Effectiveness from the Organic Agriculture Development Project supported by Seed to Table

Updated date: 05/08/2025 11:40:15

DTO - The project (DA) "Organic agricultural development in Dong Thap province" has been implemented by the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (now the Department of Agriculture and Environment) and Seed to Table since May 2019. The cooperation and support from the DA has contributed to improving the skills and awareness of agricultural officials, people, teachers and students on organic agricultural production, protecting the ecosystem, protecting the environment, creating clean products, ensuring health, and at the same time being consistent with the "Project on restructuring the agricultural sector of Dong Thap province to 2025, with a vision to 2030".

Mr. ONO Masuo - Consulate General of Japan in Ho Chi Minh City (2nd from right) visits organic farming activities at Dong Thap Community College

Local development, environmental protection

The organic agriculture development project has supported positive changes in the development of the organic agricultural community in Dong Thap province. Specifically, the project has trained and developed human resources (ToT) on organic agricultural development for 177 trainees who are officials of the agricultural sector, theeducation and training sector, and officials of the People's Committees of the communes participating in the project...; established 9 groups of organic farmers according to the Vietnam PGS Organic Standards with 24 participating farmers, with a total area of 52,988m2; built 22 organic vegetable growing houses at school locations; invested in equipment for processing and preserving products for Dong Thap Community College; completed the organic agriculture curriculum and transferred it to Dong Thap Community College as teaching materials for students; Build a store to display and sell PGS organic products (certification to ensure products are produced according to the correct process and comply with regulations of organic production) and Dong Thap specialties; establish a monitoring system with PGS participation, build a logo, a traceability system and print QR code stamps...

Within the framework of the Project "Organic Agriculture Development in Dong Thap Province" Phase 3 (from May 2023 to March 2026), the Department of Agriculture and Environment of Dong Thap cooperated with Seed to Table to implement sustainable community development activities through training human resources in the fields of organic agriculture, food processing and business management in Dong Thap province, contributing to improving the livelihoods of small-scale farmers, helping local people protect the environment and develop sustainable socio-economy. In 2024, the Project organized a study tour to Japan for many members participating in the Project. Through direct exchanges with organic farmers in many localities of Japan, members had many opportunities to learn and share knowledge in the field of local development, towards environmental protection; production, processing and trading of organic agricultural products. Thereby, contributing to maintaining and developing traditional manufacturing industries as well as local strengths and nurturing the next generation.

At the conference to review sustainable community development activities through training human resources in the fields of organic agriculture, food processing and business management in Dong Thap province on April 23, Mr. ONO Masuo - Consulate General of Japan in Ho Chi Minh City shared that for many years, Seed to Table, headed by Ms. INO Mayu, has implemented the project of developing organic agriculture, contributing to improving the livelihoods of small-scale farmers through processing organic agricultural products and educating environmental protection awareness for young people, as well as developing the locality associated with environmental protection in Dong Thap province. Through the development of organic agriculture and disseminating methods to achieve Organic Agriculture Certification, it has contributed to improving the livelihoods of farmers. From 2023 to present, Seed to Table continues to implement the project of sustainable community development through training human resources in the fields of organic agriculture, food processing and business management. This is a project that inherits and continues to promote the achievements of the previous project in Dong Thap province.

Training on preparing dishes from organic vegetables

Promote innovative and creative thinking

Mr. Pham Quang Huy - Principal of Dong Thap Community College shared that in the process of building and implementing safe, organic agricultural production, processing and trading activities, the school has received great and effective support from the Japanese Government through the Seed to Table Organization. This is a strategic support resource, helping the school gradually approach and apply international organic production standards, building a production - education - business model associated with practice and modern consumer markets. The Seed to Table Organization sponsored the school with agricultural processing equipment (agricultural dryers, ice cream makers, ice cream filling machines, ice cream pasteurizers, vacuum packaging machines, quick freezers, large water boilers), helping lecturers and students have the conditions to study, practice and create new products; transfer processing technology and knowledge to the school on food hygiene and safety, improve processing capacity, ensure quality and safety for output products; Consulting, direct technical training with experts from Japan and supporting the implementation of an organic farming model with PGS certification for the school's 2,000m² vegetable and fruit garden...

The support of the Japanese Government through Seed to Table is not only material support but also has great spiritual significance, contributing to creating motivation to promote innovative thinking, creativity and educational practice associated with production - serving the community at Dong Thap Community College. The model of production, processing and trading of safe, organic agricultural products at the school not only creates quality products but is also a model of practical training, serving the community, and improving students' capacity.

Mr. Huynh Tat Dat - Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Environment of Dong Thap province, said: "The enthusiastic help and support from the Seed to Table Organization's project, and Ms. Ino Mayu - Chief Representative of Seed to Table Organization in Vietnam, is a great source of motivation and an important premise for Dong Thap province's agriculture to gradually develop in a safe and sustainable direction. However, to achieve the project's goals and the goals and orientations that Dong Thap province's agriculture sector is aiming for, it is necessary to have contributions, support and synchronous coordination from producers, to specialized agencies, management agencies, departments, branches, unions and consumer businesses, consumers... I believe that the implementation of the organic agriculture development project in 2025 and the following years will have many advantages and more positive changes, contributing to the successful implementation of the organic agriculture development plan of Dong Thap province in the period of 2021 - 2025. 2030...”.

Source: https://baodongthap.vn/kinh-te/hieu-qua-tu-du-an-phat-trien-nong-nghiep-huu-co-do-to-chuc-seed-to-table-ho-tro-131304.aspx