Vietnam

Research Priorities

Securing rice-based farming systems in the Mekong Delta through resilience to the negative impacts of climate change

As a major rice exporter, Vietnam is a significant contributor to regional food security, but low-lying areas in the Mekong Delta are particularly prone to the anticipated negative impacts of climate change. The main aim of the program is to assist adaptation to climate change at the farm level, emphasising more-efficient use of soil and water resources.

Optimising resource management for profitable and sustainable agricultural production in south-central coastal Vietnam

The initial integrating focus is on development of more-profitable but sustainable field and tree crop cultivation and beef cattle production systems in challenging environments (poor sandy soils under water-limiting conditions) through technical cooperation in areas where Australian agencies have the necessary expertise. Initially, the emphasis will be on parts of the drier central and southern provinces, particularly on coastal and sloping areas less than 400 m above sea level. Research will address the vulnerability of the central coast of Vietnam to the negative impacts of climate change and desertification.

Poverty reduction through market engagement for smallholder farmers in the northern and north-western highlands

Many smallholder farmers in the north-western highlands have not seen the same benefits to livelihood improvements from engagement in the global economy as has the rest of Vietnam. Emerging markets created by improved infrastructure development have created an opportunity for market engagement by smallholder farmers. To meet increasing market demand, which is changing rapidly, farmers from the north-western highlands are expanding cultivation, especially of maize, onto sloping lands. With changing dietary preferences, livestock and other high-valued production is providing an opportunity for smallholder farmers to integrate these products as components of their farming systems.

Development of high-value aquaculture industries

The Vietnamese Government has invested heavily in research infrastructure and staff development for aquaculture. The ACIAR program has been tailored to complement this effort through targeted capacity building in key skill areas (genetics, fish nutrition), and the timely transfer and adaptation of suitable aquaculture technologies developed elsewhere under ACIAR-supported programs. Fish nutrition remains an important action area.

Towards higher value plantation forestry products

Vietnam has nearly 1 million hectares of plantations of Australian acacias and eucalypts. These plantations supply major processing industries and export markets, generating substantial income for the smallholder plantation owners and the people engaged in forest industries. The forestry program adds value through deployment of improved genetic material, development of better silvicultural practices and expansion of value-adding of the plantation products.