Japan helps Yen Bai develop rural areas
A delegation from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) had a working session with Yen Bai authorities on November 18 on the pace of a pilot rural development programme launched in the northern mountainous province since May.
Of the 18 irrigation and transport sub-projects, two have been underway in Van Yen and Van Chan districts.
![]() |
At the working session, local authorities and JICA agreed to set up three teams to inspect the implementation of farming promotion, infrastructure projects and social activities under the programme. The teams will then submit reports to the JICA and the Ministry and Agriculture and Rural Development.
Earlier, JICA sponsored a similar programme in the northern mountainous province of Dien Bien from 2010 to 2015. The programme succeeded in boosting local farming capacity. Based on this experience, Dien Bien had complied a detailed farming handbook.
The programme is now expanded to five localities with geographical features similar to Dien Bien, which are Yen Bai, Lao Cai, Ha Giang, Son La and Lai Chau. The five provinces have been using the Dien Bien handbook to replicate the farming models. If their outcomes prove effective, they will receive further investment from JICA.