The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) under the UN will provide Vietnam an aid package of 22 million USD to relieve poverty, according to an agreement signed in Rome, Italy, on November 25.

Under the pact, the preferential funding will go to a humanitarian aid programme in the northern mountainous province of Ha Giang, which helps local farmers improve farming skills and apply climate change adaptive production technologies thus boosting their sustainable livelihood. As many as 30,000 poor households in five local districts, including Bac Quang, Hoang Su Phi, Quang Binh, Vi Xuyen and Xin Man, are expected to benefit from the project.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, IFAD’s President Kanayo F. Nwanze said Vietnam is an outstanding instance of great efforts to fight impoverishment, adding that the IFAD and he himself will closely support the country in launching more cooperative projects in the coming time.

On his part, Vietnamese Ambassador to Italy Nguyen Hoang Long stressed Vietnam’s commitment to utilise the financial assistance effectively with gratitude. The focus on climate change response of the programme will contribute largely to help Vietnam overcome difficulties in the field, he added.

The IFAD has so far provided a total 283.4 million USD to 10 major poverty alleviation projects in Vietnam, which benefit 539,270 households.-VNA