The ASSET project harnesses the potential of ecological agriculture in Southeast Asia to transform agricultural and food systems into more sustainable, safer and more inclusive systems.

In Việt Nam, the ASSET project is implemented in two provinces: Điện Biên and Sơn La. The project implementation period is from 2020 - 2025, with field activities starting in 2022.

The project includes seven main support activities: Developing green feed and livestock; Improving feed safety; Developing quality coffee; Protecting crops in accordance with ecological agriculture; Developing the ability to identify value chains; Enhancing capacity for local partners (Department of Agriculture and Rural Development; agricultural agencies in districts that implement the project); and Disseminating and raising public awareness about ecological agriculture.

The project aims to create a functional value chain based on quality and ecological agriculture that contributes to improving the livelihoods of local farming communities by 2030.

The representative of the AFD delegation presented the outstanding results of seven support activities of the ASSET Project being implemented in Điện Biên Province and outlined the activities planned for 2024.

After nearly three years of implementation, the project has supported livestock farmers in growing grass, silaging animal feed, and composting livestock manure, which has contributed to improving the livestock environment. These efforts have been particularly effective in reducing the pressure on livestock waste treatment, helping localities meet Criteria 17.8 and 17.9 in the development of new rural areas.

Through these farming support activities, people have been able to access multi-purpose intercropping methods with long-term industrial crops, helping to increase income and promote the development of ecological and circular agriculture in the near future.

Chairman of the Provincial People’s Committee Lê Thành Đô highly appreciated the results of the ASSET project's activities in Điện Biên Province. He expressed his expectation that, in the future, AFD will continue to support the implementation and share experiences in ecological, circular, multi-value agricultural production models, associated with improving the environmental landscape in rural areas.

Đô suggested that AFD focus its support on combining production development with ecotourism and resorts in the province; researching solutions to grow macadamia and coffee in the most sustainable manner; considering supporting research and building models for growing some temperate fruit trees (such as pears and apples); continuing to expand activities to grow and process green forage plants for livestock; proposing solutions for waste treatment in livestock farming; and renovating and improving the productivity and quality of buffalo and cow breeds.

In addition, he expected the French agency to support survey activities and preliminary assessment of the potential and ability to provide carbon sequestration and storage services in special-use forests and concentrated protection forests; prepare the necessary conditions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by limiting deforestation and forest degradation; and offer sustainable management and growth with available capital and policies.