Enhanced the participation of women and local organizations in water resource management in Mekong River Delta
Posted Date: Tuesday, December 4, 2018
| Source: www.warecod.org.vn
The project has been funded by WWF and is organized by VRN / WARECOD in collaboration with DRAGON in 2017 and 2018. One of the main activities of the project is to provide funding package to provide technical assistance to community groups and local organizations to promote the role of women and communities in water management. Five out of 12 initiatives proposed by community groups have been selected for implementation. On the 19th and 20th of November, the Center for Water Resources Conservation and Development (WARECOD) organized a workshop on summarizing community initiatives in Can Tho city.
The event was attended by Mr. Dao Trong Tu, Head of the Vietnam Rivers Network, Mr. Hoang Viet from the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Vietnam. Dong Thap, Ben Tre, Hau Giang, Can Tho, Cu Lao Dung Women's Union, Long Phu, Soc Trang Women's Union, and communities also participated in the event. In addition, the workshop was attended by WARECOD's community in Phu Yen - An Giang, Gia Rai - Bac Lieu, Thoi Lai - Can Tho. The workshop also attracted the attention of local media such as VOV in Can Tho and other relevant agencies such as representatives from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Tra Vinh Province, and the Department Natural Resources and Environment of An Giang province also participated in this workshop.
Opening remarks, Mr. Hoang Viet from WWF Vietnam presented a presentation on the difficulties and challenges of natural resources in the Mekong Delta as well as the role and the importance of community in water resources management. Following this, each group of community initiatives summarized their project on the poster and each delegate came to visit and listen to the presentation from each group. Community initiatives include: Promoting the Gender Factor in the Lower Mekong River Water Protection from the Biofilter Model in Con Tau, Tam Hiep District, Binh Dai District, Ben Tre Province; Using water hyacinth as a vegetable surface to adapt to climate change and prevent river pollution in Hau Giang; Improve the sense of protection of surface water resources of members, women farmers in Thoi Xuan commune, Co Do district, Can Tho city; Changing the behavior of domestic waste discharge to Tra On canal for women in An Giang; Development of livestock straw mushroom livelihood models for poor women in Tam Nong District, Dong Thap Province to adapt to climate change. There is also a model of clean vegetable cultivation, and a model of clean quality monitoring women from Soc Trang City.
Growing Chum ngay trees for biofilter filter water in Ben Tre
At the end of the workshop, 18 community and private organizations including Vietnam Rivers Network (VRN), the Can Tho Institute for Climate Change (DRAGON), and the World Wild Fun(WWF) signed an agreemrnt to establish the Water Resources Management Network, opening a new stage in the process of cooperation in protecting the environment and water resources in the Mekong Delta.\
Mushroom growing model improves livelihood for women in Tam Nong, Dong Thap
During the workshop, the Organizing Committee also organized a community communication event entitled "Fresh river, prosperous life."
The model of growing vegetables in floating rafts made from water hyacinth in Hau Giang
On the morning of November 20, delegates moved to Cai Rang district to participate in the field trip hosted by the Can Tho City Farmers Association. The delegation paid a visit to the organic vegetable production model of Mr. Nguyen Van Lam. This is a typical household applying modern technology to produce safe vegetable for high productivity such as net house, using sprinkler method instead of traditional irrigation method. This helps to save water, but still ensure the vegetables are well watered, high yield, ensure food safety and hygiene, thereby increasing household income and protect the land and water resources.