CAN THO CITY, Vietnam – ASSIST partnered with SGS Vietnam, a leading inspection, verification, testing and certification company, to strengthen and improve rice farmers’ competitiveness in the Mekong delta region by applying an innovative farmer cooperative model and adopting food safety standards according to Global GAP, a benchmark for farm management practices.
Vietnam has more than 10,000 agricultural cooperatives (AC). The internal capacities of the majority of these ACs are known to lack management skills, such as financing, facilities, technology, and operation skills.
The project will select groups from the Can Tho-Hau Giang province, and Dong Thap province. Forty cooperative advisors will be trained from each province, to raise awareness on Global GAP standards, and to provide support to the consultant such as conducting trainings.
The project will continue to train 30 Global GAP internal auditors, 3 global auditors, and 1,000 farmers from five selected agricultural cooperatives on Global GAP and SGS’ traceability platform.
An opening ceremony for the project was held at the People’s Committee of Thoi Lai Ward, Can Tho City on May 25. Mr. Vu Duc Thang, Deputy General Director of SGS, Mr. Aru David, Regional Director of ASSIST, and Mr. Vo Duc Gia, Consultant of ASSIST spoke to the participating farmers on the goals of the training.
