Vietnam initiatives aim to empower women in agriculture and cooperatives

Efforts are underway in Vietnam to enhance the role of women in agriculture, forestry, and fisheries by focusing on sustainable livelihoods and decision-making power. Dr. Tran Huu Nghi, Director of the Center for Tropical Forestry Research (Tropenbos Vietnam), emphasizes that vocational training must be tailored to the specific living conditions, time constraints, and diverse roles of women—ranging from direct producers to cooperative managers and technical staff.

In Lao Cai province, the Women's Union is promoting entrepreneurship and collective economic development. A recent seminar focused on improving the quality of cooperatives and working groups managed by women. The initiative aims to move beyond merely establishing new organizations toward ensuring their long-term sustainability. Key objectives include enhancing management capacity, expanding market access, and increasing the value of local agricultural products to help women overcome challenges related to capital and market connectivity.