Better Life Farming launched in Vietnam to empower coffee and durian smallholders

Bayer has launched BLF in Vietnam to support durian and coffee farmers. Photo: Nguyen Bao

BLF, a public-private alliance co-founded by Bayer, International Finance Corporation (IFC) and Netafim, is committed to uplifting rural communities by making innovations, knowledge and financing available for smallholders in remote areas.

While the IFC works to improve smallholders' access to markets, financing, inputs, and agricultural know-how to increase their productivity, Netafim - Orbia Precision Agriculture, addresses food, water and land scarcity through irrigation and precision agriculture solutions for a sustainable future.

As the alliance broadens its reach to Vietnam, BLF welcomes partners who share the common goal of creating lasting impact and transforming farming into a reliable and appealing business that ensures stable incomes, improved livelihoods and better quality of life for durian and coffee smallholder farmers.

This includes Yara, a major player in crop nutrition solutions, offering premium fertilisers that help farmers optimise yields, grow healthier crops, and enhance soil health; and the Western Highlands Agro-Forestry Scientific and Technical Institute (WASI), responsible for training, consulting and technology transfer of cutting-edge solutions for Central Highlands agriculture.

Preceding the BLF launch, an MoU signing ceremony was held in Hanoi on October 14 extending the long-standing partnership between National Agricultural Extension Center (NAEC) and Bayer Vietnam. This partnership will now support durian and coffee, in addition to rice, to aid Vietnam’s national strategies for sustainable transformation and development of key crops.

Speaking at the event, Dr. Le Quoc Thanh, general director of NAEC, said, "This partnership leverages NAEC's robust extension network and training capabilities at both the provincial and national levels. Together, we are committed to empowering farmers to adopt innovative practices that will improve their livelihoods, elevate the economic value of our agricultural sector, and meet international exporting standards, ultimately increasing the value of Vietnamese agricultural products on the global stage."

Bayer Vietnam signed an MoU to develop the durian and coffee sectors in line with the government's national strategy. Photo: Nguyen Bao

Backed by NAEC’ strong support and close collaboration from all partners, BLF offers a comprehensive ecosystem to support farmers and drive social, economic and environmental sustainability in the region.

"We recognise that effective agronomics, including targeted crop protection, nutrition, and irrigation, are vital for smallholder farmers striving to grow their crops profitably and sustainably. By collaborating with government agencies, agricultural experts, local communities, and partners across the agricultural value chain, we can develop comprehensive strategies that empower smallholder farmers and create lasting impacts," said Kg Krishnamurthy, country commercial lead of the Crop Science Division at Bayer Vietnam.

Bayer initiative embracing sustainable agriculture Bayer Vietnam has stepped up sustainability efforts by launching its ForwardFarm initiative in Vietnam to promote the development of agriculture.

Bayer’s sustainable agriculture efforts in Vietnam In October 2023, out of 350 companies assessed by the World Benchmarking Alliance, Bayer achieved fourth position in the Nature and Biodiversity Benchmark for reducing environmental impact, and fifth in the Food and Agriculture Benchmark for transforming food systems with sustainable practices.

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