More than 1 million Vietnamese farmers and families have benefited from a six-year project on agriculture and rural development jointly launched by the Vietnamese and Danish Governments, the Danish Embassy announced on December 16.

The 42 million USD project, starting from 2007, came to the northern mountainous provinces of Dien Bien, Lai Chau and Lao Cai, and the Central Highlands provinces of Dak Lak and Dak Nong.

With the aim to accelerate sustainable growth through advances in natural resource management, agricultural production and market, the project targeted poor famers in remote areas, especially women and ethnic groups.

According to Danish Ambassador to Vietnam John Nielsen, thanks to the project, the poverty rate in the five localities have dropped from 25 percent in 2007 to 10 percent-12 percent this year.

At least 70,000 poor households in the targeted provinces have had their food security and income improved, he added.

Through the Danish Government’s support, poor farmers among ethnic groups are helped to benefit from the development policy, the diplomat said.-VNA