VIETNAMS NORTHERN UPLAND: Six Years of Remarkable Achievement in Ha Giang The market in Niem Son Commune, Meo Vac

district, Ha Giang province couldnt look more vibrant and colourful on its trading days. Buyers and sellers busily exchange goods that have been produced locally and from neighbouring districts. Its difficult to imagine this market didnt exist a few years ago and people had to travel long distances to purchase their daily necessities. This busy market was built with the support of IFADs Decentralised Programme for Rural Poverty Reduction (DPPR) in Ha Giang. It put an end to the super bargaining power of local private businesses who were only willing to pay rather low prices to the people who grew, raised or made the goods. The market enables buyers and sellers to meet directly and therefore cut out the costs of intermediaries. This market is just one of many infrastructures in Ha Giang built by IFAD during the DPPRs operation. Begun in 2005, IFADs DPPR Programme in Ha Giang has now drawn to a close; its planned six year duration is over; its mission goals accomplished. Commenting on these achievements, Ms Atsuko Toda, IFAD Vietnams Country Programme Manager, says, Over the life time of the project, DPPR in Ha Giang has helped 352 villages in 45 communes. We think thats a remarkable achievement for one programme in just six years. With local contribution in land, materials and labour, the programme has managed to build important community infrastructure such as roads, bridges, irrigation and markets. Since the [DPPR] Programme invested in building a market for Niem Son commune, people have enjoyed making profits from trading their own products, which can be transported to neibouring communes and districts for consumption, said Ms. Lam Thi Vy, Chairperson of Peoples Committee of Niem Son commune, Meo Vac district, Ha Giang. The overall goal of DPPR Ha Giang was to improve the socio-economic situation of households with special difficulties with an emphasis on utilization of community-driven and comprehensive development measures. Women account for 45% of the total number of community beneficiaries and almost all beneficiaries are ethnic minorities. Mr. Tan A Pau, Chairman of Ngam La commune, Yen Minh district in Ha Giang, confirmed that the previous household poverty rate was 70%, and now, after project completion, this rate is only 30%. DPPR Ha Giang has significantly impacted the improvement of socioeconomic conditions for the poor by helping improve incomes and household assets, ensuring food security and reducing child malnutrition. Thousands of peoples lives have been touched and improved thanks to the programmes support through micro-finance, market participation, gender equality and advanced agricultural methods. Mr. Giang Minh Chu, a

beneficiary in Sung Chang commune, Yen Minh, shares; In March 2010, I received a cow worth 10 million VND from IFAD. A year later, the cow gave birth to a calf which I sold for 5 million VND and bought 2 pigs. Life is much better now. Another beneficiary, Mr. Vi Van Nghiens family at Thac Nga commune breed buffalos, oxen and pigs. In the past, these animals waste wasnt processed and therefore polluted the environment. After practical, hands-on training with IFAD, his family and some other households in the hamlet built a bio-gas system to process the waste. Now, the environment is clean and fuel is produced to meet their daily needs. Previously, local people cultivated only one crop per year and had no knowledge of fertiliser. With training provided by the project, they now understand intensive cultivation, have increased their crops to two per year and grow/produce new breeds of corn, rice and soy beans. These new methods and breeds have increased yields considerably. Theyve also received training in animal health and disease prevention (particularly for cattle and pigs.) In Khuon Lung commune, Xin Man district, a reforestation project has been financed by IFAD to prevent erosion and provide a renewable resource for the future. Mr. Hoang Minh Ven, one of the beneficiaries commented: Our family received support to purchase 2500 trees for planting and we feel very happy. All these positive changes to peoples lives would not have been possible without enormous effort and collaboration between IFAD and various local and central partners. They include the Provincial Project Management Unit of DPPR Ha Giang, the Provincial Party Committee, the Provincial Peoples Committee of Ha Giang, different government agencies, local authorities at all levels and the poor farmers themselves living in 45 target communes. Mr. Nguyen Minh Tien, Deputy Chairman of Ha Giang Peoples Committee wrapped up DPPRs activities in Ha Giang by commenting The programme, I believe, has made a significant and incredible improvement to the lives of ethnic minority people in one of Vietnams most difficult and remote areas. He continued by emphasizing The local government is fully committed to sustaining and expanding the good models which have been demonstrated by the project. Its very important to build on project successes while fostering better links between local farmers and enterprises for sustainable poverty reduction in Ha Giang in the future.