Page 54 - Agricultural innovation

collective economic organizations or fruit farms in the provinces. With limited financial conditions,
not all households can invest in saltwater and pest warning devices, so the form of participating in
cooperatives is a suitable and effective solution. Thereby, members can share necessary information as
well as carry out “buying and selling together” to find added value and economic efficiency.
However, to replicate the model to other households in the cooperative in terms of building internal
dikes (household gardens) requires a large investment compared to the financial potential of the
household, especially poor and marginal households. poor. Therefore, there needs to be capital support
programs for these subjects as well as investment linkages between households in the cooperative.

4.8.4. Conclusions

The model of growing green-skinned grapefruit in Giong Trom is a model sponsored by the IFAD
Ben Tre project to support local fruit growing households to cope with climate change, specifically
saltwater intrusion in the region. Although the model has only been invested in for one household,
information about salinity and pest status can be shared among households in the area to serve
community benefits.For a large agricultural production region like the Mekong Delta, adapting to
climate change is the way to survive and develop in the future. Adaptation models to this phenomenon
are similar to the model at Giong Trom Pomelo Cooperative, Ben Tre province, which has helped
farmers preserve and develop orchards not only through formal solutions farming (multi-storey,
circular) but also construction solutions (dykes, digital technology equipment) and market (modern
consumption channels supermarkets and online). These climate change adaptation measures can
be widely deployed to individual households or collective economic organizations in the province
or in the region if there is support from the Government, national projects which are international
or domestic funding. Even with collective economic organizations or residential communities, it is
possible to mobilize the potential of each member and socialize so that they can form sustainable
farming methods, minimizing the effects of pollution, negative impacts of climate change in general
and saltwater intrusion in particular.

5. SOME INNOVATION MODELS IN INSTITUTIONS
IN AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT

5.1. Model of Farmer’s Network in Laos
5.1.1. General information

Lao Farmer Network (LFN) was established on 20 February 2020. With 164 members, 42,685 people,
20,090 women, covering 16 provinces that include agricultural production groups, agricultural
cooperatives, and agricultural producers’ associations, the network has been active in the strengthening
of farmers’ organizations, agricultural business development, learning from farmers to farmers and
policy contributions.

5.1.2. Model development
To strengthen the organization, LFN helps to create a production sub-network according to the product.
Under LFN, there are sub-network including Vegetable Farmers Network, Rice Farmer Network,
Industrial Crops Network, NTFP Farmers Network, Coffee Farmers Network, Tea Farmers Network,
and Livestock Farmer Network. LFN also supports sub-network to improve group management, better
financial management, and update the group database. LFN helps members promote their products
through seminars, websites, YouTube, Facebook, and the like.

Agricultural Innovation Review in CLV Countries 47