Workshop - Indicative priorities for ACIAR projects in south central coastal Vietnam

Workshop: Indicative priorities for ACIAR projects in south central coastal Vietnam

A joint Vietnamese-Australian workshop was held in Quy Nhon, Binh Dinh province on 3-5 March 2008 to discuss priorities for collaborative agricultural research in the south central coastal provinces of Vietnam.

Participants included representatives from:

• ACIAR and AusAID
• Vietnamese Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development
• Vietnam R&D Institutes
• Southern Vietnam R&D Institutes
• provincial departments of agriculture and rural development
• universities and agricultural colleges
• non-government organisations
• other donors active in the agricultural sector.

Scope

The workshop was conducted in light of a 2007 agreement with the Ministries of Agriculture and Rural Development, and Planning and Investment that there would be an increased focus on two regions; the south central coast and the north-west highlands.

The priorities determined during this workshop will be used by ACIAR as a framework for collaborative research for development activities over the next four year period, subject to further advice and information from Vietnam.

Themes for research cooperation

It was agreed that the integrating focus for the program will be on more profitable but sustainable crop cultivation integrated with beef cattle production systems in the challenging environment of south central coastal Vietnam where soils are often poor and sandy and dry seasons are long. The thematic areas for research cooperation are:

• Soils and water
• Livestock
• Horticulture and Cash Crops
• Agribusiness and extension

For more detailed information on the workshop and the research themes, see Indicative priorities for ACIAR projects in south central coastal Vietnam (PDF).

ACIAR's strategy

ACIAR's research in Vietnam is focussed on two regions; South Central Coast and the North West Highlands, with an emphasis on research to assist the enhancement of smallholder incomes. This is achieved through fostering the development of higher value crop and livestock products, as well as improving market access. There are three main thrusts in Vietnam:

• Fisheries research will focus on aquaculture and mariculture
• Forestry research will have an increased emphasis on higher value products and value-addition
• Natural resource management research will focus on sustainable cultivation systems for poor soils in central Vietnam and on water conservation.