Báo cáo khoa học nông nghiệp " Improving traditional integrated farming systems (VAC) – a new livelihood option for poor farmers in the coastal communities " MS4 pptx

1

Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Development

Collaboration for Agriculture and Rural Development



PROJECT PROGRESS REPORT


027/07VIE

Improving traditional integrated farming systems (VAC)
– a new livelihood option for poor farmers
in the coastal communities


MS4: Second six - monthly report

5
th
August 2008 to 5
th
February 2009

May, 2009


2
Table of Contents

1. Institute Information ___________________________________________________ 3
2. Project Abstract _______________________________________________________ 4
3. Executive Summary ____________________________________________________ 4
4. Introduction & Background _____________________________________________ 5
5. Progress to Date _______________________________________________________ 5
5.1 Implementation Highlights ________________________________________________ 5
5.2 Smallholder Benefits______________________________________________________ 6
5.3 Capacity Building ________________________________________________________ 6
5.4 Publicity________________________________________________________________ 6
5.5 Project Management _____________________________________________________ 6
6. Report on Cross-Cutting Issues___________________________________________ 7
6.1 Environment ____________________________________________________________ 7
6.2 Gender and Social Issues __________________________________________________ 7
7. Implementation & Sustainability Issues ____________________________________ 7
7.1 Issues and Constraints ____________________________________________________ 7
7.2 Options_________________________________________________________________ 7
7.3 Sustainability____________________________________________________________ 7
8. Next Critical Steps _____________________________________________________ 8
9. Conclusion ___________________________________________________________ 8
10. Statutory Declaration___________________________Error! Bookmark not defined.

3

1. Institute Information
Project Name Improving traditional integrated farming systems
(VAC) - a new livelihood option for poor farmers
in the coastal communities
Vietnamese Institution
Centre for Environment and Disease Monitoring
in Aquaculture (CEDMA)
Vietnamese Project Team Leader
Mr. Mai Van Tai (Project director)
Mr. Vo Van Binh (Project manager)
Australian Organisation
Agriculture and Environment - Division of
Science and Engineering-Curtin University of
Technology (CUT)
Australian Personnel
Assoc. Professor Ravi Fotedar (Team Leader)
Prof. Graeme Robertson (Management)
Dr Jane Fewtrell (Environmental Scientist)
Mr Simon Longbottom (Aquaculture Scientist)
Date commenced
8
th
February 2008
Completion date (original)
January 2010
Completion date (revised)
February 2010
Reporting period

6-monthly (Second)
Contact Officer(s)
In Australia: Team Leader
Name:
Dr Ravi Fotedar
Telephone:
+61 8 92664508
Position:
International Program
Director, A/Prof
Fax:
+61 8 92664422
Organisation
Muresk Institute, CUT
Email:


In Australia: Administrative contact
Name: As mentioned above Telephone:
Position:

Fax:

Organisation

Email:


In Vietnam
Name:

Mr Vo Van Binh
Telephone:
0983105537
Position:
Head of environment
Department
Fax:
0241840241
Organisation Centre for Environment and
Disease Monitoring in
Aquaculture (CEDMA)
Email:

4
2. Project Abstract


3. Executive Summary
The overall objective for project 027/07VIE, ‘Improving traditional integrated
farming systems (VAC) - a new livelihood option for poor farmers in the coastal
communities’, is to improve the income base to sustain livelihoods of poor coastal
farmers in the Central provinces. This objective is to be achieved by improving the
productivity of the existing traditional farming systems and managing water quality
simultaneously and therefore reducing the environmental impact of their operations.
To date the project achievements have included the successful completion and
operation of three demonstration sites. The RAS on these sites are stocked with high-
value species and are in operation. The growth rates of the selected species and
environmental impact of these modified operations are being monitored and recorded.
The operational protocol has been extended to local extension workers who in turn
disseminate the technology to households which have similar farming situations

(secondary beneficiaries). Further modifications and lessons learned from these 3
household demonstration farms are also incorporated into the households of similar
farming situations. To facilitate this effect, a series of field trips have been conducted
in order to extend the demonstrations to other suitable and interested households who
fulfill the criteria of the project objectives.
During this reporting period, a further seventeen (17) households have been added as
demonstration sites. These additional sites are located in four provinces: Thanh Hoa,
Nghe An, Ha Tinh, Quang Binh, and Hue. It is envisaged that seven (7) farmers out of
twenty (20) will set up earthworm production facilities. The households were given
demonstrations in order to modify and improve their farming practices for the better
nutrient recycling and for higher returns on their investments. Three workshops and
five farmers-exchange visits were also conducted during this period.
This project is expected to make a significant contribution to the Government of Vietnam’s
Comprehensive Poverty Reduction and Growth Strategy (CPRGS), which is aligned with the
CARD program strategic framework. The project is expected to improve the productivity of
traditional VAC farming practices through the farming of high-value aquatic species and
following better managed farming practices in an environmentally friendly manner. The outcome
of the project will assist in improving the management of all components of VAC farming. So far
surveys have been conducted to collect base-line information on the economic status of farmers
participating in traditional VAC farming systems in four selected districts of Vietnam. The staff
from CEDMA have been updated on the proposed improvements in the traditional VAC farming
systems and related environmental issues. The selection of twenty (20) demonstration sites has
been finalised. The semi-intensive culture systems based on recirculating aquaculture system
(RAS) technologies are running on 3 (three) demonstration farms. The systems have been stocked
with local but high-value species. The operational plan for these three sites has been disseminated
to local extension workers, the households of modified VAC systems and other interesting
farming households. The monitoring and recording of growth performance of high-value species
is underway. Modifications to the rest of the demonstration sites (17) are in progress.

5

4. Introduction & Background
This project aims to improve efficiency of the traditional VAC system while
decreasing environmental impact through the application of current farming
technologies and introduction of local but higher value species. The objectives are:
i) To carry out an analysis of current economics status and practices of
household farming (includes aquaculture, horticulture and animal
husbandry practices) and identify incentives and constraints for improved
VAC application
ii) To develop appropriate improved VAC guidelines and manuals for
household aquaculture in the North Central of Vietnam.
iii) To build capacity for improved VAC application among stakeholders
involving in aquaculture product market chains, especially smallholder
producers.
Objective i) has been completed with the revised performance measures. More
demonstration sites have been selected under the framework of Objective 1 in order to
represent wider existing faming practices.
As outlined in the log frame, the performance measures are the collection of improved
VAC materials available regionally and internationally; construction of questionnaire
and interviewing of existing farming communities who are participating in the
traditional VAC systems; selection of 20 households/farms to demonstrate improved
VAC practices; drafting of action plans for VAC demonstration systems which
include farming of high-value species in an environmentally friendly manner.
Additional demonstration farms selected represent traditional VAC systems where the
intensification of the aquaculture production is not possible but other environmental
and operational/management modifications will assist in achieving the objectives of
this project.
To the best of our knowledge the household/farms selected are representative
examples of the typical VAC systems in the region.
Activities to complete Objective ii) have commenced.

5. Progress to Date
5.1 Implementation Highlights
Main achievements for this reporting period were;
i) Completion and running of three VAC demonstration farms (1 in Nghe an,
2 in Quang tri province). These demonstration VAC farms were stocked
with a high-value species and after initial teething problems the systems
are up and running. The performance of these modified recirculating
systems is recorded continuously.
ii) The household of these modified farms were trained to run the systems,
observe and record some of the basic environmental data including water
quality parameters (appendix 1).
iii) Conducting and implementing environment monitoring activities for these
three adapted farms.

6
iv) Introduction and implementation workshop for extension officers was
conducted in Hue (appendix 2).
v) The third trip to Vietnam for Dr. Ravi and first trip for Prof. Graeme
Robertson to Hanoi, Hue, Quang tri and Nghe An.
vi) Recording performance (growth) data of the high-value species.
vii) Completion of worm production facilities at the demonstration sites.
viii) Conducting field trips to various provinces in order to select seventeen
(17) other demonstration households in four (4) provinces. The total
demonstration households in the farm are now twenty (20). The
diagrammatic sketch of some of the selected sites is shown in appendix 3.
ix) Among selected demonstration households, modifications of seven (7)
traditional VAC farms have been completed.
x) Collection of baseline data for all additional demonstration households
have commenced.
xi) Based on the discussion with CARD and extension officials, a draft

Matrix Summary Table (MST) is getting formulated which will assist in
monitoring the progress of the project.
xii) Extension/dissemination information in the form of brochures and
pamphlets have been published and distributed to households in the
selected provinces (appendices 4, 5 and 6).
5.2 Smallholder Benefits
At this stage it is expected that the benefits to the household farmers will be achieved
as outlined in section 2.2 of the project proposal. The benefits will be quantified
during the second year of the project. To date, the direct benefits in terms of
knowledge and skills of modified VAC operations to small-scale farmers have been
achieved through the workshops run in various provinces and at demonstration sites.

5.3 Capacity Building
A capacity building initiative has commenced at CEDMA. The transfer of technology
in the area of water RAS, nutrient recycling across various farming components of
VAC practices and environmental monitoring programs have been under progress and
capacity building exercise have been successfully achieved. To this effect workshops
including one in Hue for the local Extension Officers were conducted.
5.4 Publicity
Extension material which includes brochures, posters and single page pamphlets have
been published and distributed.
5.5 Project Management
Management of the project has been satisfactory and no major constraints were
encountered.


7
6. Report on Cross-Cutting Issues
6.1 Environment
The proposal for monitoring the environmental impacts of the improved systems has

been formulated and its monitoring activities have commenced. No impact report has
been produced yet but it is expected to show some first hand data in MS#4.
6.2 Gender and Social Issues
Gender proposition was not favourable in the introductory workshop for extension-
staff in Hue (5:30 female to male ratio). The gender issue at the household-level
participation was not an issue as there was a fair representation from both genders.

7. Implementation & Sustainability Issues
7.1 Issues and Constraints
Two alterations to the original project proposal were necessary, one being the
proposed commencement date for the project and the second being the change in the
personnel from CEDMA, Vietnam.

The project commencement date was delayed by more than a month as a result of a
delay in the initial signing of the contract.

Mr Mai Van Ha has been replaced by Mr Binh Vo. This was necessary due to
personal reasons in which Mr Ha decided to finish his tenure with CEDMA. Mr Binh
has replaced him and is currently the Project Manager and contact person from
Vietnam. Further, the contributions from other personnel from Vietnam have been
altered. The contribution from Mr Tai has been increased to 30% from the initial 5%.
Please see details of this change in appendix 7. Though these changes did not
significantly influence the progress of the project, it did result in a delay in reporting
the progress of the project.

7.2 Options
The issues encountered have been resolved and the options that have been applied are
as explained in section 7.1.
7.3 Sustainability
The main highlight of the project is to improve the economic status of the farmers

practicing traditional VAC practices. This is achieved by improving the productivity
and thus the income base from the traditional VAC system in an environmentally
sustainable way. The modified VAC system envisages minimum adverse impact on
the surrounding environment and diversifying the production base so that disease,
production and marketing risks are minimised. The established environmental
protocol will also help householders to recycle the nutrients from one production base
to another and hence reduce the cost of overall VAC operations. This will have a
positive impact on the sustainability of the farming practices too.

8
8. Next Critical Steps
The projects activities for the next 6 months will include:

1. Completion of all socio-economic status reports from all 20 house holds (base-
line data)
2. Completion of all the modifications in all twenty (20) demonstration
households and commencement of the production of operations under
modified the VAC environment. This also include the stocking of all required
species in the selected demonstration households.
3. Continuation of monitoring environmental data in all selected households.
4. Production and distribution of extension VAC materials (paper-based and
Videos)
5. Organise training workshops on improved VAC practices for farmers and
extension staff.
6. Continuation of collection of performance data from modified VAC farming
operations.
7. Provide technical training in Australia for two Vietnamese scientists (planed in
October or November, 2009)
8. Finalisation of the final MAS internal reporting system.
9. Conclusion

Progress has been satisfactory and the objectives set for the second 6 months have
been achieved.