With the support of:
In Viet Nam, the fourth phase of the Integrated Country Approach for boosting decent jobs for youth in the agrifood system (ICA-4 project) targets the rice value chain in the Mekong River Delta (MRD). The MRD region is the most important rice-producing and exporting region in Viet Nam, accounting for over 50 percent of national rice production and 95 percent of exports in 2023.
More than one million agricultural households are engaged in rice production and over one thousand businesses operate in the rice value chain as rice traders, millers and exporters, generating employment opportunities in rural areas. With global demand for food reserves rising and consumer preferences shifting towards higher value aromatic rice and value-added rice products, the rice sector is projected to experience continued market growth in the future.
Nevertheless, the value chain is characterized by an aging workforce and a shrinking youth population, as young people migrate to urban areas in search of employment opportunities in other industries perceived as more attractive. Those who remain are often engaged in low-skilled, low-paid, informal, seasonal jobs, when not unemployed or inactive. Restrictive social and gender norms further limit the engagement of young women and youth from ethnic minorities.
A youth-sensitive analysis across three MRD provinces is informing the definition of priority intervention areas for the ICA-4 project. Potential opportunities for greater youth engagement have been already identified in mechanization services, digital marketing solutions, digital agro-input provision (e.g. drone services), youth-led value addition (e.g. rice paper and noodles), and the use of rice by-products (e.g. rice husks for energy, biochar, rice straw for mushroom cultivation, animal feed, and biofertilizer).
Country highlights
ICA-4 inception workshop.
The inception workshop for the youth-sensitive assessment of the rice value chain took place in November 2024 in Can Tho, gathering more than 40 participants. Its purpose was to discuss the findings from the desk review with value chain stakeholders, gather feedback, and define key constraints and opportunities for decent youth employment to be further analyzed during the field research.
A youth-sensitive analysis.
A youth-sensitive analysis across three Mekong River Delta provinces is informing the definition of priority intervention areas. Potential opportunities for greater youth engagement have been already identified in mechanization, digital marketing, drone services, value addition, and rice by-product use.
