Helvetas Vietnam attended the launching workshop of The Gender Responsive Equitable Agriculture and Tourism (GREAT) program in Lao Cai
On 25 June 2019, Helvetas Vietnam along with five implementing organisations of the GREAT program joined the program kick-off workshop.
As the implementing organisation of the GREAT’s subproject entitled Women’s Economic Empowerment Through Market Systems Development in Medicinal Plants, and Shan Tea intercropping with medicinal plants in Lao Cai, Helvetas Vietnam and its company partners join the kick-off to introduce about the project to related stakeholders. At the event, project’s goal and objectives, approach and expected results were presented to representatives of Lao Cai Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, Bac Ha and Bat Xat district, commune and village authorities and farmer groups in the project sites.
The Project Manager of Helvetas Vietnam had a short presentation emphasized the importance of the new approach in marketing system development that ensures the participation of ethnic minority women in the value chains of Shan tea and organic medicinal plants. By participating in the project, local women will play an essential role in strengthening and developing the Shan tea and medicinal production areas in seven communes of Bac Ha and Bat Xat districts.
It is expected that Helvetas Vietnam and other five implementing organisations of subprojects will contribute to the promotion of gender equality through agriculture and tourism activities in Lao Cai province.
CowaterSogema, the executive agency of the GREAT program highly appreciated the new initiatives and approaches of the implementing organisations and highlighted the importance of promoting women roles in the value chains.