Support ethnic minorities to develop green, clean and sustainable agriculture

In recent times, the SPRINT Project funded by the Government of Canada (GAC) has implemented many activities in the province, aiming to improve the socio-economic welfare of ethnic minorities through promoting clean growth in the agricultural sector. About 20,000 women and men working in micro, small and medium enterprises, as well as production groups have benefited from the Project. Thanks to that, many production models have been innovated, contributing to the construction of a modern, green, clean and sustainable agriculture.

Lao Chai Commune Livestock Cooperative was established in 2023 with 9 members. Currently, the Cooperative's total herd includes 30 buffaloes and cows; 200 pigs and more than 1,000 poultry. In addition, the Cooperative has also developed a dried hawthorn production model, with a planting area of ​​about 5 hectares, with an estimated output of 20 tons of fresh fruit, equivalent to 3 tons of dried products. After considering the feasibility of the model, the SPRINT Project Organizing Committee supported the Cooperative with a solar dryer worth 160 million VND.

Mr. Sung A Nu - Head of Lao Chai Livestock Cooperative shared: Thanks to the project's support for the energy drying house, the time to dry the hawthorn apples was shortened from 7 days to 3 days, the apples dried faster, less loss, the shape was evenly golden and beautiful, increasing the value of the product, increasing the income of the cooperative members. Therefore, when receiving support, we used it effectively and for the right purpose. Besides, we also constantly innovated our management thinking, improved productivity and product quality, to meet the increasing needs of consumers.

Owners of micro, small and medium enterprises and production groups participating in the SPRINT Project are trained in skills to access, identify quality information and market networks, and apply digital technology to operational management.

Minh An Cooperative, Lam Thuong Commune was established in February 2025 with 6 members, specializing in producing cinnamon essential oil from cinnamon branches and leaves, with an initial capacity of 2 tons/day. After receiving support from the Project to upgrade the chopping machine worth 80 million VND and participating in training on production knowledge, the Cooperative increased its capacity to 5 tons/day, thereby helping to increase income for members.

Ms. Trieu Thi Chin - Head of Minh An Cooperative shared: The project not only brings practical support but also becomes a source of motivation, an extension of knowledge, technology, capital and trust for local small and medium enterprises like us. When the cooperative develops, it will create more jobs for local workers, especially ethnic minorities.

Aiming to improve the performance of micro, small and medium enterprises, as well as production groups, with a special focus on ethnic minority women in the agro-food value chain, the SPRINT Project has accompanied Lao Cai province in addressing the challenges of the agricultural sector related to resilience and response to climate change.

From April to September 2025, the Project has implemented many activities such as: training and coaching on business administration; technical support, providing innovation support packages towards clean growth; organizing fairs to promote regional specialties (May 2025); training on integrating gender issues in policy development and implementation related to ethnic minority areas, focusing on the fields of green growth and climate change-adaptive agriculture...

SPRINT Project participants are trained in online sales.

The Project Organizing Committee also awarded the support package on "Innovation in clean growth" and "Solutions for clean growth" to 12 units. These are all units operating in the agricultural sector, including: Tea, bamboo shoots, hawthorn, cinnamon and sticky rice... Of which, 7 proposals were selected to receive the support package "Solutions for clean growth" and 5 proposals were selected to receive the support package "Innovation in clean growth" in the first phase. It is expected that in 2026 and 2027, the SPRINT Project will continue to implement the support package in the second and third phases, with a total of 75 applications for all 3 phases, each support package from 17 to 850 million VND. This is an important resource for cooperative enterprises and cooperative groups to innovate production processes, apply clean technology, improve management efficiency, reduce costs, reduce emissions, increase competitiveness, and contribute to building a modern, green, clean and sustainable agriculture.

Ms. Khadij Razlik - First Secretary of the Canadian Embassy discussed with owners of micro, small and medium enterprises and production groups participating in the SPRINT Project.

Ms. Khadij Razlik - First Secretary of the Canadian Embassy said: I appreciate the role of small and medium enterprises, cooperatives, production groups, especially those led by women, in promoting inclusive growth and improving resilience to climate change. Therefore, Canada has supported micro, small and medium enterprises, as well as cooperatives to apply technology and small-scale climate change response solutions to promote clean growth, creating momentum for transforming the development model. Through the SPRINT Project, about 20,000 ethnic minority women and men have benefited, thereby innovating production models towards green - clean, increasing management efficiency, reducing costs, reducing emissions and improving competitiveness in the market.

During the period from October to December 2025, the SPRINT Project will continue to organize training on skills to access and identify quality information and market networks, apply digital technology to operational management and economic activities, generate income and implement post-training support activities; continue to organize fairs to introduce regional specialties combined with networking events in Mu Cang Chai commune; launch and operate a social networking site combined with online commerce: OCOP Lao Cai, to promote the introduction and promotion of OCOP products in Lao Cai province, towards converting them into intermediary sales channels, connecting consumers with reputable OCOP product suppliers in the province, focusing on the Project's priority agricultural value chains.

Micro, small and medium enterprise owners, production groups discuss with the SPRINT Project Organizing Committee.

In addition, the Project continues to provide technical support to community facilitators and organizes sharing sessions on the topic “Gender mainstreaming and inclusive leadership in clean growth and climate-resilient agriculture”. Through this, ethnic minorities are encouraged to innovate production models towards green growth, improve management efficiency, reduce costs, reduce emissions, increase competitiveness, and contribute to building a modern, green, clean and sustainable agriculture.

Source: https://baolaocai.vn/ho-tro-dong-bao-dan-toc-thieu-so-phat-trien-nong-nghiep-xanh-sach-ben-vung-post883363.html