crucial for increasing efficiency and reducing greenhouse gas emissions in rice production in the Mekong Delta.

The CGIAR centres that are involved in EiA include AfricaRice, the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT), the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), the International Potato Center (CIP), the International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA), World Agroforestry Center (ICRAF), the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) and International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA).