VIETNAM

Enabling poor rural people to overcome poverty

Tam Nong Support Project (TNSP) Ninh Thuan

Project needs assessment, Ninh Thuan province.

Project Rationale
Ninh Thuan province is the driest in Vietnam. For those with agriculture-based livelihoods and un-irrigated lands, life is difficult. Droughts are prolonged and common due to high rainfall variability. Poor rural households suffer substantial periods of food shortage. The Raglai people represent 61% of the poor in the project communes, and are marked by poor access to productive land and a continued reliance on forests (often protected forests) for livelihoods during periods of food shortage. A mixture of poor soils, sloping lands, poor farming practices, lack of water, lack of finances and knowledge further add to the problem of low yields and food insecurity. The Government chose Ninh Thuan based on its location within a poor region of the country, and on having large populations of ethnic minority households with high rates of poverty.

Project Objectives
The projects goal is to increase the quality of life for rural people, especially those who live in the most disadvantaged areas. The development objective is the sustained and profitable economic participation of ethnic minority and rural poor households living in six districts of Ninh Thuan.

International Fund for Agricultural Development

IFAD VIETNAM

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TNSP Ninh Thuan

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Project Area and Target Group

Enabling poor rural people to overcome poverty

The project will cover all six of the Provinces rural districts, focusing on 27 communes with high poverty levels. Over 80% of the poor Raglai households will be reached, as will over 57% of all poor households in the province. The impact groups for TNSP in Ninh Thuan are poor farmers. These comprise: (i) poor Raglai ethnic minorities in the upland areas; and (ii) poor farmers in lowland areas, mostly Kinh and Cham, but also Raglai ethnic minority groups. The Raglai with a 49% poverty rate, are the most vulnerable group in the province. They represent about 10% of the Provinces population and 36% of its poor. However, based on poverty head count, the Kinh account for 54% of the poor in the Province while their poverty rate is only 8%. Gender Mainstreaming TNSP will seek gender balance in all supported groups, boards and committees to ensure the views of both men and women enter discussions and planning.

Project Strategy
The Government of Vietnams development policy, Agriculture, Farmers, and Rural Areas (Tam Nong) specifically targets the needs of ethnic minorities and the rural poor. Rather than promoting subsistence farming, the TNSP approach would be to improve market opportunities in value chains. This requires linking supply with demand, resulting in a win-win scenario for farmers and buyers. Production and marketing of higher value, differentiated products will help promote economic growth and alleviate rural poverty.

Project Components
Institutional Strengthening for Implementation of Pro-Poor Initiatives in Tam Nong Promotion of Pro-Poor Value Chains Commune Market-Oriented Socio-Economic Development Planning and Implementation

Project Cost and Financing

Total costs for the programme are around USD $17.2 million. 74% of the costs will be financed by an IFAD loan, which will contribute to each of the three project components. The Government of Vietnam will finance 17% of costs and Private Sector/ Beneficiaries will finance the remaining 9%.

Benefits and Impact

About 9,000 poor households and 12,000 ethnic minority households would benefit from the project. Among the beneficiaries, ethnic minorities and women will experience increased yields, greater incomes and enhancement of their household and public sphere roles. All project interventions would ensure that women and ethnic people are not marginalized. Women would participate in more community initiatives and have better access to services, information and markets. They would initiate inclusive community development and participate more actively in decision-making processes at both family and community levels.

Contact details
Atsuko Toda Country Programme Manager Asia and Pacific Division International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) Unit 304, UN Apartment Building 2E Van Phuc, Kim Ma Str, Ha Noi, Vietnam Tel: 0084- (4) 3823 7231; Fax: + 84 (4) 3823 3819 Email: at.toda@ifad.org Skype: atsuko.toda Website: www.ifad.org.vn

International Fund for Agricultural Development

IFAD VIETNAM

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TNSP Ninh Thuan

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