[{"bbox": [96, 153, 1134, 470], "category": "Text", "text": "country and aims to achieve an annual growth rate of 7.3% and produce 1.1 million Mt by 2025. As a result, the volume of shrimp products is growing quickly (more than 400 thousand tons/year), but at the same time increases the environmental pressure, because wastes and residuals are not properly treated. It is estimated that the associated residuals and by-products from shrimp industry will reach 0.38-0.49 million Mt by 2025 (VNFOOD, 2024). The growth would not be sustained in the long-run as exporters will be required to demonstrate environmental standards to be able to export to advanced markets. They will need to invest in a cleaner, more sustainable production. At the moment, the Vietnamese agricultural commodities for export focus mainly on quantity with low added values. For example, among products exported to EU, raw coffee beans accounts for 95% of the total coffee export turnover, raw cashew nuts, raw pepper and frozen /pre-processed seafood account for 96.8%, 79% and 60%, respectively. The government aims to establish agricultural value chains that are based on sound quality, safety and traceability management systems in order to produce national brand products linked with associated traditional and cultural values."}, {"bbox": [96, 483, 1134, 668], "category": "Text", "text": "Unsustainable agricultural practices in Viet Nam, such as excessive use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides, monocropping, and deforestation for farmland, contribute to reducing climate resilience. These practices degrade soil quality, reduce biodiversity, and increase vulnerability to pests and diseases, leading to lower crop yields. Additionally, they exacerbate water scarcity and increase greenhouse gas emissions, further impacting climate resilience. The degradation of natural resources and ecosystems undermines the ability of agricultural systems to adapt to climate change, making the sector more susceptible to extreme weather events and long-term climate shifts."}, {"bbox": [96, 681, 1134, 1053], "category": "Text", "text": "The Vietnamese agricultural sector also faces a shortage of high-skilled labour and the labour pool for agricultural workers is shrinking. Labour in the agriculture, forestry, and fishery sectors currently accounts for 30% of the total workforce, but less than 2% of about 520,000 students attending universities in 2022 majoring in related disciplines. Some traditional agricultural areas face challenges in enrolling new students recently²¹. Higher-skilled workers tend to move to other sectors like manufacturing and services. The income gap between men and women is the biggest (43%) in agriculture and foreign companies²². Women are particularly disadvantaged by their limited earnings and fewer worker protections in agriculture sector employment²³. The majority (85.9%) of women in agricultural employment are primarily involved in subsistence agriculture. The corresponding share in male agricultural employment is 59.2%²⁴. With only 23% of agricultural cooperatives being led by women and the low level of female representation at district and commune level, women are seriously under represented in planning and decision-making processes with respect to agricultural production, with ethnic minority women being particularly marginalised. This is despite the fact that rural women outnumber men working in the agricultural labour force²⁵. The situation challenges the government's ambition to develop a smart, gender-sensitive, ecological and circular agricultural sector."}, {"bbox": [96, 1066, 1134, 1249], "category": "Text", "text": "In general, the agriculture sector does not yet have sufficient capacity to take up circular economy practices. Farmers, businesses and other stakeholders often lack knowledge about business models, practices and technologies, and also necessary skills to apply circular economy approach throughout the value chain. One particular example is that due to the huge volume of water used in pork farming, a large amount of pig manure and urine become diluted in pen drainage water. Most farms and households have implemented some measures to treat liquid waste. However, no comprehensive technological solution has been implemented to address the problems so far."}, {"bbox": [96, 1262, 1134, 1424], "category": "Text", "text": "There is a need to raise awareness and build capacity of economic actors and farmers, especially women and people from underserved groups such as people with disabilities, on RCE models/practices in agricultural sector with the view to develope business cases for further upcaling. The success models and lessons learnt documented, promoted and disseminated via proper channel is essential. Currently, there are limited mechanisms or platforms for collaboration and coordination between different stakeholders involved in promoting RCE in agriculture. This lack of coordination and platforms hinders the development and implementation of effective policies and initiatives"}, {"bbox": [96, 1435, 1134, 1515], "category": "Text", "text": "The action will support the development of circular economy in the agriculture sector. It will strengthen capacity of public authorities, economic actors along agriculture value chains, and other relevant stakeholders to implement gender sensitive policies and responsible circular economy business models and practices that integrate the Human"}, {"bbox": [85, 1558, 716, 1581], "category": "Footnote", "text": "²¹ https://vir.com.vn/skilled-labour-force-needed-for-agriculture-sector-104158.html"}, {"bbox": [85, 1580, 610, 1605], "category": "Footnote", "text": "²² Oxfam briefing paper: How to tackle inequality in Viet Nam, 2017."}, {"bbox": [85, 1605, 1125, 1630], "category": "Footnote", "text": "²³ ADB, 2022. Agriculture, Natural Resources and Rural Development Sector Assessment, Strategy and Road Map - Viet Nam 2021-2025"}, {"bbox": [85, 1629, 619, 1653], "category": "Footnote", "text": "²⁴ Country Gender Equality Profile Viet Nam (ILO/UN Women, 2021)"}, {"bbox": [85, 1652, 619, 1677], "category": "Footnote", "text": "²⁵ Country Gender Equality Profile Viet Nam (ILO/UN Women, 2021)"}, {"bbox": [1035, 1678, 1144, 1703], "category": "Page-footer", "text": "Page 9 of 26"}]