HCMC – The Consulate General of Japan in HCMC on March 13 signed a grant agreement to fund the first year of a project aimed at developing organic farming and environmentally friendly communities in Dong Thap Province.
The signing ceremony took place at the Consulate General of Japan in HCMC.
Attendees included Ono Masuo, consul general of Japan in HCMC; Ino Mayu, representative of the NGO Seed to Table; Le Ha Luan, director of the Department of Agriculture and Environment of Dong Thap Province; and Vo Van Hieu, deputy director of the Department of Education and Training of Dong Thap Province. Representatives from Tien Giang University and Dong Thap Community College were also present.
The project, titled “The Project for Developing Organic Farming and Environmentally Friendly Community Development in Dong Thap Province,” will be implemented by Seed to Table. It focuses on training human resources in organic agriculture, food processing, and business management, while promoting environmental education and sustainable community development.
According to the project documents, Seed to Table has been implementing activities in Dong Thap since 2020 to support organic agriculture and community development. These activities include training programs for farmers and students, promoting environmentally friendly farming practices, and building local capacity in agricultural production and management.
Le Ha Luan, director of the Department of Agriculture and Environment of Dong Thap Province, said the grant from the Japanese Government would help the province advance agricultural production toward green, sustainable, and environmentally friendly practices.
Luan said the project has already supported the construction of 22 organic vegetable greenhouses at schools and helped establish nine farmer groups cultivating organic vegetables on more than 53,000 square meters of land. Training sessions on organic farming, food processing, and business development have also been organized with guidance from Japanese experts.
He added that the project has contributed to raising community awareness of environmental protection and improving incomes for small-scale farmers in the province.
Vo Van Hieu, deputy director of the Department of Education and Training of Dong Thap Province, said the project has been implemented in 21 secondary and high schools in the province since 2019.
Hieu said teachers and students have received training from Japanese experts on organic farming techniques, including soil preparation, composting, seed sowing, and water management. Students have also participated in hands-on activities such as growing vegetables and preparing food from the products they harvest.
According to Hieu, the program has helped raise awareness among teachers, students, and parents about organic agriculture and environmental protection. Several localities have also replicated the organic school garden model supported by Seed to Table.
Ono Masuo said cooperation among local authorities, educational institutions, and Seed to Table plays an important role in implementing the project successfully.
Ono said the Consulate General of Japan would continue supporting the project and expressed hope that the initiative would contribute to sustainable community development in Dong Thap and serve as a model for broader implementation in the province.
Ino Mayu, representative of Seed to Table, has been involved in development activities in Vietnam for many years and received a commendation from Japan’s Minister for Foreign Affairs in 2023 for her contributions to the development of Vietnam’s agricultural sector.
Participants at the ceremony said they expected the project to continue promoting organic agriculture, training human resources, and strengthening cooperation between Vietnam and Japan in sustainable agricultural development.
