Participants at the workshop. — VNS Photo Tố Như

HÀ NỘI — Innovation projects led by the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) have provided sustainable and practical livelihoods for between 3.7 and 3.9 million farming households in Việt Nam.

Chairman of CGIAR Standing Panel on Impact Assessment (SPIA), Travis Lybbert, highlighted this impact at a workshop on the adoption of CGIAR agricultural innovations in Việt Nam.

The event, held in Hà Nội on Wednesday, was organised by the Department of International Cooperation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD), the International Rice Research Institute, along with SPIA.

According to Lybbert, SPIA's primary role is to analyse the effectiveness of CGIAR’s research investments. Data collected by international researchers in Việt Nam has demonstrated significant success, with many research projects recognised and standardised by MARD. These innovations have been incorporated into practice manuals for agricultural extension officers and farmers.

A heatmap of CGIAR research reports indicates extensive data collection efforts in Việt Nam, with nearly 200 recorded outcomes. These findings will aid international partners in understanding the country’s agricultural landscape.

Việt Nam is among the first countries where CGIAR has conducted a data-driven analysis of agricultural investments for the 2020-25 period. The positive results have prompted SPIA to expand its research and establish a new team in Việt Nam over the next five years.

"SPIA will transfer all collected data and evidence to policymakers to support informed decision-making on international investments," Lybbert said.

Initial assessments have identified 19 major agricultural innovations adopted by Vietnamese farmers. These include mechanisation technologies such as laser land levelling, mini combined harvesters and straw balers to improve waste management in rice farming. Climate-smart solutions, including the Climate-Smart Mapping and Adaptation Planning, agro-meteorological bulletins, and alternate wetting and drying irrigation, are also widely implemented.

Sustainable farming techniques have been promoted by 'Three Reductions, Three Gains' (3R3G), 'One Must Do, Five Reductions' (1M5R), and integrated certified seed programmes.

Some examples include the adoption of GIFT strain tilapia which has significantly boosted Việt Nam's commercial aquaculture sector, while high-starch cassava varieties, now used by 54 per cent of cassava farmers, have contributed to the rapid growth of the country’s starch industry.

The research team collaborated with the General Statistics Office and used data from the household living standards survey to assess the reach and impact of these innovations.

Director of the Institute of Policy and Strategy for Agriculture and Rural Development, Trần Công Thắng, affirmed that CGIAR research has led to institutionalised policy changes.

Notable developments include the strategic vision for ecological agriculture, Prime Minister’s Decision No. 300 approving the National Action Plan for a transparent, responsible and sustainable food system and policies promoting afforestation and forest protection.

Between 2025 and 2030, Việt Nam will expand these innovations through the Sustainable Development Project, which aims to establish one million hectares of high-quality, low-emission rice cultivation in the Mekong Delta.

The project is in its final preparation stage, with policies supporting straw collection, production linkages, and agricultural credit already in place. Standardised sustainable rice farming protocols have also been developed.

“To effectively monitor and evaluate these innovations, a five-year baseline data cycle is needed,” Thắng said. “This will help identify strengths and weaknesses in scientific and policy interventions.”

Dr Lê Thanh Tùng, former deputy director of MARD’s Department of Crop Production and permanent vice chairman of VIETRISA, highlighted the need to align production with the rice growth cycle to ensure grain quality and reduce post-harvest losses, vital for rural economies.

Meanwhile, Associate Professor Dr Đào Thế Anh, deputy director of Vietnam Academy of Agricultural Sciences, noted SPIA’s past assessments were too narrow, focusing mainly on production aspects.

"SPIA should expand its research to examine how ecological agriculture affects livelihoods, the environment, and public awareness," he said, adding that detailed discussions are needed to ensure research findings are effectively used. — VNS