JICA, NAEC collaborate to develop agricultural value chains

From “grow then sell” to “grow to sell”

On March 13, the National Agricultural Extension Center, in coordination with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), held the fourth meeting of the Joint Coordinating Committee for the project “Strengthening Safe Crop Value Chains in Northern Provinces of Viet Nam.”

The meeting, chaired by leaders of JICA Viet Nam, the International Cooperation Department, and the National Agricultural Extension Center, served as the final coordination session before the project concludes in April 2026. Participants reviewed implementation results and discussed plans for sustaining activities after the project ends.

According to Pham Ngoc Mau, deputy director general of the International Cooperation Department, the project has been implemented from 2022 to 2026 to strengthen safe vegetable and fruit value chains in participating localities. After four years and five main areas of activity, the initiative has produced positive outcomes and received strong support from the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, local governments, cooperatives, and farmers.

Mau said financial and technical support provided through the project, together with cooperation from the Japanese government, has helped farmers and cooperatives restore and expand production after natural disasters.

One notable feature of the initiative is its value-chain approach, which emphasizes capacity building for cooperatives, agricultural extension staff, and other actors in the supply chain. This approach is considered essential for generating long-term impact in agricultural production.

A report titled “Final Survey Results, Final Evaluation, and 2026 Action Plan” indicates that the project has focused on transforming production methods, encouraging a shift from the traditional mindset of “grow first, sell later” to a more market-oriented approach of “grow to sell.”

Under this model, cooperatives and producers are placed at the center, while extension services and technical experts provide support by guiding market surveys, helping plan production based on demand, improving cultivation techniques, and ensuring compliance with food safety standards.

The project applies the market-oriented SHEP approach, under which cooperatives are trained to conduct market research, develop production plans, apply Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) standards, and strengthen linkages across the agricultural value chain.

The final evaluation shows that many cooperatives have begun adopting a more market-driven production mindset. Several have diversified their marketing channels, using social media and e-commerce platforms to reach consumers.

Some cooperatives have also expanded into additional activities such as agritourism and agricultural product processing, while investing in larger production areas, greenhouses, preliminary processing facilities, and seed production systems.

At the same time, the use of digital technologies in production management and product traceability has been promoted, helping improve market connectivity and strengthen quality control.

Building foundations for safe agricultural value chains

Fukuda Chihiro, deputy chief representative of the JICA Viet Nam Office, said the project represents a continuation of long-standing cooperation between JICA and Viet Nam in developing safe agriculture.

Two earlier phases of technical cooperation had laid the groundwork for promoting Good Agricultural Practices. The current project is considered the third phase, consolidating experiences and results from previous initiatives.

Through these three phases of cooperation, extensive knowledge, practical experience, and partnership networks have been built, forming an important foundation for developing safe and high-quality agricultural value chains in northern Viet Nam.

The project has contributed to expanding the adoption of GAP-based production techniques, improving post-harvest management and quality control, and strengthening market linkages among cooperatives, businesses, and government agencies.

JICA representatives also highlighted challenges encountered during implementation, particularly the impact of Typhoon Yagi in 2024, which disrupted production and markets. However, coordination among local authorities, producers, and the private sector helped many areas quickly restore agricultural production.

According to Fukuda, the experience underscores the importance of building sustainable agricultural systems capable of adapting to climate change and natural disasters.

Preparing to scale up effective models

Le Quoc Thanh, director of the National Agricultural Extension Center, said the fourth committee meeting provided an opportunity to review the entire implementation process and define directions for the next phase.

Overall evaluations indicate the project has achieved strong results, even surpassing some initial targets. Most performance indicators were rated good or very good, suggesting that the project’s approach and technical interventions are well suited to real agricultural production conditions.

Thanh noted that the project’s success also reflects its ability to adapt to multiple external challenges, including the COVID-19 pandemic, natural disasters, and changes in local administrative structures and extension systems.

Another key factor was the project’s practical and straightforward approach, which placed cooperatives and farmers at the center while linking production closely with market demand. This method made the models easier to adopt and helped local authorities quickly integrate them into practice.

During implementation, project partners combined both in-person and online training methods, supported cooperatives in recovering from natural disasters, and introduced new communication approaches.

Integrating resources from the project budget, national and local agricultural extension systems, and cooperative contributions also helped maintain project activities and expand their impact.

According to Thanh, one of the most important lessons learned was the close coordination among stakeholders. Throughout implementation, there was little gap between government agencies, international experts, the agricultural extension system, and participating cooperatives.

In the remaining months before the project concludes, local authorities are encouraged to continue reviewing outcomes and lessons learned and to select suitable models for wider replication.

After the project ends, the National Agricultural Extension Center plans to disseminate and train extension workers nationwide in the use of the Viet-SHEP training materials—one of the project’s key outputs.

The center will also organize training programs, communication forums, and publications to integrate these approaches into routine agricultural extension activities nationwide.

Thanh emphasized that although the project will conclude administratively, the methods, experiences, and cooperation networks established during its implementation are expected to continue shaping agricultural production practices in the future.