Dutch Fund for Climate and Development (DFCD) supports climate resilient rice in the Mekong Delta
With this approval, the Netherlands Development Organisation SNV has the intention to sign a EUR 200,000 grant funding agreement with Vinaseed together with a SNV technical assistance package for the development of a business investment proposition related to the development of climate resilient rice seeds for small holder farmers in Vietnam.
The DFCD strongly Supports the Mekong Delta Agricultural Transformation plan (MD ATP), also known as Resolution 120. The development of climate resilient seeds is seen as an important tool in addressing climate change resiliency and also addressing post-covid recovery.
Saltwater intrusion is now seriously affecting, ten out of the thirteen provinces in the Delta. 80% of the 18 million people in the Mekong Delta are involved with rice farming. Rice farming is a major aspect of culture, tradition, and livelihoods However, climate change is putting the Mekong Delta under extreme stress.
Yields for many of the world’s most important food crops, including rice, are stagnating. Climate change affects, and will increasingly affect, the yield of crops through increased exposure to high temperature, water, salinity and flooding stresses. This has serious implications for food security and local livelihoods. There is a critical need for investment and uptake of improved crop varieties which both increase yields, while also being more tolerant to the impacts of climate change.
This project is seeking to raise farmer’s incomes by 15-20% and bring 1,800,000 hectares of vulnerable farm land under sustainable management. These more resilient seeds are expected to directly benefit 6,500,000 rice small holder farmers in the Delta, of which 3,000,000 are expected to be women.
About the DFCD
The Dutch fund for climate and development is a Euro 160 million funded by The Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs to improve resiliency of the most vulnerable landscape through climate change adaptation. The DFCD is managed by a pioneering consortium of Climate Fund Managers (CFM), Worldwide Fund for Nature Netherlands (WWF-NL) and SNV Netherlands Development Organisation, led by the Dutch Entrepreneurial Development Bank, FMO. For more information, please visit: www.thedfcd.com
About SNV
SNV is a not-for-profit international development organisation that makes a lasting difference in the lives of people living in poverty by helping them raise incomes and access basic services. We aim for premium quality and focus on only three sectors: agriculture, energy and water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH). With a long-term, local presence in over 25 countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America, we know how governments work and how relationships are built. Implementing our mission exclusively through project financing requires us to work efficiently and invest in operational excellence every day. Our team of more than 1,300 staff is the backbone of SNV.
About Vinaseed
Vinaseed – Vietnam National Seed Corporation is a scientific and technological corporate engaged in research, breeding, production and business of crop seed, and service transfer for agro-forestry techniques. The company has continued providing the market for high-quality and productive crop seed and taking transfer of scientific and technological services to bring satisfaction to customers in all parts of the country as well as practical contributions to the development of Vietnam agriculture and society.
To read the full disclosure document, please click here.
More information
Vinaseed: Mr. Nguyen Quang Truong, truongnq@vinaseed.com.vn,
SNV - Dutch Fund for Climate and Development: Mr. Alex Downs, adowns@snv.org