As a "resident" of the Mekong Delta in search of circular agricultural models, in your opinion, what potential does Vietnam in general and the Mekong Delta in particular hold to develop agriculture?

Obsessed with the production race, farmers started depending on high-yielding varieties, fertilizers, and pesticides heavily. Now they have to face the environmental issues that they created.

Agriculture in the Mekong Delta has many shortcomings: pollution from chemical fertilizers, pesticides, hormones and antibiotics, not to mention over-irrigation using groundwater.

The Mekong Delta generates 40% of Vietnam's agricultural output, with 80% of the people involved in agriculture activities. This region possesses many advantageous farming conditions, so there clearly is potential for sustainable agriculture and circular agriculture. With that being said, there requires a firm resolve to change from farmers.

Although farmers in the Mekong Delta have realized the potential of the circular economy, how should they catch up?

Farmers must reduce their dependency on harmful auxiliaries. They have to be stronger in mindset.

Circular farming basically is to make sure that you treat the environment well, use what you have in that environment, and instead of throwing everything away you reuse what is left in the fields and orchards as much as possible.

Agriculture waste should not be discarded. Farmers can use it to make biochar or compost. Fortunately I can also see that many farmers use plastic bottles as plant containers or insect traps instead of just throwing them away.

Mekong Delta farmers are very intelligent. Just show the options and they can execute them without problems. They are a very promising force, so circular is within reach. In fact there are many circular models in the Mekong Delta, such as garden pond stable.

Using existing knowledge, is there a possibility for farmers to acquire newer and better models?

The garden water pond model holds great advantages, but its practice has been reduced in recent years. It needs a comeback, but in a way that is more beneficial to farmers.

High usage demand on pesticides and other chemical by-products has led to an increase in costs, overpriced products, thus reducing the profit. Mitigated usage of fertilizers and pesticides can increase the overall value of the model and generate higher profits.

Dear sir, do current advances in science and biotechnology help farmers apply models more easily and conveniently or face more problems?

It would be great if biotechnology can fully helps farmers easily, such as helping to make compost or produce black soldier flies.

Once again I must say that circular farming is about building resilience so that farmers can adapt to the environment. Making them insist on a certain technology will make it difficult for them to withstand new situations as they don't know what to do.

Small-scale production, little investment, and even lack of knowledge for a closed procedure, so how can we promote the development of circular economy in the Mekong Delta?

What I completely agree with is the farmer’s lack of knowledge. Therefore, we need to put a lot more effort into improving their capacity and knowledge of circular agriculture. Training farmers is one thing, but we should train local agricultural staff as well. That should be our number one priority.

But instead of encouraging an immediate switch to a new model, farmers need to be encouraged to adapt to what they truly pay attention to. I've worked with so many farmers around the world. They all have one thing in common: everyone wants to avoid risk.

Farmers only do something new if they believe everything will turn out fine. A change cannot be carried out in a forced manner. They should slowly adapt to a better system so they can get back on the right track and cultivate efficiently.

What is your opinion about the role of enterprises in the development of circular economy?

Enterprise play a great role in the development of circular economy as the distance between farmers and universities as well as the government is more and more enlarged.

However it is rare to see a company that helps farmers produce their products without the excessive need for chemical pesticides or fertilizers or using biological crop protection or drip irrigation technologies. Enterprises would be the closest friends of farmers if they did.

I believe that the government should set specific rules of action for businesses. Universities must also show their support using scientific evidence concerning what the company sells or what models they are putting into operation.

Thank you, sir!

The benefits of Business Continuity Plan

This tool is designed during the Covid-19 pandemic to support small and medium enterprises (SMEs) by designing a Business Continuity Plan (BCP). The tool allows you to:

- Assess the level of risk and vulnerability of the business.

- Develop an effective risk and contingency system for the business.

The tool aims to establish businesses' risk profiles and vulnerability to Covid-19 in terms of its impact on 4Ps (People - Process - Profits - Partnerships).

BCP can be a “salvage” for your employees! Business continuity means continuity of food on the family’s table. This way your employees will have more confidence in the business and be more proactive at work.

Phuoc Hoa (Source: ILO - International Labor Organization)

Translated by Samuel Pham