1.1 Mandates

The Southern Office is given the following mandates:

- Carry out scientific research; information synthesizing, analyzing and dissemination; consulting and training; technology transfer to contribute policy and strategy establishment and to production/administration stakeholders;

- Realize scientific services in the field of agriculture and rural development for the southern provinces;

- Support all responsible activities of the Institute aiming at agriculture and rural development for the Southern Vietnam.

1.2 Responsibilities

- Preside or cooperate, participate in realization of economic and policy research activities of the Institute and cooperated institutions for the southern region.

- Study agricultural commodity chains, especially the promising and comparative advantageous commodities of the southern region.

- Study and support the activities aiming at socio-economic development for rural region of the southern region, especially for farmers and farmers associations; rural small and medium enterprises and local policy makers.

- Organize and develop information and market information systems to serve for agriculture and rural development of the southern region. Maintain close linkage to the institute’s information system.

- Carry out the supporting activities for development, linkage, cooperation in study and transfer; service of information analysis and forecast; supply information and training according to partners’ needs.

1.3 Authority

By the beginning of 2007, the Southern Office will operate all activities following given mechanism of self-control and self-bear responsibility as for an independent science and technology organization.

1.4 Development direction

Basing upon the given madates, responsibility and organization structure, the Southern Office focuses in the following research and service activities:

A- The activities of sccience and technology study

Study on main agricultural commodity chains of the southern region as:

- Coffee, black pepper and cashew in the South Eastern Region and Central Highland;

- Maize and beans in the South Eastern Region and Mekong River Delta;

- Sugarcane in the South Eastern Region and Mekong River Delta;

- Rice and food crops in the South Eastern Region and Mekong River Delta;

- Fruit crops in the South Eastern Region and Mekong River Delta;

- Vegetables, flowers and ornamentals in sub-urban Ho Chi Minh City;

- Pig and poultry in the South Eastern Region ;

- Feedstuffs in the South Eastern Region;

- Beef and dairy products in the sub-urban areas.

Market study: the issues of market and agri-business in the context of economic globalization

- Impacts of globalization and economic integration to agriculture and agricultural commodities in southern provinces;

- International market standards for agricultural products;

- Mechanism, organization and efficiency of agri-business forms;

Range and scale of study: from producers to final consumers; distribution channel; marketing channel, actors affecting to supply and demand of commodities.

Research outcomes are scientific systematic database of different commodities; analyzed reports, forecast report of market for different stakeholders; policy for development of commodity commercialization.

Study on agricultural system and rural development

- Study on socio-economic issues of southern rural region in the context of globalization and market economy, especially development issues, diversification of production, poverty, inequality, environmental degradation.

- Study on evolution of farm household economy and rural economy;

- Study on rural credit for different stakeholders (poor people, farmers, SMEs, etc.);

- Impacts of agricultural re-structure and farm enterprises conversion to socio-economic situation and livelihood of rural inhabitants and rural regions;

Research outcomes are scientific systematic database of rural development in the southern provinces, the reports supplying data, analyzed information and perspectives of rural development of the region.

B - Services

- Support to establish and disseminate market information;

- Cooperate and support in economic and policy study as surveys, analyses, specific seminars, etc.);

- Supply consultants and training for research skills, market analyses, policy analyses and other issues related to agriculture and rural development;

- Supply data base of some main agricultural commodities, related market information;

- Supply study results;

2. Organization structure

2.1 Organization

- Director Board

- Department of Administration and Research Management

- Department of Planning and Finance

- Department of Information – Consultation – Support

- Unit of Market and Commodity Research

- Unit of Agricultural System and Rural Development Research

2.2 Principle positions

3. Scientific research and international cooperation

3.1 Projects

- Vietnam Agriculture Market Information Project (2007-2010)

- Renforcement des compétences dans l’analyse des politiques et des stratégies de développement des filières agro-alimentaires au Viêt-nam (2007-2009)

- Development new rural region in District of Cu Chi, Ho Chi minh City (2007-2010)

3.2 International Agencies

- Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA)

- Unité d’Economie et Développement rural, Faculté universitaire des Sciences agronomiques de Gembloux, Belgique

3.3 Scientific activities

- Establishing market information system for fruits and vegetables for the southern region (in the frame of MISPA project)

- Study project at Institute level: Models of farmers’ participations in research and application of science and technology (2006)

4. Contact

- Name : Tran Tien Khai

- Tel & fax: 08 8226 248

- Email : so.ipsard@yahoo.com or tran_tienkhai@yahoo.com

- Website : www.ipsard.gov.vn

- Current office address: 121 Nguyen Binh Khiem street, Dist.1, Hochiminh City, Vietnam