The document discusses Participatory Guarantee Systems (PGS) in Vietnam. PGS is a quality assurance system for smallholder farmers that operates outside of third-party certification. It emphasizes stakeholder participation, including producers and consumers. PGS was adopted in Vietnam in 2008 to help organic farmers access local markets without certification. Since then, PGS Vietnam has expanded to involve more farmers and provinces, developed standards and procedures, and gained recognition. PGS has helped farmers increase incomes and connect with consumers, while also influencing organic policies in Vietnam. However, expanding PGS further faces challenges of capacity, funding, and land policies.

1. 1
Organic movement & PGS in Vietnam
Tu Tuyet Nhung
Head of PGS - Vietnam Organic Agriculture Associasion
Context
Organization
Scaling & expanding
Constrain

2. What?
 Participatory Guarantee Systems (PGS) is
quality assurance initiatives
 It emphasize the participation of
stakeholders, including producers and
consumers
 It operate outside the frame of third party
certificatio
 It is relevant for local markets
 It is for small-scale farmers

3. 3
 Organic farmers under ADDA-VNFU project have
products need to access the markets without any
organic Certification system in Vietnam
 Consumers lose their trust in “clean/safe” products and
lack knowledge of organic products
 There was a national standards for organic production
and processing (TCN10-2006), but no regulation
circulation
 PGS is adopted by IFOAM (2004) as a guarantee
system for small holders to help farmers access
organic products to local markets.
 Stakeholders agreed to set up PGS in 2008 for organic
farmers under the ADDA prj (ADDA-VNFU prj 2005-
2012)
Context

4. 4
1. Developed PGS standards both for producers and traders
agreed upon by the stakeholders (using 2006 MARD organic
standards as basis)
2. Organize PGS with structure and Functions
3. Develop PGS manuals for producer and traders (Inspection and
certification procedures)
4. Agreed on logo/seal for the PGS
5. Set up website: vietnamorganic.vn and database system
6. Registration procedure of groups, farmers & retailers
7. Training of inspection
8. Farm inspections and making decision
9. Submit PGS standards to IFOAM for recognition
10. PGS Vietnam officially recognized by IFOAM in Sept 2013 after
1 years ending project (Sept 2012)
Develop PGS Vietnam

5. Key elements of the PGS Vietnam
Farm Family
Producer Group
Inter - Group
Coordination
Group
The size of the boxes is proportionate to the level
of responsibility in PGS certification.
Farmer
s
Consumer
s
Local Organization
(FU, WU, NGOs, …)
Traders
Gov agency
Scientist .....

6. 6
Develop Market
 It is very important factor to motivate production
 Increase awareness among consumers/people  increased
demand for organic products: Organize talk
show/workshop/social marketing campaign, fairs, media…
 Encourage traders involve in PGS and give the supports
 Link producer groups to retailers/traders
 Develop supply chain of organic vegetable: PGS certified
products sell through special shop and home delivery and
supermarkets
 Organize tours of consumers/students/school for sharing
and learning on organic farming

7. Supply chain with PGS
To make a sustainable development, PGS run along supply
chain from production to consumption.The actions include:
All stakeholders are involved in realizing supply chain from
production, post harvest, and sales
More retailers seeking organic products, register PGS member
and pay fee
• 2009: 4 retailers
• 2013: 9 retailers with > 25 outlets
• 2014: 12 retailers with 35 outlets in Hanoi city
• 2015: 9 retailers with 45 outlets
• 2017: 10 retailers, 5 cooperatives with 65 outlets
Training &
Production
Products &
Packaging
Sale &
Distribution
Marketing &
Communication

8. 05/23/183 March,
2013
Tu Tuyet Nhung - President of PGS VietnamTu
Thi Tuyet Nhung - PGS/VOAA
8
Farmers Area (ha)
New
groups
Groups
closed
Total
groups
Farmers
Invole
Area
Expanded
Area
closed
Total
area
Expanding

9. Scaling
2008 PGS organic start at the North
 PGS Soc Son - Hanoi prov
 PGS Luong Son - Hoa Binh prov
2013: Scaling to other province
 PGS Duy Tien - Ha Nam prov
 PGS Tan Lac - Hoa Binh prov
2014 Scaling up to the Midle and South of country
 PGS Hoi An - Quang Nam prov
 PGS Ben Tre - Ben Tre prov
2016: PGS expanding at Hoi An, and Ben Tre (Organic)
2017: Start develop PGS for small organic private farm both
in the North and South

10. How to scaling up
 Realistic links to market that are open to paying
premium prices for quality products
 An existing or at least an establishing group or
network of farmers who want to produce organic
products
 Suitable land area that is tested or very likely to be
free from chemical contamination
 Technical and capacity building support from an
agency to help the PGS establish.
 Provincial/local Government support for the PGS
concept that make resources available for PGS
initiative start.

11. Transparent with QR code
► Distributor: Print stamps unique and
randomly (with security account)
► Farmers: Activate the stamps
received from distributor (with security
account)
► Stamps authenticated with random
and unique code, which always reflects
the current status of the product:
Exist / Sell / Cancel ...
Consumers' Benefits:
+ Actively check/ trace and
authenticate the origin of goods
+ Actively select the right products
according to the demand.
+ Direct connection with the
producers , distributors

12. 12
Farmers activate stamp

13. 14
impacts of PGS to farmer
 PGS has changed the perception and capacity of farmers
and the behavior of stakeholders regarding food safety
 PGS creates a grassroots network where farmers
demonstrate their responsibility to the community and
ensure that the product is truly safe.
 PGS where responsibility and benefits are shared between
farmers and traders in monitoring and quality assurance
throughout the product chain
 A low-cost quality assurance system for small farmers and a
place for those who want to meet for sharing and learning
 PGS not only increase the monthly income for farmers (50-
100%) but also improve their community relationships
 More provinces are interested and want to use PGS as Ben
Tre, Ho Chi Minh, Hoi An

14. 15
Impacts of PGS to policy maker
 PGS operates with funds (fee) from farmers and retailers
without legalization and policy support during 10 years
 PGS create merge market
 PGS makes people know about organic and create an
emerging organic market in Vietnam
 It makes change the perception and behavior of
consumers as well as Authority and MARD on organic
and PGS
 As the sussesfull evidence, PGS together Vietnam
Organic Agriculture Association (VOAA) pushing state
professional agencies develop national organic standards
and establishes organic agriculture decree which
recognizes PGS

15. 3 March, 2014Tu Thi Tuyet Nhung - PGS/VOAA 16Sept 25, 2013 16
Constraints
 There are not many people understand full enough
about PGS especially the government agencies
 PGS need supports/fund to building capacity and
resource when demand is increase
 Scaling-up Organic/PGS still barriered of land
policy

16. 3 March, 2013Tu Thi Tuyet Nhung - PGS/VOAA 17
Inspection by farmers

17. Checking inputs

18. Checking Packaging house

19. 3 March, 2013Tu Thi Tuyet Nhung - PGS/VOAA 20
Residue quick test

20. 21
PGS products at Bac Tom store

21. 22
PGS organic products at Trang An store

22. PGS at Thaifex

23. Farm visit of consumers

24. PGS Hoi An -

25. Priminister support for organic development
05/23/183 March,
2013
Tu Tuyet Nhung - President of PGS VietnamTu
Thi Tuyet Nhung - PGS/VOAA
26

26. Thank you!
05/23/183 March,
2013
Tu Tuyet Nhung - President of PGS VietnamTu
Thi Tuyet Nhung - PGS/VOAA
27