The Central Group Vietnam and Big C Vietnam have officially launched the Sinh ke cong dong (Livelihood for Communities) programme, which supports the livelihoods of farmers, fishermen and poor households in coastal, and rural and remote areas with incomes under VND5 million (US$220.2) per month.

Tran Van Chuong, manager of the programme, said the group recognises the development potential of agriculture and handicrafts as well as small- and medium-sized enterprises.

Many of the enterprises have good products that remain unknown. “The Livelihood for Communities programme was launched to develop a sustainable supply chain for agricultural and handicraft products, from the production to the consumption stage, and then gradually stabilising income and improving farmers’ lives, mainly in remote areas.”

The Steering Committee for the programme consists of r representatives from Central Group Vietnam and five independent members who work in prestigious associations and organisations such as the Association of Viet Nam Retailers, Seabank, the Ministry of Industry and Trade’s Domestic Market Department, the Sub-Institute of Agricultural Engineering and Post-Harvest Technology and Oxfam Vietnam.

The steering committee will focus supporting farmers who have already reached basic standards of safe produce yet have not been able to access the distribution network and the modern retail system. It will help them develop specialty products associated with the heritage of each particular region. — VNS