Supporting the transition to low-carbon, climate-resilient agricultural landscapes and livelihoods in the Mekong Delta.
A story of disability inclusion practices in the TRVC project’s rice value chain
Điển hình thành công giúp lan tỏa thực hành giảm phát thải
Angimex – Kitoku Company is a distinctive case among the businesses participating in the TRVC project.
The European market requires higher quality standards: reducing emissions, meeting strict maximum residue limits, and having official rice brand certification for acceptance. No matter how much we explain or convince buyers, they will not accept the product without certification.
That is why we are very pleased to participate in the TRVC Project. Through the Project, we have reached new customers in Europe and attracted interest from international partners seeking collaboration.
Our decision to partner with Angimex–Kitoku and join the TRVC Project was not based on preferential support for persons with disabilities, but on practical benefits such as improved production processes, clear technical guidance, and stable output through contract farming.
“When our business is successful, I feel more confident. At first, I was also scared and didn’t know how to cope with life. But our living conditions have improved, and my husband has become less short-tempered and more hardworking.” (He has hearing and speech disabilities.)
Since joining the low-emission rice farming model through the partnership between Duoc Mua Coop. and Trung An Company in TRVC Project, I have seen significant improvements. Labor requirements are lower, farming has become easier, and input costs have decreased through reduced fertilizer and seed use. As a result, my income has increased by VND 400,000–500,000/ công, while input costs have fallen by VND 300,000–400,000/ công.
Seeing the rice we produced exported to Japan gives me great pride and confidence as our hard work meets international standards.
For the past few years, farmers like us have felt very encouraged to participate in the partnership with VINARICE in the TRVC Project. We really hope the Project will continue so that farmers can keep joining for more cropping seasons, because from what I have seen, low-emission rice farming does not cause any disadvantages for farmers at all.
For example, not burning rice straw helps reduce smoke, protect health, and create extra income from selling baled straw. After being part of this model for several years, I can clearly see the benefits. Farmers are not losing out, it is actually better for our income, our health, and the environment.
A few years ago, my farming was unstable. Since partnering with Duoc Mua Cooperative and Trung An Company through the TRVC Project, things have improved and I feel more secure. I reduced seed use from 30 to 12 kilograms per công following Trung An’s practices. Although the field looks less dense, it lowers input costs, reduces fertilizer and pesticide use, and keeps the rice healthier.
Since joining the Project, I have expanded from 15 to 35 công. With lower production costs, our income has improved, and my wife and I feel happier and more confident about the future.
The journey for Angimex-Kitoku to secure a sustainable finance partnership with MUFG Bank was long and challenging. Data from the TRVC Project played an important role in meeting MUFG’s evaluation criteria. After due diligence, Angimex-Kitoku was confirmed as the first enterprise in Vietnam’s agriculture sector to obtain a sustainability-linked loan.
Even our parent company was surprised, as MUFG is one of the world’s leading financial institutions with very strict data verification standards for sustainability-linked financing.
