Meaningful numbers
On March 14, 2007, Vietnam and the Asian Development Bank signed a credit agreement, loan 2283-VIE (SF), to implement the Agricultural Science and Technology Project (ASTP). The project, effective from June 13, 2007, comprises three components: Capacity building and customer-oriented agricultural research; Strengthening grassroots agricultural extension; and Technical training and vocational education in rural agriculture. The component on strengthening grassroots agricultural extension was implemented in five provinces. Nghe An was one of the five provinces participating in the project.
(Baonghean)On March 14, 2007, Vietnam and the Asian Development Bank signed a credit agreement, loan 2283-VIE (SF), to implement the Agricultural Science and Technology Project (ASTP). The project, effective from June 13, 2007, comprises three components: Capacity building and customer-oriented agricultural research; Strengthening grassroots agricultural extension; and Technical training and vocational education in rural agriculture. The component on strengthening grassroots agricultural extension was implemented in five provinces. Nghe An was one of the five provinces participating in the project.
The grassroots-level agricultural extension enhancement component comprises two main sub-components: Provincial-level agricultural extension services targeting the poor; and Promoting the signing of agricultural extension contracts.
A model of biosecure chicken farming in Khai Son (Anh Son).
Photo: Dang Dinh Duong
In Nghe An province, after 5 years (2007-2012) of implementing the component "Strengthening grassroots agricultural extension," in addition to smaller sub-components such as purchasing equipment for the provincial and district-level agricultural extension systems and the activities of the Project Management Office, the two main sub-components of the project have been implemented with concrete results, namely:
Sub-component 1: Provincial-level agricultural extension services aimed at the poor.
The main activity of this sub-component is capacity building training for grassroots agricultural extension officers.
Through activities such as workshops to identify training needs, TOT (Training of Trainers) training, and the development of agricultural extension materials, the Nghe An Agricultural Science and Technology Project Management Board organized 399 training courses for agricultural extension officers. These included: 16 capacity-building training courses for provincial and district-level agricultural extension officers with 405 participants (161 of whom were women and 53 were ethnic minorities); and 383 courses for grassroots-level agricultural extension officers, including commune-level and village-level extension workers, with 9,504 participants (2,555 of whom were women and 2,328 were ethnic minorities).
In addition, the Project Management Board organized 30 advanced training courses for agricultural extension service providers with 883 participants, including 328 women and 101 ethnic minority participants; and 3 courses on project monitoring and impact assessment skills with 68 participants, including 5 women and 18 ethnic minority participants.
Overall, all activities of sub-component 1 have been implemented, achieving 100% of the target for the number of training courses.
Regarding sub-component 2, "Promoting the signing of agricultural extension contracts": The Nghe An Agricultural Science and Technology Project Management Board has followed the procedures stipulated by law and the requirements of the donor. They organized bidding, awarded contracts, and facilitated the signing of 143 agricultural extension contracts, including 10 contracts for the construction of pilot models in the fields. These contracts were for poor households in the participating communes.
This sub-component was implemented in 19 poor communes (with a poverty rate exceeding 30%) across 12 districts in the province, with a total of 6,081 households directly participating. Of these, 3,891 were female-headed households and 2,000 were ethnic minority households, benefiting 41,111 people, including 20,698 women and 13,060 ethnic minorities. After 5 years of implementation (2008-2012), the project has made a significant contribution to the local poverty reduction efforts.
Over the four years from 2008-2011, 5,117 poor households participated in the project, of which 1,997 households escaped poverty, accounting for 39% (964 households participated in the project in 2012 but the results of the local poverty alleviation assessment are not yet available).
Some communes with high rates of poor households participating in the project (2008-2011) and escaping poverty include: Nghi Dong commune (Nghi Loc district) with 390 poor households participating in the project, of which 357 households escaped poverty, accounting for 91.5%; Nghia Khanh commune (Nghia Dan district) with 227 poor households participating in the project, of which 167 households escaped poverty, accounting for 73.6%; Thanh Huong commune (Thanh Chuong district) with 236 poor households participating in the project, of which 237 households escaped poverty, accounting for 70.5%; Nghia Thang commune (Nghia Dan district) with 201 poor households participating in the project, of which 121 households escaped poverty, accounting for 60.2%; Quang Thanh commune (Yen Thanh district) with 281 poor households participating in the project, of which 155 households escaped poverty, accounting for 55.2%.
Besides the completed volume of project activities, the Nghe An Science and Technology Project Management Board has basically implemented the payment and disbursement schedule well, in accordance with the regulations of the Project Management Board and meeting the requirements of the donor.
The total capital according to the initially approved master plan was VND 24,331,000,000. Due to the project management board of Nghe An province consistently ensuring progress and exceeding the assigned volume during implementation, the Central Project Management Board for Science and Technology Development and the donor adjusted and supplemented the capital to VND 42,392,418,000. Of this, ADB funding accounted for VND 31,056,753,000, and counterpart funding accounted for VND 11,335,665,000.
The total volume of work completed on the project as of December 31, 2012 was essentially finished, and the disbursement reached VND 40,970,262,000 out of VND 42,392,418,000, achieving 96.65% of the plan.
To further build upon the project's achievements, we earnestly request the continued attention and guidance of Party committees, local authorities, and agricultural extension service providers to maintain the results achieved, especially for poor households that have escaped poverty after participating in the project. Simultaneously, we urge continued dissemination and replication of the project's approach and implementation mechanisms, contributing to production development, increased income, and poverty reduction.
Nguyen Van Thang (Provincial Agricultural Extension Center)
