The seminar was held to look at women’s roles in producing, distributing and using vegetable varieties in Vietnam. This is part of an Australian-funded programme on sustainable development, hunger eradication and poverty reduction that has a yearly budget of US$50 million.

Speaking at the seminar jointly organised by the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) and the Vietnam Women’s Union, State Vice President Truong My Hoa hoped that Australia’s aid would prove to be significant for not only Vietnamese women but for society as a whole.

With almost 80 percent of the country's population residing in rural areas, agriculture plays an important role in Vietnam’s broader economy. There are around 650,000 ha of vegetable nationwide that yield close to 1 million tonnes of vegetables per annum.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development will continue to develop higher priced varieties of vegetables, fruits and herbs in an effort to eradicate poverty in rural areas.