With support from the Danida-funded Business Sector Programme, a group of 18 small-scale Mekong Delta rice farmers achieved GlobalG.A.P. certification. John Nielsen, Danish Ambassador to Vietnam, recently handed over GlobalG.A.P. certificate to the leader of the farmers group.
GlobalG.A.P. certification and linkages to export markets that offer higher prices is the new approach to poverty alleviation for small-scale farmers. However, rice farmers in the Mekong Delta for a long time could not benefit from this approach due to lack of technical knowledge and supporting services.
With the support of Danida-funded Business Sector Programme, Gentraco Corporation, a processor and exporter of rice in Can Tho, launched the first initiative of its kind in the Mekong Delta, wherein GlobalG.A.P. certification has been approached by working with a group of 18 small rice farmers.
H.E. Ambassador John Nielsen highlighted the importance of cooperation between the government, farmers, scientists and enterprises at the event. With ‘GlobalG.A.P.’ achievement, rice production models are expected to be replicated all over the Mekong Delta.
With this certification, the farmers have already been able to earn a price which is 10-20% higher than the market price. Leader of the Farmers’ Club, Mr. Huan, shared that many other paddy farmers outside the network have expressed their wish to join the model in the upcoming crop.
