Project Progress Report: " A blueprint for sustainable smallholder pig production in Central Vietnam" potx

TRAVEL REPORT: Dr Darren Trott
CENTRAL VIETNAM –24
th
October – 8
th
November 2009

CARD Project (424 7155 01 004/05VIE)

A blueprint for sustainable small holder pig production in Central Vietnam

Participating Agencies:
Vietnam:
National Institution of Animal Husbandry (NIAH) – Dept of Small Livestock Research
Hue University of Agriculture and Forestry (HUAF) – Faculty of Animal Sciences
National Institute of Veterinary Research (NIVR) – Dept of Bacteriology
Department of Agricultural and Rural Development of Quang Tri Province
Vietnamese farmer Association – Thua Thien Hue
Australia:
The University of Queensland – School of Veterinary Science
South Australian Research and Development Institute (SARDI)
Department of Primary Industries Victoria – Pig Health and Research Unit

Report Date – February 2009


OBJECTIVES

1. To travel Ha Noi:
a. to visit NIVR to meet with Dr Phu, Dr Thuy and Mr Tuan to finalise project
reports

b. To discuss project implementation with NIAH staff and provide instruction to Ms
Cam (NIAH young research scientist) on writing prescriptions for administration
of pig medications

2. To travel to Hue and Quang Tri Vietnam:
a. to review progress of project;
b. to meet with Professor Linh and his team to discuss project implementation and
tour;
c. to visit the most successful farms visit farms in two provinces in Central Vietnam
– Quang Tri and Thua Thien Hue;
d. to assist in the training of Commune Extension Veterinarians in doing farm
audits and assessments;




EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

PROJECT ACTIVITIES AND REVIEW OF PROGRESS

Vietnam Day 1: A meeting took place at the CARD office with Dr Duyen, Dr Thuy, Mr Hue and
Mr Keith. Major items of discussion included steps to register the NIVR E. coli vaccine, farmer
to farmer training initiatives, establishment of the farmer clubs, the need for sound advice on the
use of medications, evaluation of farmers’ impressions on the project strengths and weaknesses
and the creation of training manuals.

Out of this meeting the nucleus of the idea of a training DVD developed to cover many of these
aspects using a medium that was easily identifiable (ie the demonstration farmers are active
participants in the design and delivery) following discussions and advice from Dr Elske van de
Fluyt.

Vietnam Day 2: Meeting with Dr Cuong, Dr Duyen and the NIAH project team to discuss
finalisation of the project, plans for the 2-day field trip in Quang Tri and the creation of small
project research proposals for young scientists. Dr Cuong provided advice on the registration of
the vaccine.

Vietnam Day 3: Meeting with Mr Nguyen Ngoc Phuc who runs a research piggery near Hanoi.
He currently uses Pfizer Littergard at a cost of 0.70¢ US per dose at 9 and 12 weeks of gestation.
He also reported that diarrhoea and oedema disease were important diseases increasing in spring.
He would be very amenable to conducting a field trial with the NIVR vaccine. Return to NIAH
for a 2-hour training tutorial with Dr Cam and Mr Bien on prudent and appropriate antimicrobial
drug prescription. Ms Cam was given a copy of the IVS Veterinary Drug Handbook (2009
version).

Vietnam Days 4-5: Work with Dr Thuy from NIVR on project reports.

Vietnam Day 6: Travel to Hue for combined meeting with Prof Linh, Dr Duyen and Dr Thuy

Vietnam Day 7: Thua Thien Hue-visit the farm of Mrs Tuyet and discussions with commune vets
Phan Do and Tran Hoa and project farmers. The tutorial on usage of antimicrobials was
continued. Mr Do then administered Dectomax to a pig with mange and Mrs Tuyet was advised
to treat all in contact stock. Mrs Tuyet was also given some Baycox to give to her new litters as a
preventative medication. The commune veterinarians reported that diarrhoea of piglets in the first
week, oedema disease and respiratory infections were the biggest disease problems apart from the
recent PRRS outbreak. Diarrhoea is currently treated with enrofloxacin as an oral medication
when it can be prevented using the NIVR ETEC vaccine (most diarrhoea in the first week is
caused by ETEC).

Mrs Tuyet’s farm was extremely clean and hygienic. She was not using heated creep boxes at the
time as she said the weather was warm, but we advised her to let the piglets decide whether they

were cold or warm. She would like to insulate the roof as her next project and would be the ideal
recipient of a Biogas system as her piggery waste was currently discharged to the local stream.
Stock were all healthy though several sows had mange.

In the afternoon we visited Mr Lap’s farm in Thuy Phuong commune. He currently has a very
successful integrated farming enterprise with an aquaculture system supporting 5 species of fish.
Mr Nhan the commune veterinarian identified pre-weaning diarrhoea at 5-7 days and the 3
rd
week
of life as the major diseases in the commune along with grower pigs with Glassers Disease/Strep
suis. The third farm belonging to Nguyen Tan Phuong was almost semi commercial and a good
indication of how a smallholder can make the transition to commercial operation. The farm was
visited late in the day, however the project team noted diarrhoea in a pen of three week old
suckers. A diagnosis of ETEC infection was made on the appearance of watery diarrhoea and
dehydration and Lincospectin was chosen as the most appropriate medication. The following day
it was reported that the pigs had improved significantly, but one severely dehydrated piglet had
died as there were no electrolytes or stomach tubes on hand (a note for future visits).

Vietnam Day 8: Planning meeting at HUAF: The remainder of the project visits and requirements
were mapped out by representatives from each group. Points to highlight included:

1) The need to continue the use of NIVR vaccine on all demonstration farms (Dr Thuy amd
Mr Tuan had bought a large number of doses with her) and the need to monitor its
success in terms of reduced diarrhoea in the first week of life on test farms vs control
farms.
Outcome: Whilst this was initiated from November until January, the implementation of
the DVD made it difficult to obtain all data from all farms, thus it has been identified as a
small research project for a HUAF young researcher.
2) The transfer of technology from NIVR to HUAF for investigation of enteric diseases.
Outcome: Dr Thuy undertook this training initiative and enteric diseases are now being

monitored at HUAF and will be part of the ongoing young researcher project.
3) The identification of the farmer clubs as the major initiative to focus remaining efforts
and the critical role of commune veterinarians who had now been identified and were
actively engaged in supporting the project.
Outcome: The development of the training DVD
4) The key requirement of completing the electronic surveys for demonstration farms (one
survey on commencement, one mid-term survey, one final survey, as well as complete a
matching control survey under the following selection criteria (surveyed in 2006, close to
a test farm ie in the same commune and an equivalent number of sows on the first audit).
Outcome: Surveys are ongoing with the instructions that all work must by concluded by
the end of March 2010.
5) Plans for Tarni’s visit in December 2009 to begin the groundwork for the training
initiatives planned for early 2010.
Outcome: Creation of the training DVD as the major vehicle for farmer to farmer
training.
6) Development of small research proposal application process for young scientists to
continue research ($4,000) and up to $1000 project initiative funds for smallholder
farmers to complete upgrades on their farms in order to become demonstration units.
Outcome: Enough funds were left over to fund two projects and 6 farms per province
with a further $4,000 contributed by Dr Trott from his University of Adelaide start up
funds so that a third research project was possible.

Vietnam Day 9: Travel to Quang Tri to meet with the farmer clubs. The first farm visited was
owned by Mr Phan Diu Trang and he has built a new piggery according to Mr Bien’s design.
Once again the members of the farmer club and the commune and district veterinarians met with
Dr Darren Trott and discussed pig medications and the most common diseases encountered in the
commune. These included (once again) diarrhoea in the preweaning piglets (3 days), postweaning
diarrhoea and oedema disease, mange and lungworm (Metastrongylus). Lungworm has not
previously been reported but is obviously a problem of breeding sows that can be treated using
the same drug (Dectomax) for mange. This provided another opportunity to “spruik” the NIVR E.

coli vaccine in order to obtain field data on efficacy.

The farm visit was tremendously encouraging to see the improvements that have been made in
Quang Tri from the mid-project visit. Four pregnant gilts were well in to the 3
rd
trimester and
seemed healthy. One old dry sow had quite severe mange and had been treated with ivermectin
10 days previously. We highlighted the importance of treatment of all animals in the shed at the
same time using Dectomax and then repeating but suggested that the farmer should wait until the
litters were born to prevent stress. Replacement gilts were in good health. The pen of weaners
were coughing and were treated with a single dose of tulathromycin.

We then visited the farm of Le Dinh Danh, the leader of the farmer club in Phu kong and once
again, the local commune vets and farmers joined in the discussions on medications and pig
diseases. The veterinarians listed pre and postweaning diarrhoea as the main problems and one
vet asked about liver flukes as he has seen them often in post-mortems (the subject of several
research studies due to zoonotic potential in integrated systems with aquaculture-consumption of
fish). We were impressed by the high level of knowledge regarding individual pig diseases as
well as the creep design, biogas system and overall farm management. Two piglets had a typical
coccidiosis scour and were treated with Baycox and Mr Danh informed me that he had been using
Baycox until relatively recently (he learnt about the product from the library of written material
and agricultural journals sponsored by the farmer club), when the drop in pig prices meant that it
was no longer cost effective (he gratefully received another bottle supplied by the project).

Vietnam Day 10: The farmer club anniversary celebration was a tremendous success. Following
official speeches, the farmers competed in a contest with one another by answering questions
covering different aspects of Mong Cai production. Mr Danh’s table of Phu Kong farmers were
judged to be the winners. Prizes were awarded and farmers received small project grants to cover
the damages to infrastructure caused by the recent typhoon.

Vietnam Day 11: The team returned to Hue for a final meeting with Prof Linh before flying back
to Hanoi for the project conclusion dinner with NIVR and NIAH staff and including Dr Coi,
former AUSAID CARD project leader who now heads up the Hai Phuong Pig Research Institute.




1

A blueprint for sustainable small holder pig production in Central Vietnam

AUSAIDCARD Project (424 7155 01 004/05VIE)


TRAVEL REPORT: Miss Tarni Cooper
LOCATION: Central Vietnam– Thua Thien Hue and Quang Tri
TIME: 2
nd
December 2009 to 21
st
December 2009


Participating Agencies:
Vietnam:
National Institution of Animal Husbandry (NIAH) – Dept of Small Livestock Research
Hue University of Agriculture and Forestry (HUAF) – Faculty of Animal Sciences
National Institute of Veterinary Research (NIVR) – Dept of Bacteriology
Department of Agricultural and Rural Development of Quang Tri Province
Vietnamese farmer Association – Thua Thien Hue

Australia:
The University of Queensland – School of Veterinary Science
South Australian Research and Development Institute (SARDI)
Department of Primary Industries Victoria – Pig Health and Research Unit


OBJECTIVES

1. Assist in establishing a farmer club in each commune in TTHue.

2. Support all farmer clubs, in Quang Tri and TTHue through facilitation farmer club meetings.

3. Assist farmer clubs to produce storyboard plans for filming of farmer-farmer training DVD.

4. Meet with all team staff to finalise plan for DVD preparation and filming.

5. Offer support for the teams conducting the final farm audits and uploading data onto the online database.

2

PRINCIPAL CONTACTS
Name
Position
Institution
Professor Nguyen Quang
Linh
Dean – Faculty of Fisheries
Hue University of Agriculture
and Forestry
Dr Hoang Nghia Duyet

Lecturer – Faculty of Animal
Husbandry and Veterinary
Science
Hue University of Agriculture
and Forestry
Mr Ngo Huu Toan
Lecturer – Faculty of Fisheries
Hue University of Agriculture
and Forestry
Ms Ha Thi Hue
Secretary – Faculty of Fisheries
Hue University of Agriculture
and Forestry
Ms Nguyen Thi Thanh (B)
Lecturer – Faculty of Animal
Husbandry and Veterinary
Science
Hue University of Agriculture
and Forestry
Mr Phan Quang Trung
Lecturer – Faculty of Animal
Husbandry and Veterinary
Science
Hue University of Agriculture
and Forestry
Dr Ta Thi Bich Duyen
Vice Head Department Small
Livestock Research
National Institute of Animal
Husbandry

Mr Hoang Bien
Department of Small Livestock
Research
National Institution of Animal
Husbandry
Mrs Hanh
Department of Small Livestock
Research
National Institution of Animal
Husbandry
Ms Cam
Department of Small Livestock
Research
National Institution of Animal
Husbandry
Ms Hoang
Department of Small Livestock
Research
National Institution of Animal
Husbandry
Mr Au Tuan
Department of Bacteriology
National Institute of Veterinary
Research
Mr Hieu
Vice Director
Department Agriculture Quang
Tri Province
Mr Anh
Extension Officer

Department Agriculture Quang
Tri Province
Mr Dao Van Hop
Chairman
Hai Lang Commune, Quang Tri
Province
Associate Professor Nguyen
Van Dong
Head – Department of Small
Livestock Research
National Institute of Animal
Husbandry
Associate Professor Cu Huu
Phu
Head – Department of
Bacteriology
National Institute of Veterinary
Research
Dr Thuy
Department of Bacteriology
National Institute of Veterinary
Research
Mr Nguyen Huyen
Department of Bacteriology
National Institute of Veterinary
Research
Mr Nguyen Ngoc Phuc
Vice-Director – Thuy Phuong Pig
Research Centre
National Institute of Animal

Husbandry
Mrs Pham Kim Dung.
Director of Research – Thuy
Phuong Pig Research Centre
National Institute of Animal
Husbandry
3

ITINERARY
DATE
DAY
LOCATION
ACTIVITY
02/12/2009
Wed
Bris-Hanoi
Depart Bris 650hrs, Arrive Ha Noi 2000hrs (via Sydney and
HCM)
3
Thu
NIAH
0900hrs breakfast with Mr Bien and travel to NIAH
Discussions with NIAH staff (5members) regarding farmer
clubs, farmer-farmer training, film creation, dvd chapter topics
and storyboarding process. Planning.
4
Fri
NIAH
Staff meeting regarding changes to itinerary
Staff training session regarding final survey of control and

selected farms and data entry, for continuity
5
Sat
Ha Noi
Lunch with Thuy, discuss plans for farmer clubs and resource
creation
6
Sun
Ha Noi and
Transit
Morning with Dr Duyen‟s family
Travel to Quang Tri by Train with Dr Duyen, Mr Bian and Ms
Hanh
7
Mon
Quang Tri
AM: Meet with farmer club 1 to introduce idea of farmer-
farmer training and storyboarding then conduct storyboarding
process.
PM: Travel to each farm suggested by club, to further discuss
their involvement in the DVD and film farm snapshots.
8
Tue
Quang Tri
As above
9
Wed
Quang Tri
As above
10

Thu
Quang Tri
Transit
Tour all farms to finalise ideas for DVD (Plan shooting of 4
chapters)
11
Fri
HUAF
AM: Tarni and Dr Duyen brief Prof Linh and students about
the plan for resource development and discuss Prof Linh‟s
ideas, to finalise a plan for the week. Tarni meet with HUAF
staff in afternoon, to finalise plan.
12
Sat
HUAF
Planning with Prof Linh, Dr Toan, Dr Duyet and Dr Hang,
research on participatory film
13
Sun
Thuỷ Dương
AM: Meet with farmer club of commune to introduce idea of
farmer-farmer training and storyboarding then conduct
storyboarding process
PM: Travel to each farm suggested by club, to further discuss
their involvement in the DVD and film snapshots.
14
Mon
Thuỷ Phương
As above
15

Tue
Bình Điền
As above
16
Wed
Quang Tho
As above
17
Thu
Hue city
Review of notes from visits to QT and Hue, Formulate ideas
on structure of final DVD,
Plan strategy for further farmer preparation in preparation for
staff meetings
(Time for film-maker to compile footage from previous week)
18
Fri
Hue, Ha Noi
Watch footage from the TTHue visit and debrief with HUAF
staff
Travel to Hanoi

4

19
Sat
Hanoi
Meeting with HUAF and NIAH staff to decide on structure of
DVD
Discuss strategies for further training of each farmer club in

the topic they will be responsible for and other preparations for
January
Draft plan for January DVD filming and production
20
Sun
Transit
Fly Ha Noi to Singapore
21/12/2009
Mon
Transit
Fly Singapore to Brisbane (arr 0650hrs)
Debriefing meeting with Dr Darren

5

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

NIAH: QUANG TRI PROVINCE

Staffing
Ms Cam has two small children so is unable to join us in the field but works on data entry and was
involved in planning the December field trip to Quang Tri (QT), as was Ms. Hoang. The three NIAH staff
who conducted the final audit and were involved in farmer club meetings in December were Dr Duyen, Mr
Bien and Ms Hanh. Dr Coi has moved to a different department.

Farmer clubs
The three farmer clubs (across two communes), each with members from a single village, are now strongly
established and recently celebrated their one year anniversary with a „pig trivia night,‟ which was filmed by
a local cameraman, in September last year.

Each farmer club has a leader, a communal library and some communal medicines.

Database
We spent one day in the NIAH office, looking over the Vietnamese and English versions of the farmer
questionnaire, addressing areas of confusion and looking at what could be improved. A major constraint is
the lack of speed and reliability of the internet connection. We decided the most feasible way to upload the
final data would be for Vietnamese staff to upload all but the photos. During my time with the Hue team,
NIAH staff surveyed the project farms in QT and labelled photos with the farmer codes, on a computer. At
the end of my trip I was provided with these photos, to upload in Australia.

A long term strategy, if this database is to be used in the future, may be to periodically send a disc with
well-labelled photos (including farm codes) to Australia for upload to the corresponding form on the
database.

HUAF: TTHUE PROVINCE

Staffing
Mr Ho Ngoc Phuong has gone to the Netherlands to do a Masters degree in Animal Science and has been
replaced by Miss Thanh

Farmer clubs
No farmer clubs have been formed amongst project farms before now, though many farmers had attended
the same training sessions of the course of the CARD project.

The HUAF staff decided to have ten farms represented in each farmer club and for clubs to be constituted
of farmers from a single commune but several villages. There were five communes involved in the project
but due to continual disease outbreaks on many farms in the area, many farmers were unable to continue
their involvement. We were advised not to travel to Hương chữ during my trip, due to an active disease
outbreak and the biosecurity risk it would pose. This meant we only formed four farmer clubs in TTHue,
Further investigation of the reasons farmers withdrew from the project may allow us to assist farmers to

safeguard against some of these factors and recover from production losses.

As a result of non-retention, there were only 2-3 trial farms in each farmer club and 7-8 control farms. Each
farmer knew more than one other person in the farmer club.
6

The challenges we faced in the TTHue farmer clubs were:
- Farmers had not experienced being in a farmer club before
- Farmers were from several (up to 5) villages so lived further apart from QT so did not know each other
so well.
- Farmers had very varied levels of knowledge
The advantages of this situation were:
- Farmer-farmer training began immediately, through the process of farmers from control and trial farms
storyboarding and visiting farms together, compared to in Quang Tri, where farmers had a similar level
of knowledge. In this way, TTHue farmer clubs „leap-frogged‟ the process, while QT farmers will begin
training other farmers once the DVD is produced.
- New farmers always provide new insights.
- Farmers from control farms offered to talk about problems associated with some of their facilities and
what they would like to do in the future, on the film.
- Farmers from trial farms were encouraged when reminded of what they had achieved and learned during
the project.

Database
I was informed that regular audits were done using the monthly survey and I reminded staff that this data
needed to be put on the database. I also offered to take photos to Australia, to upload after they had
uploaded the data. No definite plan was made.

PHASE ONE: STORYBOARDING
Storyboarding followed a protocol illustrated with photographs from the sessions in Appendix 1.

Two cameramen were employed, one in each province. We have decided to use the services of Mr Ky,
from Hue, across both provinces during January, due to his good report with the farmers, making them feel
comfortable with the camera, his empathy, flexibility, respect, honesty, patience, interest in the activities
and appreciation for rural areas.

After the storyboarding sessions were complete in all seven farmer clubs we had a general team meeting in
Hanoi. We reviewed the footage of our afternoons with the farmer clubs to gauge what we wanted for the
January filming (see feedback in Appendix 2). We also ran through which clubs we believed should be
responsible for teaching which topic on the DVD (See Appendix 3), determined by:
- Which topics the respective clubs chose to storyboard (they chose 2-3 and we told them one of
these would be the one they would present in the DVD).
- Which storyboard each farmer club included the most farmers in (we wanted maximum
participation), as for some topics more farmers were keen to be involved.
- Which topic the farmers seemed to have a good knowledge on and which lessons they could
demonstrate using their own farms.
- Which topics the farmers had interesting insights into (eg, Quang Tho commune could talk abut
floodwaters as an extra biosecurity risk in their geographical area and Binh Dien commune could
talk about lack of feed resource availability in theirs).

I drafted a „Phase Two: Farmer Training & Preparation‟ methodology and associated list of ground-rules,
which we discussed this at the meeting. I agreed to make some amendments, according to staff feedback
and email the final protocol (Appendix 4), for the staff to follow before I return in January for filming and
DVD production.
7

APPENDIX 1: Phase One: Storyboarding

Daily Schedule

1. Greet everyone, put some fruit in a bowl and arrange mats to sit on, in a circle. All staff, sit on the

mat with the farmers so everyone is at the same level. The video camera is not taken out of its bag
until Step 12 (below), so that farmers feel comfortable to talk freely and make mistakes.

2. Introduce the concept of farmer-farmer training
and give the reasons why we want the farmers
to be involved. Explain that today is a planning
session and is also about sharing stories with
each other. The staff members are here to learn
from the farmers too!

3. Introduce the nine topics to the farmers on 9
pieces of coloured paper.




4. Ask the farmers to choose 3 topics that they
would like to discuss and share their knowledge
on (but explain that each farmer club will only
produce one chapter in the January DVD, to save
their time during this busy Tet season).

5. Discuss reasons why these topics were chosen.




6. Introduce the idea of farmer-farmer training,
storyboarding and interviewing using a
"banana story" roleplay, carried out by staff

(Tarni, Dr Duyen, Mr Bien, Ms Thanh) **






7. Give the farmers textas and a very large piece of
paper to write on. Everyone will sit on the floor
around the piece of paper.




8

8. Draw 6 squares on the paper and let the farmers draw their story about that topic with very simple
pictures, as a plan for the film in January.






9. Encourage the farmers to write down the people and farms
that will be involved in each square.

10. Encourage other farmers to help in
January by interviewing or helping to
film and so write their names in the
squares too. Try to get everyone
involved so they can be proud of their
role in the final dvd.






11. Staff to present „banana‟ storyboard to the camera,
explaining how they would make a film of it.


9

12. Have one or more farmers explain their plan for the film in January, using their first storyboard, to
the video camera with another person helping to direct the camera man.

13. Continue storyboarding (with no video camera) and presenting the other two chosen topics to the
video camera with new people being filmed and helping to direct the camera man each time, so

everyone is involved in this process during the morning.

14. Break for lunch and farmers go home.

15. In the afternoon, take the storyboards to the farms written on the storyboards and get the farmers to
show the camera man what they want filmed in January. The camera man can take some footage
(film) of the things they suggest (eg, the biogas system), for our records and to help us finalise the
plan for January.





16. When we have visited the suggested farms,
invite the farmers back to the farmer leader's
house to view some of the film taken that day, on
the television, for their feedback, so we know
what we might need to change.

17. Camera man puts footage on a DVD for us, to
help us make a final plan for January.
10

**In TTHue, after dot point 5, we will play a game called “The Margolis Wheel” to help the new farmer
club members get to know each other and learn more about each other‟s farms, before continuing.



This „Margolis Wheel‟ exercise was taken from an Insight publication, from where I learned many
principles of participatory video: Lunch, N. & Lunch, C. (2006). Insights into Participatory Video: A

Handbook for the Field. Insight, UK/France. (NB. This resource is a free download from
www.insightshare.org)


11

APPENDIX 2: Staff Feedback Regarding the December Filming: Changes for January filming

- Farmers need to be more involved in the process, with a farmer standing beside the cameraman to
dictate what is filmed
- Need better lighting
- Beginning of DVD should only have rural images
- The title of the DVD will be important and should not appear to be owned by the institutions
involved but show that it is “From the farmers, in association with the institutes, etc”
- No project staff should be filmed, only farmers
- 10-15 minutes for each chapter
- More pictures, less talking
- Menu page at beginning, with each chapter
- Pictures on back of DVD should be one of each farmer club, if they would like
- Footage (images) and speaking (audio) will need to be combined
12

APPENDIX 3: Chapter Topics and Farmer Clubs Responsible

1. Housing and Ventilation – Thuy Duong
- Some images from other farms such as Thuy Phuong (foam insulation), Quang Tho (banana leaf
insulation)

2. Sow and piglet management – Thuong Xa
- Film gilts on at least one farm

- Farmer show building of a creep box, if possible

3. Hygiene and waste management – Phu Hung
- Special focus on EM composting
- Hosing, sweeping, drainage
- Show making of a brick biogas system (various farms)
- Show plastic biogas option

4. Integrated farming systems and waste management – Thuy Phuong
- Include duckweed and earthworms
- Have several farmers talk about their farm, to show the variety of options

5. Common pig diseases – Phu Hung
- Will require preparation with Kit and Dr Thuy in January
- First we will identify knowledge and practices and go from there

6. Nutrition/Local feeds – Binh Dien
- A shorter chapter
- Why we keep records, what information we keep, methods for keeping records (e.g. sow cards)

7. Nutrition/Local feeds – Binh Dien
- A shorter chapter
- Diep and Nam‟s farms are the only ones currently involved – should we see if more farmers would
like to be involved??

8. Breeding – Dai Anh Khe
- Mr Danh to talk about his experience with losing three sows to PRRS and chosing his new gilts
- Discuss the different breed options with sows and boars and why farmers chose the breeds they did

9. Biosecurity – Quang Tho

- Need to build lime pits.


13

APPENDIX 4: Phase two: Farmer Training & Preparation


Technique

- Spend at least half a day with each farmer club – DO NOT RUSH
- Show the club the part of the DVD that relates to the club and the chosen topic (don‟t watch the
rest)
- Ask lots of questions, starting in square one of the storyboard and working through to six, in order.
1. For the first square, ask farmers, “How would you like to introduce yourself?” “Where would you
like to introduce yourself?” “Do you think other farmers would like to see you outside/inside your
home or pig shed or somewhere else?”
2. For the other squares, first ask “What would a farmer be interested in knowing about this topic?”:
Farmers may come up with cost, financial benefit, how to do it, where to get materials, who can
help, etc. Write these points down on a big piece of paper.
3. Explain that these points can form good interview questions for the farmer who is speaking about
this topic. Rewrite the first point as an interview question and get the farmers to rewrite the rest.
4. Discuss the answers to each of the questions, with a person taking note of everyone‟s answers in dot
points.
5. After the farmers have discussed the answers, if they have not covered important points, ask them
further open questions, to get more information out of them and add new points to the answer list.
Also, if they have said some things that are inaccurate, try to get them to come up with the correct
answers by asking more questions. Only tell farmers an answer as a last resort and always explain
why the other answer is incorrect and this answer is correct but don‟t labour the point.
6. Move onto the next square and follow steps 2-5 for each square.

7. Organise the questions and answers and rewrite (in dot-points, not full sentences) into a neat copy
for the interviewer and interviewee in each square.
8. Let the pairs discuss their questions and answers in private, allowing them to develop their own
way to ask/answer the questions (but spend more time with anyone who is not confident with
reading).
9. Ask the pairs if they need you to further explain anything to them and if they are comfortable with
the questions and answers.
10. If the pair would like to practice in front of you or the group, let them do so but don‟t over-rehearse.
Make sure everyone is encouraging and nobody stops them before they are finished!
11. Address any structural farm changes required for the DVD.
12. Within one week before filming, spend time with each interviewee/er couple, to let them run
through the questions and answers with you.

14

Rules of Engagement

1. Must use methods which first assess knowledge, attitudes and skills of farmers. In this way we can
avoid re-teaching what is already known and we can develop a clearer strategy for training.
2. Do not rush or cut-corners: Methodically go through the training process because we don‟t want the
farmers to feel like we don‟t value their time and input – they are the essence of the DVD and their
participation is paramount.
3. Keep the word “No” (“không”) to an absolute minimum: Our aim is to empower and encourage full
participation, not perfect screen performance.
- When training farmers, allow them to finish their answers before addressing inaccuracies (often
they will correct themselves or each other).
- When filming farmers, allow them to finish their presentations before addressing inaccuracies. Take
a note of any problems and at the end, if possible, show the footage to the farmer and explain why
what they said was a problem – They may only need to refilm a small amount and their confidence
will not be damaged.

4. Allow farmers to speak in their own words, not scientific terms: The reason we are not filming
ourselves is that farmers will learn better when they can relate to and easily understand what is
being said.
5. Avoid excessive detail: Each chapter should only be 10-15mins long.
6. Have as few people around as possible when rehearsing: Only the interviewer, interviewee and one
or maximum two staff members.
7. Do not over-rehearse: The farmers will start to feel nervous and anxious if we make the DVD seem
too important, it is just meant to be a rough way to show farmers how different people adapt their
pig farming to local situations – Remind them of this.