Nam Tuan Irrigation scheme

Nam Tuan Irrigation scheme - focalising on ownership

Nam Tuan irrigation project (VIE/019), situated in Cao Bang Province, in northern Vietnam and bordering China, was launched on 6 June 2006 by the People's Committee in the presence of Leo Faber, Counsellor at the Luxembourg Embassy and Geert De Bruycker, Regional Manager, Lux-Development with Vietnamese officials from national, provincial, district and commune level representing most of the stakeholders from different levels of governance as well as the beneficiaries.

Luxembourg has targeted Cao Bang province for development support since it is one of the poorest provinces in Vietnam with a population consisting for 95% of ethnic minority groups of Tay, Nung, Mong, Lo Lo and San Chi who mainly depend on agricultural production for their income.


The project approach takes into account the philosophy, clauses and recommendations of the Hanoi Core Statement, an agreement between the Government of Vietnam and the major donor agencies signed in June 2005, on Aid Effectiveness focalising on ownership, harmonisation and alignment. Key actors, and decision-makers in this project are the local institutions and farmers. The role of Lux-Development's support team is to facilitate the development process following a 'learning-by-doing' as well as a 'project-cycle' management approach.

The project has a three year life span and comprises three result areas:

• The rehabilitation of the Nam Tuan irrigation scheme, covering 785 hectares of farmland as well as the development of operation, maintenance and management capacity through a Participatory
• Irrigation Management (PIM) approach.
• Increased agricultural production and associated income-generating activities.
• Institutional strengthening of government staff, local authorities as well as farmers to develop and implement irrigation systems in the province.

The project also intends to improve the accessibility to household water and will support activities in the field of livestock development, aquaculture and the marketing of farm products. The improvement of the Nam Tuan irrigation scheme is expected to increase annual household incomes from an average 12 million VND (600 EUR) to 28 million VND (1 400 EUR) within five years. Responsibility for the implementation of this project rests with the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Cao Bang province and its support units like the irrigation division, agriculture extension services and the department responsible for construction works. One of the key challenges in this project will be the organisational development for the irrigation management moving from a traditional government-led organisation to a farmer led organisation.