Growing climate-resilient rice in the Mekong Delta

The DFCD’s Origination Facility Investment Committee has approved an origination project proposal to support the development of more climate -resilient rice seeds in the Mekong Delta, which is being undertaken by Vinaseed (Vietnam National Seeds Group  JSC). 

With this approval, the Netherlands Development Organisation SNV has the intention to sign a EUR 200,000 grant funding agreement with Vinaseed together with an SNV technical assistance package for the development of a business investment proposition related to the development of climate- resilient rice seeds for smallholder 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 farmland under sustainable management. These more resilient seeds are expected to directly benefit 6,500,000 rice smallholder farmers in the Delta, of which 3,000,000 are expected to be women.

Want to know more about this project? Visit the SNV website