The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) organized a workshop called “From Farm to Table: Sustainable and Green Dragon Fruit in Binh Thuan.” The event illustrated an innovative approach to sustainable agriculture production that embraces green agriculture while also adapting to climate change.
The event showcased the commendable results of a three-year project entitled “Accelerating Private Sector Engagement in Climate-Resilient and Low-Emission Investment in Implementing Viet Nam’s Nationally Determined Contributions for the Agriculture Sector,” implemented by UNDP, MARD, and the two provinces of Binh Thuan and Bac Lieu. The project focused on turning the supply chains for dragon fruit in Binh Thuan and shrimp in Bac Lieu into models of green agriculture, aiming to contribute to the achievement of Viet Nam’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC).
The project has helped to improve the lives and livelihoods of around 5,000 local farmers by introducing them to green production practices. By switching to energy-efficient LED bulbs and water-saving irrigation systems, dragon fruit farmers have been able to cut their carbon emissions by 68 percent and reduce their energy costs by 50 percent. Moreover, installing rooftop solar-powered drip irrigation systems and other water-saving technologies has led to a 42 percent drop in water consumption, saving each farm at least VND 600,000 per hectare (US$25).
Mr. Nguyen Do Anh Tuan, Director of the International Cooperation Department at MARD, shared, “This project showcases Vietnam’s commitment to sustainable development. The transformation in Binh Thuan’s dragon fruit supply chain is about empowering our farmers and communities to adopt environmentally friendly practices, securing a better future for all.”
“The farmers and cooperatives play important roles in implementing climate-resilient agriculture and green business development,” said Ms. Ramla Khalidi, UNDP Resident Representative in Viet Nam. “Building on our experience in Binh Thuan, UNDP will be happy to work with MARD to devise a national plan for sustainable and low-carbon dragon fruit that aims to promote sustainable and low-carbon production, adopt circularity principles, and leverage sustainable finance for scaling up best practices.”
The project introduced an innovative e-traceability system that offers real-time information about the origin, quality certification, and carbon footprint of each dragon fruit. This system has been applied across 269 hectares of Global G.A.P-certified farms, thereby enhancing transparency and helping farmers meet international market requirements.
Mr. Doan Anh Dung, Chairman of the Binh Thuan Provincial People’s Committee, remarked, “Binh Thuan Province will continue to promote the results achieved by the project. We will strongly develop electronic traceability tools associated with carbon footprint tracking and apply smart, systematic management to promote the transformation of dragon fruit production in particular, and agricultural production in general, towards sustainable, low-carbon, green production and responding to climate change.”
The collaboration between UNDP, MARD, and Binh Thuan represents a pioneering model for sustainable agricultural development. This initiative is a source of inspiration and guidance for other regions that are also aspiring to adopt sustainable and low-carbon agricultural practices.
