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Le Quy Anh, 27 years old, is a resident of a rural village in Phu Loc district, Thua Thien Hue province. Once a bright and eager student, his world was turned upside down thirteen years ago, when a brain tumor left him paralyzed on one side.

His condition worsened significantly in late 2023. He lost complete use of his legs and arms, unable to perform simple tasks like bending, grasping, or holding objects. The constant, body-wide pain made even rolling over in bed a challenge. Beyond physical limitations, his cognitive abilities and communication skills also suffered. Simple conversations became arduous, as his speech was slow and unclear.

Completely reliant on his 54-year-old mother, the family’s sole provider, Quy Anh faced immense challenges. Their rural home, far from medical facilities, made accessing healthcare and rehabilitation services impossible. The constant pain, dependence, and isolation took a toll on his mental health.

Physical therapist is assisting Quy Anh with arm strengthening exercises.

Quy Anh’s life changed for the better in early 2024 when he received access to home-based multidisciplinary rehabilitation services through the “Improving the quality of life of persons with disabilities in provinces heavily sprayed with Agent Orange/Dioxin” project (Inclusion Project)  funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). Inclusion 1 Project is owned by the National Action Center for Toxic Chemicals and Environmental Treatment (NACCET), managed by
the Center for Creative Initiatives in Health and Population (CCIHP). MCNV is one of the project’s implementing partners, contributing to providing quality rehabilitation services to beneficiaries in Quang Tri, Thua Thien Hue and Quang Nam.

Quy Anh is now able to walk on his own.

The support provided a variety of rehabilitation services, including physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech-language therapy, delivered by therapists during bi-weekly home visits. Physical therapy helped Quy Anh regain muscle strength through exercises and proper techniques of rolling over, sitting up from a side-lying position, transitioning from sitting to standing, and practicing balance for safe walking. Concurrently, occupational therapy helped him improve hand functions like grasping and holding objects. He also practiced daily activities like scooping food, holding a cup, and putting on a shirt.

To address his communication and language difficulties, he received guidance on breathing techniques, tongue placement, and correcting pronunciation errors. Capitalizing on his love of learning, Quy Anh was particularly receptive to language exercises like poetry reading, storytelling, and singing. These activities not only aligned with his interests but also brought him tremendous joy. To further enhance his communication and cognitive abilities, the therapist advised Quy Anh’s mother to engage him in more frequent conversations about daily life.

After over two months, thanks to the dedication of the multidisciplinary team and his own unwavering perseverance, Quy Anh underwent a remarkable transformation. His pain and muscle spasms significantly decreased. He regained the ability to bend and straighten his fingers, toes, knees, and elbows. From taking hesitant steps while holding onto a wall, Quy Anh progressed to walking independently around his home.

Quy Anh becomes more confident and cheerful.

 He has transitioned from complete dependence on his mother to performing many daily activities like brushing his teeth, eating independently, and dressing himself. Once shy and hesitant, Quy Anh becomes more confident and cheerful. He can now speak fluently and clearly to express his needs or describe his day. He can even read long and difficult poems aloud.

If Quy Anh never dared to dream of leaving his bed before, now he dares to dream bigger.

 ‘I hope to have enough strength to help my mother with household chores, learn a vocation and earn an income to support her as she ages,’ Quy Anh expressed.

A series of technical training workshop were held as part of the Tropical Fruit Quality Improvement Project, aiming to enhance production capacity, fruit quality, and market competitiveness.

Delegates attended the training in Dong Thap province. Photo: Dong Thap News

The training program, focusing on soil nutrition, took place consecutively on August 9th, 12th, and 13th in Dong Thap, Binh Thuan, and Long An provinces, with the participation of delegates from the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, Farmers’ Associations at all levels, Agricultural Service Centers, and Agricultural Extension Centers and cooperatives.

 The lecturers of the training program were leading experts in agriculture from the Netherlands and Vietnam, including: Mr. Peter Prins, Director of Eurofins Soil, Water and Agriculture Consulting (Netherlands); Dr. Lam Van Ha, Southern Center for Soil, Fertilizer and Environmental Research; and Dr. Nguyen Quang Chon, expert at Eurofins Chromatography Hai Dang Company.

Mr. Peter Prins, Technical Advisor of the project, speaking at the training session in Long An province. Photo: Long An News

The program disseminated useful information to agricultural officials and farmers about the effectiveness of soil testing as well as the importance of nutrition for crops, the proper use of fertilizers, guidance on how to take accurate soil samples, and introduced the latest technologies in soil analysis such as infrared technology.

As part of the program, delegates had the opportunity to visit demonstration models such as the application of new technology in dragon fruit production in Binh Thuan and Long An provinces, pomeloes in Ben Tre, and mangoes in Dong Thap.

The training program also provides a platform for agricultural officials and farmers to exchange production experiences and seek cooperation opportunities.

Overview of the event in Binh Thuan province. Photo: Binh Thuan News

At the end of the training, participating units developed specific action plans, including sampling, analysis, and application to production for about 300 cooperatives and production households in the project provinces. The results of the soil analysis will be used as a basis to propose solutions for smart farming methods, save costs, improve the quality of export fruits, and increase economic value. The project will fully support the cost of soil testing and consulting for about 300 households. This activity lays the foundation for the Vietnam Farmers’ Union and Eurofins to expand soil analysis services more widely to farmers in Vietnam.

A farmer representative raises a question to an expert. Photo: Long An News

In agricultural production, soil and crop nutrition are closely related. The results of soil analysis and testing are the basis for supplementing the necessary nutrients, reasonably for crops to grow well, reduce carbon emissions, save production costs, and improve the quality of export fruits, increasing economic value.

According to Mr. Peter Prins, Director of Soil, Water and Agriculture Consulting Company (Netherlands), for over 100 years, farmers’ organizations in the Netherlands have established many soil laboratories. Based on soil testing, Dutch farmers find ways to fertilize accurately (based on crop requirements) to avoid overusing fertilizers, helping to save production costs and reduce pollution.

Dr. Lam Van Ha, a researcher at the Southern Center for Soil, Fertilizer, and Environmental Studies, gave a presentation on optimizing fertilizer use. Photo by Tran Le Hieu for MCNV.

A delegation from the Vietnam Farmers’ Union (VNFU) recently embarked on a study tour to the Netherlands, as part of the Tropical Fruit Quality Project. This visit, which took place from June 7th to 15th, 2024, aimed to equip Vietnamese farmers with the cutting-edge tools and techniques needed to navigate the challenges of climate change and propel their agricultural practices to the forefront of global efficiency and sustainability.

The delegation including representatives of VNFU and MCNV visits Eurofins Agro.

The delegation’s itinerary delved deep into the diverse aspects of the Dutch agricultural sector, including the integration of advanced technologies into agricultural processes, the intricacies of international agricultural logistics; alignment of fruit production practices with the requirements of international importers and experience sharing on climate-smart solutions.
The delegation was led by Ms. Bui Thi Thom, Vice President of the VNFU Executive Committee, comprising representatives from the Farmers’ Unions of project provinces (Dong Thap, Ben Tre, Long An, and Binh Thuan) alongside MCNV’s project coordinator.

The delegation’s journey began at the Hoeve Ackerdijk multi-purpose organic farm in Delft on June 7th. This model farm showcased the transformative potential of organic practices, demonstrating positive environmental impacts like improved water quality, increased biodiversity, and reduced carbon emissions. Additionally, the farm impressed with its efficient irrigation technology, advanced disease management strategies, and the combination with other services that foster farmers-citizen connection, such as a childcare facility, a nature conservation zone, and renewable energy generation.

This visit served as a testament to the high level of technological adoption by Dutch farmers and their commitment to meeting market demands while safeguarding the environment.

On June 10th, the delegation gained insight of the international agricultural logistics and market demand through a meeting with the Logistic Business Partners (LBP) Company in Rotterdam. The delegation learned about post-shipment vinegar ripening and packaging systems, quality control measures.
A fascinating fact was discovered since many agricultural products imported through LBP, such as sugarcane, chili peppers, turmeric, and aloe vera – the crops that Vietnam possesses vast potential to export. This underscored the importance of understanding import market demands and developing effective marketing strategies for Vietnamese farmers to tap into the global marketplace.

The delegation’s quest for knowledge continued at the Wageningen University & Research on June 11th to learn about plant protection solutions for fruits based on flexible greenhouses, sensor-based irrigation management technology, application of satellite data, soil scanning, climate data and weather forecasting.

On the same day, the delegation worked with RMA Company to learn about irrigation management technology based on soil moisture sensors, weather stations, and data application for effective irrigation advice. These technologies are well-suited for large cooperative models and for high-value crops.
On June 12, the delegation worked with Eurofins Agro in Wageningen. The center provides services to support farmers and growers in improving their farming systems and assists food and feed companies in sustainable production. In particular, Eurofins Agro has strengths in in-depth soil health research and deep insights to support more sustainable farming practices.
This is also a place where soil analysis techniques are continuously developed, including near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) technology or the detailed determination of parameters such as total organic carbon in soil, soil fertility, nutrient reserves, pollutants in soil and in crops, as a basis for guiding farmers in making decisions and minimizing risks.
In the time to come, the project will continue to collaborate with the VNFU to expand Eurofins’ soil testing services to more farmers in the project’s provinces, making it easier for farmers to access this valuable technology. This is the most fundamental scientific foundation for farmers to understand and step by step apply advanced knowledge to change agricultural cultivation methods.

On June 13, the delegation visited the Greentech exhibition, learning about and visiting booths introducing high-tech solutions in agriculture such as sensor systems, automatic fertilization, vertical racks, transportation management systems, automatic product sorting systems, drones for farm management, vertical garden systems, hydroponic systems, and farm monitoring systems. The delegation visited and learned about the booth introducing Fruit Logistica fair – a trade “bridge” attracting a large number of fruit importers and exporters from around the world held annually in Berlin, Germany in February.
Ms. Bui Thi Thom, VNFU Vice President, emphasized the importance of knowledge sharing and practical application: “Farmers who can witness the results of these high-tech models firsthand will be more receptive to adopting them in their own practices. The VNFU is hopeful that collaboration with the Netherlands can lead to the establishment of pilot projects in Vietnam, allowing farmers to gain firsthand experience and raise awareness of the transformative potential of agricultural technology.”

According to Vice President of VNFU, the Vietnamese government, recognizing the critical role of technology in ensuring farmer well-being and sustainable agricultural development, strongly encourages technology adoption in the sector. The VNFU, representing over 10 million members and farmers, plays a crucial role in promoting and facilitating the integration of science and technology into agricultural practices.
Ms.Bui Thi Thom also emphasized that to enhance the effectiveness of communication and assist farmers in adopting new technologies, particularly soil testing. As part of the Tropical Fruit Quality Project, VNFU, through collaborative efforts with government agencies, businesses, and enterprises, will organize promotional and training activities to further empower Vietnamese farmers.
The Tropical Fruit Quality Improvement Project is financially sponsored by the Netherlands Enterprise Agency, implemented in 04 provinces of Binh Thuan, Long An, Ben Tre and Dong Thap. The Medical Committee Netherlands – Vietnam (MCNV) plays an important role in coordinating and facilitating the flow of advanced technology and information from leading EU technical partners to Vietnam, that benefits Vietnamese farmers and fruit exporters./.