Study period 2016 – 2017

This report articulates the findings of the project ‘Developing indicators for evaluating climate smart agriculture practices in Vietnam’, which was prepared by members of Centre for Agricultural Policy (CAP-IPSARD): Dang Kim Khoi (Director), Nguyen Thi Tam Ninh, Doan Minh Thu, Vu Thi Bich Ngoc, Pham Duc Thinh and Do Huy Thiep (Researcher).

Climate smart agriculture (CSA) was initiated in 2010 by UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) as a “triple-win” solution which systematically harmonizes between: (i) sustainable production growth; (ii) adaptation to climate change; (iii) mitigation of climate change through reducing carbon emissions or sequestering carbon. At grass-root level, Vietnamese farmers have proactively implemented various measures such as application of stress-tolerant rice varieties, adjustments of crop calendar, and changes in farming system (USAID 2016). Despite existing CSA models in Vietnam having varying impacts and costs, their “triple-win” of productivity, resilience and mitigation may not be achievable in all places. Decision-support tools are therefore needed for policy makers and practitioners to track progress of CSA implementation, evaluate its impacts, as well as facilitate an interactive learning environment to improve its performance. Nevertheless, CSA evaluation indicators which can be readily applied are not available in Vietnam. This study, therefore, aims to fill this gap by developing a set of indicators for evaluating CSA practices in Vietnam.