Effectively management of ongoing projects

In 2021, the Management Board for Agriculture Projects had only one project, VnSAT, which was being implemented. The Central Project Management Board for VnSAT focused on urging contractors to speed up the construction progress of 2 subprojects to upgrade coffee seed nurseries at the Central Highlands Agro-Forestry Science and Technology Institute and the Tropical Forestry Center under the Vietnam Academy of Forestry Science.

Communication activities and chain linkage were promoted to support the local project management boards for VnSAT to complete the procedures to carry out the construction of 117 sub-projects with a capital of VND 1,600 billion and speed up the construction progress of the sub-projects.

As of December 31, 2021, over 50% of the contract volume has been completed. This is a large and complex workload that has resulted in the trust of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the donors.

For the construction project of Phu Quoc Fisheries Surveillance Station (performing the entrustment task), the bidding package No.9 and package No.11 had been awarded. The Management Board for Agriculture Projects has been speeding up the bidding package No.10, actively cooperated with the investor to remove obstacles and difficulties in procedures, approve and speed up the implementation progress, strengthen supervision of quality and process to ensure credibility. As a result, in 2021, VND 32 billion had been disbursed, reaching 100% of the year plan.

In order to manage these projects effectively, the Management Board for Agriculture Projects has promoted monitoring and evaluation, and reports to MARD and donors are done through periodic and ad hoc basic.

The board also participates in or organize monitoring team to assess the implementation of projects in the provinces to ensure that the difficulties and problems of the projects are promptly removed, implemented and completed according to the project's plan.

International cooperation projects play an important role in the achievements in all fields of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, such as agriculture, irrigation, forestry, fisheries, rural development...

Especially in the process of restructuring the agricultural sector, the first project that the World Bank (World Bank) committed to support and implement for the country's agriculture sector was the Vietnam Sustainabe Agriculture Transformation (VnSAT)".

Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Le Quoc Doanh

Implementing 3 projects, proposing new projects

Mr. Le Van Hien, Head of the Management Board for Agricultural Projects affirms: With a high sense of responsibility, the Management Board for Agricultural Projects has implemented the direction of the leaders of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development effectively, been working closely with relevant agencies under the MARD, donors and localities to prepare proposals and create new projects.

The Sustainable Fisheries Development Project (a component of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development), funded by the World Bank, has a large scale with an investment of VND 6,500 billion. It plays an important role in the sustainable development of the fisheries sector in the next period of 2021 - 2025.

In 2021, the Management Board for Agricultural Projects has successfully completed the project investment preparation, specifically completed the preparation of construction survey documents and pre-feasibility study reports, with good quality. The project is highly appreciated by the appraisal agencies of the MARD and has been submitted to the Prime Minister for approval.

The Management Board for Agricultural Projects is actively working with ministries and agencies to appraise the project and strives to have it approved in the first quarter of 2022. As planned, partners will negotiate the agreement in the third quarter of 2022 so that the project can be implemented in the fourth quarter.

As for the infrastructure investment project to support cooperatives developing raw material areas, this is the first project that the Management Board for Agricultural Projects is assigned by the MARD as an investor with state budget capital.

The project has been approved for investment policy, submitted to the Prime Minister for decision on medium-term capital for 2021 - 2026. The project will complete the economic and technical report in the first quarter of 2022, be ready to award the construction contract in the fourth quarter of 2022.

For the Project of Upgrading and Renovating Infrastructure for Salt Production in the 2021 - 2025 period, the Management Board for Agricultural Projects is assigned as an investor by the MARD with state budget. Up to now, the project has been allocated medium-term capital for 2021 - 2025, is preparing a technical research report with the expectation to be approved in 1st quarter of 2022 and be ready to implement in the fourth quarter of 2022.

For projects that are in the proposal stage, up to now, the Smart Agricultural Value Chain Infrastructure Development Project to adapt to climate change (with ADB loan), ministries and sectors have written comments. The Management Board for Agricultural Projects has completed the proposal with a capital of VND 1,000 billion. Up to now, the MARD has submitted the project’s document to the Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI) and the Ministry of Finance to appraise and has submitted the project proposal to the Prime Minister for approval.

Besides, there are 3 projects that are developing proposals. Safe Agricultural Food Project in Vietnam (with WB loan), the Management Board for Agricultural Projects has worked with the MPI to clarify the investment contents of the component of the MARD; coordinate and support localities in updating and completing project proposals in accordance with regulations.

Essential infrastructure development project to support agricultural transformation to adapt to climate change in coastal areas of the Mekong Delta (with ADB loan), in 2021 Management Board for Agricultural Projects closely followed the assigned tasks, organized a meeting working with donors, localities and agencies of the MARD. Up to now, the project proposal report of the Management Board for Agricultural Projects has been submitted to the MARD for submission to the Prime Minister for approval.

Regarding the Project on Development of Low Carbon Agricultural Value Chains, this is a project with many different views between the MARD and the WB on the project's objectives. So far, after 3 years of preparing the proposal, there is still no consensus be reached between partners. Currently, the the Management Board for Agricultural Projects and related agencies are continuing to collect ideas on project goals and ideas.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development is coordinating with localities to prepare new international projects with the aim of supporting the process of restructuring the agricultural sector and building new rural areas according to new goals and aspirations, such as for the ecological agriculture, modern rural areas, smart farmers; the goal of increasing added value in agriculture, improving the material and spiritual life for farmers...

Therefore, the priorities of projects attracting ODA and international financial institutions will focus on areas such as helping to respond to climate change, preventing natural disasters, creating infrastructure for agriculture...

Nguyen Do Anh Tuan, Director of the Department of International Cooperation, MARD

Translated by Khanh Linh