(Photo: UNDP Vietnam)

The aid includes 200,000 kilograms of fertilizer, LED light bulbs, and water-saving irrigation systems.

Sitara Syed, UNDP Deputy Resident Representative in Vietnam said: “The UNDP wants to help Binh Thuan farmers maintain their livelihoods. Dragon fruit cooperatives have provided outlets and part-time jobs for laborers. The LED light bulbs and the drip irrigation systems will help dragon fruit farmers improve their productivity while saving electricity and water, thus reducing their input costs and carbon footprint as the Paris Agreement urges.

Export and consumption of dragon fruit has plummeted as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, forcing cooperatives to lay off many unskilled workers. 54% of Binh Thuan households have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and drought, according to a recent UNDP survey. Cooperation between the UNDP and the Binh Thuan provincial Agriculture Extension Center is attempting to strengthen links between cooperatives, poor farmers, and unskilled workers.

This project will help farmers build treatment and cold storage houses, provide training courses on intensive dragon fruit cultivation, leadership, origin traceability apps, and marketing, and help cooperatives meet international standards so they can expand their markets overseas.