The Organic Project
The project was started in November 2004 and is running until end of 
October 2010. It is implemented in Hanoi and some surrounding provinces (Bac Ninh, Bac Giang, Hai Phong, Vinh Phuc, Tuyen Quang, Lao Cai). This project is implemented in collaboration with ADDAs main counterpart in Vietnam, the VNFU. Besides the VNFU, different other Vietnamese institutions, NGOs and the private sector will be involved.
This project aims to improve organic agriculture in all areas from production to consumption in a sustainable manner. The project will increase consumers' awareness and market demand for organic food. This awareness and interest is critical for the further success of organic agriculture in Vietnam since the organic 
sector
will not be able to expand if a sustained demand for its products does not exist. Activities related to these outputs include a consumer survey followed by mass media campaigns, product fairs and a number of publications. The project will also explore export market opportunities, with particular emphasis on trade with other countries in the region. For development of the organic production,
the project will directly provide interested farmers with the knowledge and skills to convert their farms into organic farms, for high quality produce. As a first step, the project will organise a number of field and community studies in order to identify the specific conditions and constraints for the development of organic agriculture in a number of important agricultural production areas. 
Based on these studies, training curriculum will be developed, and eventually a Training-of Trainers course will be organised in order to build the capacity for farmer training. Farmer training will be organised using the Farmer Field School approach, which is already successfully being used on a large scale in Vietnam for farmer training in IPM. Finally, the project will facilitate and encourage farmers to form groups/cooperatives or associations with the purpose develop their own group marketing strategies and internal quality control systems. To support the organic production system, a number of external services will need to be developed, particularly systems for quality control, input supply and training & extension. The project will therefore also support the existing initiative on the development of an independent ("third party") certification system (including the training of inspectors), study potential external sources for organic fertiliser and other inputs, and build the capacity of participating institutions in training and advising farmers.
The development objective of the project is 
that Organic producers and consumers are organised in cooperatives/associations/groups and are managing the production of certified organic agricultural products and the supply of these products to the local markets. The project will contribute to this development by ensuring A production and market framework for organic agriculture in Vietnam, promoted by VNFU, is in place and is appreciated by producers and consumers, which is the immediate objective of the project. The project is operating with 5 outputs:
- The demand for organic products in the domestic market has increased
- Organic farming systems covering seasonal and perennial crops and aquaculture are developed for the north of Vietnam
- Farmers, organized in groups, have increased organic production
- A guarantee system for organic products in the domestic market has been developed
- Increased awareness among Vietnamese GO / NGOs on the conditions needed for the development of organic agriculture
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