Nghiên cứu khoa học nông nghiệp " Implementation of the IPM program using weaver ants as a major component for cashew growers in Vietnam " ppt

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Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Development


029/05VIE
Project Completion Report


Including Sixth Six-monthly Report








Renkang Peng, Keith Christian,
La Pham Lan and Nguyen Thanh Binh



September 2009

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Table of Contents

1. Institute Information ___________________________________________________ 2
2. Project Abstract _______________________________________________________ 3

3. Executive Summary ____________________________________________________ 3
4. Project objectives and methods ___________________________________________ 3
5. Progress to Date _______________________________________________________ 8
5.1 Sixth 6-monthly activities_________________________________________________ 9
5.2 Project achievenments against the project objectives__________________________ 9
5.3 Smallholder benefits ____________________________________________________ 16
5.4 capacity building _______________________________________________________ 18
5.5 Project Management ______________________________________________________ 18
6. Report on Cross-Cutting Issues__________________________________________ 18
6.1 Environment ____________________________________________________________ 19
6.2 Gender and Social Issues __________________________________________________ 19
7. Implementation & Sustainability Issues ___________________________________ 19
7.1 Implementation__________________________________________________________ 19
7.2 Sustanability ____________________________________________________________ 19
7.3 other issues _____________________________________________________________ 20
8. Next Critical Steps ____________________________________________________ 20
9. Conclusion __________________________________________________________ 20
11. Tables and Figures___________________________________________________25
12. References_________________________________________________________ 31

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1. Institute Information
Project Name
029/05VIE_Implementation of the IPM program
using weaver ants as a major component for cashew
growers in Vietnam
Vietnamese Institution
Institute of Agricultural Science of South Vietnam

Vietnamese Project Team Leader

Mr La Pham Lan
Australian Organisation
Charles Darwin University
Australian Personnel
Prof. Keith Christian and Dr Renkang Peng
Date commenced
February 2006
Completion date (original)
January 2009
Completion date (revised)
April 2009
Reporting period Sep 08 – Apr 09 (6
th
6-monthly report)
Feb 2006 – Apr 2009 (completion report)

Contact Officer(s)
In Australia: Team Leader
Name:
Keith Christian
Telephone:
61 8 89466706
Position: Professor Fax: 61 8 89466847
Organisation
Charles Darwin
University
Email:


In Australia: Administrative contact

Name:
Jenny Carter
Telephone:
61 08 89466708
Position:
Research Manager
Fax:
61 8 89467199
Organisation
Charles Darwin University
Email:


In Vietnam
Name:
La Pham Lan
Telephone:
84 0913829560
Position:
Head of Plant Protection
Department
Fax:
84 8 8297650
Organisation
Institute of Agricultural
Science of South Vietnam
Email:

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2. Project Abstract

















3. Executive Summary
Because this completion report includes the 6
th
6-monthly report, the executive
summary consists of the summery of the 6
th
6-monthly activities and the summary of
the project achievements against the project objectives, outputs and activities.
3.1. Sixth six-monthly activities
In the last 6 six-months of this project, the following 5 activities proposed have been
successfully completed.

• Conduct and complete the second year FFS training in ten cashew growing
provinces
• Complete all the field experiments in the demonstration orchards,
• Complete the cashew IPM curriculum,
• Complete the cashew IPM photo book, and
• Conduct the second baseline survey, and compare the results with those of the
first baseline survey.

A total of 70 FFSs in 9 cashew producing provinces, with strong support from
provincial Sub-PPDs, have been completed jointly by the first- and second-year TOT
trainers. Each FFS covered three most important periods: pre-flowering flush,
flowering and nut setting and harvest, and had 9 – 10 training periods (2 days /period).
A total of 1750 farmers have graduated from the 70 FFSs. FFS farmers were very
pleased with the ICI training contents, methods and the results from the FFS
demonstration orchards. The majority of FFS farmers were willing to use weaver ants
in their orchards in the next cashew season. Due to the positive influence of the
current FFSs, there was high demand by local cashew farmers to have the ICI
program training.
Cashew is a very important crop in Vietnam, and the government has designated
cashew development as a national priority. Productivity of cashew has increased since
2002, but the extensive use of pesticides has caused health problems to farmers, their
animals and the environment. The cashew IPM programs using weaver ants as a key
element developed at Charles Darwin University (CDU) do not involve highly toxic
insecticides, but result in high yield and nut quality. This project is to use the CDU
cashew IPM to develop and implement an integrated cashew improvement (ICI)
program that will work under Vietnamese conditions. The project objectives have
been achieved. An ICI manual and an ICI photo book have been developed for Viet
Nam and those were used in the TOT and FFS training. The comments we received on
the materials were positive. The project has produced 113 TOT trainers who have
successfully conducted 98 FFSs, resulting in 2,448 knowledgeable farmers. Demonstra-

tion orchards produced 13% more net profit in the ICI plots than in the farmers’
plots. Over 95% of farmers were pleased with the FFS training contents, methods and
the results from demonstration orchards. The project has produced 9 benefits for
smallholders and 7 aspects of capacity building and improved farm environment, farm
health and crop sustainability. There is a high demand of FFS training.

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Having finished two years of field experiments in collaboration with two years of
TOT training, operation of the demonstration orchard in Binh Phuoc province was
stopped in September 2008 because the orchard owner wanted to cut down cashew
trees for other crops. However, the field experiments at the two demonstration
orchards in Dong Nai province continued and have been successfully completed. The
main results are:
(1) the ghost ant problem in Mr Bi’s orchard was successfully resolved,
(2) weaver ants were kept at high and stable levels throughout the year,
(3) The main insect pests in this orchard were tea mosquito bugs, the shoot borer,
leaf rollers, leaf miners, mealy bugs and aphids. In general, the mean damage
level on cashew flowers or young nuts by each of these pests was similar
between the farmer’s plot and the IPM plot,
(4) The average yield of cashew nuts per tree was either similar or higher in the
IPM plot than in the farmer’s plot, and the nuts were cleaner and shinier in the
IPM plot than in the farmer’s plot, and
(5) Compared to the farmer’s plots, 13% more net profit was achieved in the ICI
plots.

A manual about the integrated cashew improvement (ICI) program using weaver ants
as a major component has been developed for ICI program trainers and extension
officers in Vietnam, and was used in the TOT training. The ICI photo book for
cashew growers in Vietnam has also been developed and used in FFS training.

Positive comments on these two documents were received.

The second baseline survey was conducted between November and December 2008
using a standard questionnaire. A total of 220 questionnaires were sent to farmers who
graduated from our first year FFSs, which were completed between April – May
2008, in 10 cashew growing districts of five major cashew growing provinces. A total
of 197 questionnaires were collected. After the FFS training, farmers’ knowledge and
farming skills have been greatly improved in terms of
(1) general cashew farming,
(2) farmers’ health and farm environment,
(3) cashew insect pests, diseases and their natural enemies, and
(4) farmers’ opinion of using weaver ants with particular reference to cashew
yield and nut quality.

Over 95% of farmers were happy with the FFS training programs, with the training
methods, and with the results of FFS demonstration orchards. Our ICI program
training was successful and very welcomed by cashew farmers.
3.2. Project achievements against the project objectives, outputs and
activities
The project achievements are compared against the project objectives and outputs.
The project objectives were
(1) to conduct TOT training in cashew ICI for TOT trainers to be able to conduct
FFSs in their local region,

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(2) to develop an IPM cashew curriculum and an ICI cashew photo book that will
work in Vietnamese conditions based on the cashew IPM programs developed
in Australia, and
(3) to assess the effectiveness of the FFS model in increasing farmer knowledge
and reducing pesticide use in cashew production.

These objectives have been successfully achieved. A total of 113 TOT trainers have
graduated from our TOT training, and they are very competent in the FFS training.
These TOT trainers have successfully conducted 98 FFSs in their local regions,
resulting in 2,448 knowledgeable cashew farmers.

The cashew curriculum “The integrated cashew improvement (ICI) program using
weaver ants as a major component - Manual for ICI program trainers and
extension officers in Vietnam” has been developed. The manual includes
• cashew botany,
• breeding,
• culture practice,
• diseases and their control,
• insect pests and their damage,
• natural enemies,
• integrated pest control,
• role of weaver ants,
• weaver ant keeping,
• cashew harvest,
• a checklist of the ICI program at different cashew growing periods, and
• four appendices of the guidelines for TOT and FFS trainings and for the
monitoring of pest damage and weaver ant abundance.

An ICI photo book “The integrated cashew improvement (ICI) program using
weaver ants as a major component – photo book for cashew growers in Vietnam”
has also been developed. It covers
• cashew variety selection,
• advanced farming practice,
• major diseases,
• insect pests,

• natural enemies,
• integrated pest control,
• role of weaver ants,
• weaver ant keeping techniques, and
• Summarisation of the ICI programm.

We have obtained positive comments on these two documents from some master TOT
trainers, TOT trainers and Heads of provincial Sub-PPDs.

The effectiveness of the FFS training on farmers’ knowledge and farming skills has
been assessed against our baseline data. Over 95% of farmers were happy with the
FFS training contents, with the training methods, and with the results of FFS
demonstration orchards. More that 80% of the farmers were sure that weaver ants
could control the main cashew insect pests and would improve cashew yield and nut

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quality. Over 80% of farmers knew how to use weaver ants, and would use weaver
ants and tell their friends and other farmers to use the ants. Farmers’ knowledge about
insect pests, diseases and their natural enemies as well as general farming skills has
been significantly improved. After the FFS training, 24% of farmers stopped using
insecticides because insect pest damage was greatly reduced by weaver ants. When
farmers get more and more experience using weaver ants, the current level (24%) will
be greatly increased. In addition to this, 92% of the farmers demonstrated a full
understanding of when and how to properly use insecticides.
Smallholder Benefits
Based on the results of our survey of 197 cashew farmers who graduated from the
first-year FFSs, the cashew smallholders’ benefits from this project are:
• Improved knowledge about cashew farming practice,
• Improved knowledge about insect pests, diseases and the role of the natural
enemies,

• Cost-effective pest control system using weaver ants as a major component,
• Considerable reduction of insecticide use while maintaining high yield,
• Greatly improved cashew nut quality,
• Opportunity to produce ‘organic’ cashew nuts,
• Improvement of the environment in which farmers are living, and
• Improved farmers’ health.

Demonstration orchards suggested that, compared to the net profit under the
conventional management, smallholders can get 13% more net profit when they use
the ICI program.
Capacity Building
The following 7 aspects of capacity building have been created:
• An ICI manual for TOT trainers and extension officers in Vietnam has been
developed and used in our TOT training.
• An ICI photo book for cashew growers in Vietnam has been developed and
used by our TOT trainers in the FFS training.
• A total of 6 staff at the Institute of Agricultural Science (IAS) for South
Vietnam have been intensively trained with the weaver ant technology. Now,
IAS staff can operate and teach the ant technology successfully.
• A total of 113 TOT trainers have graduated from our two TOT training centres
with full knowledge about the ICI program, and they are competent in their
local FFS training.
• A total of 2448 cashew farmers have graduated from our FFS training with
improved knowledge about farming tactics, cashew insect pests, diseases and
their natural enemies, benefits from weaver ants and reduced costs, etc.
• Charles Darwin University has awarded a Ph.D. scholarship to a member of
the IAS staff for a period of three years to work on a project related to the
cashew ICI program.
• Two people from a national animal conservation centre in northern Vietnam
have been extensively trained with the weaver ant technology.

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Project Management
Since the start of this project, the project leaders and the principal researcher have
managed the project smoothly. They have successfully collaborated with each other to
run demonstration orchards and TOT and FFS training, and to develop an ICI manual
and an ICI photo book.
Environment
The farming environment has been positively improved with the implementation of
this project. In the farmers’ survey after the FFS training, 89% of the farmers
believed that there would be a significant improvement in their farm environments,
and 95% of the farmers believed that their health would be greatly improved.
Gender and Social Issues
In our FFS training, women and minority people have been strongly encouraged to
participate. In each FFS, we have included 20-30% women. Apart from this, we also
get minority people involved in the demonstration orchard management. Our recent
survey showed that there was no difference in women’s role before and after the FFS
training. This is because time (only 7 months after the completion of the FFSs) has
been too short to show any changes in family labour participation, but, in the long run,
we expect that women’s participation in smallholder’s cashew production will be
promoted because this ICI program using weaver ants as a major component is not
physically strenuous and it does not involve toxic insecticide sprays.
Implementation
The implementation of the developed ICI program has been successfully conducted
and completed. Over 95% of farmers were happy with the FFS training programs,
with the training methods, and with the results of demonstration orchards, indicating
that the ICI program has been successfully accepted. Importantly, there was high
demand for the FFS training of the ICI program by cashew smallholders who have not
been trained. This is because of the positive impact of the graduated FFS farmers.
This high demand for cashew FFS training will stimulate provincial sub-PPDs under

the local Government support to continue implementing the ICI program after this
project is finished.
Sustainability
Sustainability of cashew production in Vietnam is the focus of this project. All the
objectives, approaches, implementation methods and the training program have been
linked with this issue. The project has shown that using weaver ants as a major
component to manage cashew insect pests is profitable and effective. Most FFS
farmers commented that this ICI program would achieve sustainable cashew
production because the farming techniques used in this ICI program would improve
soil structure and fertility. Also, the great reduction of toxic insecticides will help
cashew orchards recover from the currently unbalanced relationship between pests
and their natural enemies.

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Other issues
Master TOT trainers, TOT trainers, plant protectionists in cashew growing provinces,
and farmers that have graduated from our FFSs are keen to have a hard copy of the
ICI photo book and the ICI manual for their reference and for teaching other farmers.
Based on a quotation from the Agricultural Publishing House in HCM City, in
addition to the funds set aside for this purpose, we apply for an additional Au$3200
from the CARD Office to print 3000 copies of the ICI photo book and 500 copies of
the ICI manual book.
4. Project objectives and methods
The aims of this project are to increase cashew yield and nut quality and improve the
environment by using weaver ants and by using non toxic insecticides. Specific
objectives are
(1) to conduct TOT training in cashew IPM for TOT trainers to conduct FFSs in
their local region,
(2) to develop an IPM cashew curriculum and an IPM cashew photo book that
will work in Vietnamese conditions based on the cashew IPM programs

developed in Australia, and
(3) to assess the effectiveness of the FFS model in increasing farmer knowledge
and reducing pesticide use in cashew production.
The project expects to result in 120 TOT cashew IPM trainers from eight major
cashew growing provinces and 3750 cashew farmers educated in cashew FFSs. A
practical guide for cashew IPM and an IPM cashew photo book will be developed.
The effectiveness of FFS in enhancing farmer knowledge in cashew cultivation will
be assessed.
The project will concentrate on (1) the use of the farmer participatory training and
research program, involving TOT and FFSs and (2) the development of a cashew IPM
curriculum and an illustrative photo book based on field monitoring, observations and
experiments by field experimentalists, TOT trainees and FFS participants.
The implementation methods include establishment of demonstration orchards for
TOT courses, the TOT and FFS training, the development of a cashew IPM
curriculum and an IPM photo book, and the community baseline surveys. A total of 8
major cashew-growing provinces, which have 300,700 ha of cashew (accounting for
86% of the total cashew areas in Vietnam) will be targeted.

5. Progress to Date
Based on our logframe, this report will cover two aspects: (1) the sixth six-monthly
activities and (2) the project achievements against the project objectives, outputs and
activities.

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5.1. Sixth six-monthly activities
In the last six months of this project, the following 5 activities were planned, and they
have been successfully conducted and completed.
1. Conduct and complete the second year FFS training in ten cashew growing
provinces
2. Complete all the field experiments in the demonstration orchards,

3. Complete the cashew ICI curriculum,
4. Complete the cashew ICI photo book, and
5. Conduct the second baseline survey, and compare the results with those of the
first baseline survey.
The following is the progress against each of the proposed activities.
5.1.1. The second year FFS training in ten cashew growing provinces
Of 81 FFSs in 10 cashew producing provinces that were planed (Peng et al. 2008f), 70
FFS, with strong support from provincial Sub-PPDs, have been successfully
completed by the first- and second-year TOT graduates (Table 1). The shortfall of 11
FFSs was due to
(1) Sub-PPD in Binh Duong province wishes to conduct 10 FFSs, but the paper
work was too complicated for them to complete, resulting in the fail of making
a contract with the IAS (for Sub-PPDs to conduct FFSs, each Sub-PPD has to
make a contract with the IAS. To do this, they have to fill in a complicated
paper work as required by IAS administration) (Table 1), and
(2) TOT trainers in the Sub-PPDs of Ba Ria –Vung Rau and Tra Vinh were too
busy for rice pest control (top priority of the provinces) to conduct the same
numbers of FFSs as planed (Table 1).

The FFSs started between October 2008 or February 2009, and completed in April
2009 based on the variation of local cashew growing conditions (Table 1). The
training period for each FFS covered three most important periods: pre-flowering
flush, flowering and nut setting and harvest. Each FFS had 9 – 10 training periods,
and each period lasted two days. A total of 1750 farmers have graduated from the 70
FFSs (Table 1). The main results and comments from the FFS farmers are
summarized below:
(1) FFS farmers were pleased to accept this ICI program because it does not need
many inputs, but maintains high yield and nut quality. The farmers particularly
mentioned that weaver ant technology is very useful to the orchards that are on
the sloping hills, on which it is very difficult for pesticide sprays.

(2) Currently, cashew growers can only earn small profits because of high costs of
pesticides, fertilizers and fungicides, and because of the unstable cashew nut
price. This has resulted in a considerable shift from cashew to rubber due to
the high price of the rubber. Because the costs of using this ICI program are
low, most farmers will not cut down cashew trees, but continue cashew
production (also see Tables 5 and 9 for detailed economical analyses).
(3) Local governments and Farmers’ Associations have welcomed this ICI
program, and they provided strong support to the FFSs, such as organisation of
farmers, selection of classrooms and demonstration orchards, provision of
favourable conditions for farmers to travel from and to their villages, etc.
(4) FFS farmers were very happy with the ICI training contents, methods and the
results from the FFS demonstration orchards.

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(5) After seeing the effective control of a range of cashew pests by weaver ants in
our FFS demonstration orchards and their own orchards, the majority of FFS
farmers will use weaver ants in part of their orchards in the next cashew
season to have a test and to further familiarise themselves with the ant
management methods.
(6) The FFS farmers are very satisfactory with their improved knowledge of
cashew insect pests and diseases.
(7) Almost all the farmers are happy with the improvement of the environment in
which they live and work because no toxic insecticides are required in the ICI
program.
(8) Due to the positive influence of the current FFSs, there is high demand by
local cashew farmers to have the ICI program training.
(9) Most FFS farmers need more training occasions /FFS with more time for
practice, especially on weaver ants.
(10) The ICI photo book is essential for their future references.

Because some farmers in our first-year FFS training expressed their concern about the
protection of aphids and scale insect by weaver ants, this time, our TOT trainers
concentrated on this issue and collected some field data (wherever possible) to
demonstrate the effective control of mealy bugs and aphids by their natural enemies.
This has alleviated farmers’ concern about the damage caused by aphids and mealy
bugs after using weaver ants.

5.1.2. The field experiments in the demonstration orchards

Three demonstration orchards were used in this project since the second year of the
project. The operation of the demonstration orchard in Binh Phuoc province was
stopped in September 2008 after we finished two years of field experiments in
collaboration with two years of TOT training. This was because some cashew trees
were seriously damaged by an incidence of strong winds in the 2008 wet season, and
the orchard owner wanted to cut down cashew trees for other crops. However, the two
demonstration orchards in Dong Nai province ran very well in the third year.

In the Dong Nai demonstration orchard (Mr Bi’s orchard), the third year experiment
at this demonstration site has been successfully completed. After the ghost ant was
identified as the major factor responsible for the failure of the insect pest control by
weaver ants in the first and the second year (Peng et al. 2008d), existing weaver ants
colonies on the orchard boundary were used to avoid a strong competition between
ghost ants and weaver ants. This method successfully kept weaver ant populations
high and stable on cashew trees. The following are the summarised results:
(1) Weaver ant abundance was over 60% from November 2008 to May 2009, and
the ant populations were stable during the period of cashew flowering and
fruiting (Fig. 1).
(2) Regular field observations showed that, in contrast to the results of the
previous two years (Peng et al., 2008d), weaver ants behaved normally, and
they actively foraged on flushing shoots, flowers and developing nuts. No

competition for food between weaver ants and ghost ants was observed.
(3) The average number of flushing shoots and flowers was similar between the
IPM plot and the farmer’s plot (Table 2).

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(4) The main insect pests in this orchard were tea mosquito bugs, the shoot borer,
leaf rollers, leaf miners, mealy bugs and aphids (Table 3). The mean damage
level on cashew flowers or young nuts by each of these pests was similar
between the farmer’s plot and the IPM plot, with the exception of aphids, for
which the damage level was higher in the IPM plot than in the farmer’s plot
(Table 3). However, the average aphid damage was < 2% (Table 3).
(5) The average yields of cashew nuts per tree were higher in the IPM plot than in
the farmer’s plot (Table 4). Also, the nuts were cleaner and shinier in the IPM
plot than in the farmer’s plot.
(6) The net profit in the farmer’s plot was 11,684,000 VND/ha (Table 5), while
that in the ICI plot was 13,698,000 VND/ha (Table 5). Compared to the
farmer’s plot, net profit was 17.2% higher in the ICI plot.

The demonstration orchard at Hong Loc Centre of the IAS in Dong Nai province was
also successfully completed. The main results are summarised below:
(1) Weaver ant abundance was over 50% from November 2008 to May 2009, and
the ant populations were stable during the period of cashew flowering and
fruiting (January – March; Fig. 2).
(2) Field observations showed that weaver ants actively foraged on flushing
shoots, flowers and developing nuts on cashew trees while ghost ants were
active on grass, weeds and cashew coppices between tree rows. No
competition for food between weaver ants and ghost ants was observed.
(3) The average number of flushing shoots and flowers was similar between the
IPM plot and the farmer’s plot (Table 6).
(4) Regular monitoring showed that the main insect pests in this orchard were tea

mosquito bugs, the shoot borer, leaf rollers, leaf miners, mealy bugs and
aphids (Table 7). The mean damage level on cashew flushing shoots, flowers
or young nuts by shoot borers, leaf rollers and leaf miners was similar between
the farmer’s plot and the IPM plot (Table 7). Although tea mosquito damage
was higher in the IPM plot than in farmer’s plot (Table 7), the damage caused
by tea mosquito bugs was < 5 %, which is lower than the control threshold
determined by Peng et al. (1997). The damage caused by mealy bugs and
aphids was higher in the IPM plot than in the farmer’s plot, but the average
damage was < 1% and < 2% for mealy bugs and aphids respectively (Table 7).
(5) The average yield of cashew nuts per tree were similar between the IPM plot
and the farmer’s plot (Table 8), but the nuts were cleaner and shinier in the
IPM plot than in the farmer’s plot.
(6) The net profit in the farmer’s plot was 4,005,400 VND/ha (Table 9), while that
in the ICI plot was 4,376,600 VND/ha (Table 9). Compared to the farmer’s
plot, net profit was 9.3% higher in the ICI plot. This result confirms the result
obtained in 2007-08 in which 13.3% more net benefit was created in the ICI
plot than in the farmer’s plot.

5.1.3. The cashew ICI curriculum

The cashew ICI curriculum has been developed. A manual of an ICI program using
weaver ants as a major component - for ICI program trainers and extension officers in
Vietnam, was completed in October 2008. The English version of the manual was
submitted to the CARD Office, and it has been accepted. The Vietnamese version will
be submitted in September 2009.

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This manual is comprised of nine parts, together with 4 appendices of guidelines of
the TOT training, the FFS training and field monitoring sheets (Peng et al., 2008a).

• Part 1 provides an overview of current international and national cashew
production and opportunities in the future, pointing out the national objectives
and the need for a cost-effective ICI program.
• Parts 2 and 3 take an ecological approach to characterise the effects of
physical and biological factors on cashew tree performance, and to
demonstrate how to apply the up-to-date farming techniques to grow healthy
trees.
• Parts 4 and 5 deal with the main cashew insect pests and diseases, their
economical importance on cashew production, their natural enemies, their
relationships with weaver ants, and their control strategies. The information
used in these two parts is mainly from our field experiments, surveys and
laboratory rearing.
• Part 6 demonstrates the main results obtained in our demonstration orchards,
pointing out the efficiency of using weaver ants to manage the main pest
assemblage and the importance of keeping weaver ant populations high and
stable.
• Part 7 describes the basic bio-ecology of weaver ants and provides a series of
practical skills to manage weaver ant colonies.
• Part 8 suggests a growing pattern of new cashew orchards in relation to the use
of weaver ants.
• Part 9 provides a checklist for the ICI program at different cashew
developmental stages together with detailed references to the relevant parts of
the manual.

5.1.4. The cashew ICI photo book

The ICI photo book for cashew growers in Vietnam was completed in October 2008.
The English version was submitted to the CARD Office in October 2008, and it has
been accepted. The Vietnamese version of the photo book was submitted in April
2009.

This photo book consists of 7 parts with 321 pictures and figures (Peng et al., 2008b).
• Part 1 contains 41 pictures and figures demonstrating the main farming
techniques for growing healthy cashews,
• Part 2 contains 198 pictures and figures showing the main insect pests, their
natural enemies and their control methods in relation to weaver ants,
• Part 3 has 14 pictures showing the main cashew diseases and their control
methods,
• Part 4 has 4 pictures and figures summarising the results of cashew yield and
nut quality from the demonstration orchards, emphasising the role of weaver
ants,
• Part 5 has 30 pictures describing the bio-ecology of weaver ants,
• Part 6 has 34 photos and figures demonstrating how to use weaver ant colonies
step by step, and
• Part 7 is a checklist of the ICI program reminding farmers when to do what.


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5.1.5. The second baseline survey, and the comparison of the results with those
of the first baseline survey

The second baseline survey was conducted between November and December 2008
using a standard questionnaire. A total of 220 questionnaires were sent to farmers,
who graduated from our first year FFSs which completed between April – May 2008,
in 10 cashew growing districts of five major cashew growing provinces. A total of
197 questionnaires were collected. The results from this survey were compared to our
baseline data collected at the beginning of this project (Peng et al., 2006a). In
summery, farmers’ knowledge and farming skills have been greatly improved after
the FFS training in terms of
(1) general cashew farming,

(2) farmers’ health and farm environment,
(3) cashew insect pests, diseases and their natural enemies, and
(4) farmers’ use of weaver ants with particular reference to cashew yield and nut
quality (Peng et al., 2009 - project validation report).

Of 196 farmers who made comments on the quality of our FFS training, 98%, 95%
and 96% of farmers were happy with the FFS training programs, with the training
methods, and with the results of demonstration orchards, respectively. Our extensive
and intensive training with the ICI program was successful and very welcomed by
cashew farmers (Peng et al., 2009). The FFS demonstration orchards and farmer
orchards with weaver ants provided farmers with a full picture of how the ants could
benefit them.
5.2. Project achievements against the project objectives, outputs and
activities
Specific objectives of this project were:
(1) to conduct TOT training in cashew IPM for TOT trainers to conduct FFSs in
their local region,
(2) to develop an IPM cashew curriculum and an IPM cashew photo book that
will work in Vietnamese conditions based on the cashew IPM programs
developed in Australia, and
(3) to assess the effectiveness of the FFS model in increasing farmer knowledge
and reducing pesticide use in cashew production.
Here, we must mention that the name of our project is “Implementation of the IPM
program using weaver ants as a major component for cashew growers in Vietnam”,
and the term ‘IPM’ means integrated pest management. Here ‘pest’ refers to insect
pest, disease and weed. In fact, our TOT and FFS training and our cashew curriculum
(manual plus photo book) have addressed not only insect pests, diseases and weed
control, but cashew variety selection and a range of farming tactics. Therefore, the
term “integrated cashew improvement (ICI) program” is used in replace of the term
“integrated pest management (IPM) program”. The term ‘ICI’ has been used

throughout the cashew manual and the photo book, and this term will be used in the
rest of this report.

5.2.1. TOT training in cashew IPM for TOT trainers to conduct FFSs in their
local region

14

This objective has been achieved. A total of 113 TOT trainers have graduated from
our two-year TOT training (56 in the first year and 57 in the second year (Peng et al.,
2008e); Table 10), and they are very competent in FFS training (Peng et al., 2008c).
These TOT trainers have successfully conducted 98 FFSs in their local regions,
resulting in 2,448 farmers having graduated with improved knowledge and farming
skills in relation to the cashew ICI program (Table 10; Peng et al., 2009). The
distribution of the number of TOT trainers, FFSs and cashew farmers graduated from
the FFSs is shown in Table 10 for each of the 10 provinces.

Compared to the proposed number of 120 TOT trainers, only 113 TOT trainers
graduated due to the availability of sub-PPDs’ staff with IPM and/or FFS experience.
Compared to the proposed numbers of 3,750 farmers, 2,448 farmers graduated. This
shortfall of 1302 farmers is mainly due to
(1) unexpected outbreak periods of rice brown leafhoppers that overlapped our
FFS training periods in 2007 and 2008 (rice is the top priority in Vietnam). As
a result, our cashew TOT trainers were too busy to conduct as many FFSs as
we had planned,
(2) a shortfall of funding due to high inflation rates in Vietnam. Thus, the costs of
materials related to FFS training could not cover the costs of training 3750
farmers, and
(3) The paper work involved in the contract between the IAS and the sub-PPDs
was so complicated that staff in sub-PPD of Binh Duong province refused to

complete the paper work, resulting in no FFSs conducted in the second year
FFS training in Binh Duong province (Table 1).

5.2.2. Development of an IPM cashew curriculum and an IPM cashew photo
book that will work in Vietnamese conditions

This objective has been successfully completed. The cashew curriculum has been
developed based on our long-term field experiments and field surveys in major
cashew growing provinces (Peng et al., 2008d). It is entitled “The integrated cashew
improvement (ICI) program using weaver ants as a major component - Manual for ICI
program trainers and extension officers in Vietnam”. As planned, the manual includes
up-to-date information about
• cashew botany,
• breeding,
• culture practice,
• diseases and their control,
• insect pests and their damage,
• natural enemies,
• integrated pest control,
• the role of weaver ants,
• weaver ant keeping,
• cashew harvest,
• a checklist of the ICI program at different growing periods, and
• four appendices of guidelines for TOT and FFS training and for monitoring
pest damages and weaver ant abundance (Peng et al., 2008a).


15
An ICI cashew photo book has also been developed based on our long-term field
experiments, field surveys and laboratory rearing (Peng et al., 2008d), which is better

than the cashew posters we initially proposed. The ICI photo book covers
• cashew variety selection,
• advanced farming practice,
• major diseases,
• major insect pests,
• the main natural enemies,
• the integrated pest control methods,
• role of weaver ants,
• weaver ant keeping techniques, and
• the summary of the ICI programm (Peng et al., 2008b).

Before submitting the ICI manual and the ICI photo book to the CARD Office, we
obtained the following comments from some master TOT trainers, TOT trainers and
Heads of provincial Sub-PPDs:
(1) the manual was well designed and was easy to follow,
(2) both the manual and photo book will be applicable under the Vietnamese
cashew growing conditions, and
(3) the photo book will be very helpful for cashew growers.

The English version of the ICI manual and the ICI photo book have been accepted by
the CARD Office with very positive comments (see Appraisal Report of cashew nut
IPM curriculum). The Vietnamese version of the ICI photo book has been submitted,
and the Vietnamese version of the ICI manual, which involves large amount of
translation work, will be submitted in September 2009.

5.2.3. Effectiveness of the FFS model in increasing farmer knowledge and
reducing pesticide use in cashew production

The effectiveness of the FFS training on farmers’ knowledge and farming skills has
been assessed against our baseline data. Of 197 questionnaires collected from our first

year FFS farmers, over 95% of farmers were happy with the FFS training contents,
with the training methods, and with the results from FFS demonstration orchards.
More that 80% of the farmers were sure that weaver ants could control the main
cashew insect pests and would improve cashew yield and nut quality. Over 80% of
farmers knew how to use weaver ants, would use weaver ants, and would tell their
friends and other farmers to use the ants. Farmers’ knowledge about insect pests,
diseases and their natural enemies as well as general farming skills has been
significantly improved (see Peng et al., 2009 for details).

With regard to the reduction of insecticide use, 91% of the farmers used insecticides
before the FFS training, but after the FFS training, only 67% of the farmers used
insecticides, resulting in a 24% reduction (Peng et al., 2009). This was because insect
pest damage was greatly reduced after using weaver ants in their orchards. However,
with the application of the ICI program, we expect that the current level (67%) of
farmers using insecticides will decrease further when farmers get more and more
experience using weaver ants. Besides this, 92% of the farmers demonstrated a full
understanding of when and how to use insecticides in their orchards (Peng et al.,
2009). In contrast, in our baseline survey, 80% of the farmers experienced various

16
kinds of poison symptoms during or after the insecticide operations (Peng et al.,
2006a).
5.3. Smallholder Benefits
5.3.1. Smallholder benefits in the 6
th
6-months of the project (Sep 2008 – April
2009)

Based on the feed-back from our TOT trainers and the second-year FFS farmers,
farmers have expressed their interested in FFS training because they have seen the

results of weaver ant control on the main cashew insect pests in FFS demonstration
orchards and/or their own orchards. They also believe that their health and the
environment will be improved because no toxic insecticides are used with the ICI
program. With FFS farmers’ influence, many local cashew smallholders have
requested FFS training (Peng et al., 2009).

Net profits from demonstration orchards suggested that, compared to the net profit
under the conventional management, smallholders can get 13.3% more net profit
when they use the ICI program.

5.3.2. Smallholder benefits of this project (February 2006 – April 2009)

From the results of our survey of 197 cashew farmers who graduated from the first-
year FFSs (Peng et al., 2009), the cashew smallholders’ benefits from this project can
be summarised as follows:
(1) Improved knowledge about cashew farming practice, including
a. the importance of cashew variety,
b. planting skills,
c. pruning techniques,
d. intercropping principles,
e. importance of farm manure,
f. application methods of chemical fertilizers,
g. compost making,
h. irrigation and
i. harvest,
(2) Improved knowledge about
a. insect pests,
b. diseases and
c. the role of the natural enemies in cashew orchards,
(3) Advanced and cost-effective pest control system using weaver ants as a major

component,
(4) Considerable reduction in the use of insecticides while maintaining high yield,
(5) Greatly improved cashew nut quality due to the use of weaver ants,
(6) Opportunity to produce ‘organic’ cashew nuts,
(7) Improvement of the environment in which farmers are living. and
(8) Improved farmers’ health.

Demonstration orchards suggested that, compared to the net profit under the
conventional management, smallholders can get 13.3% more net profit when they use
the ICI program.

17
5.4. Capacity Building
5.4.1. Capacity building in the 6
th
6-months of the project (September 2008 –
April 2009)

During the period of the 6
th
6-months of this project, Dr Peng visited Vietnam in
October 2008 to inspect project demonstration orchards and FFS training activities. At
the demonstration orchard in Dong Nai province, ghost ants were still competing with
weaver ants because of the difficulty in maintaining grass and weeds near the tree
base due to the heavy shelter of tree canopies, and very high ghost ant populations in
the centre of the IPM plot. However, with an intensive study, Dr Peng found that
existing weaver ant colonies in the orchard boundary trees (Acacia sp) expanded their
territories into the farmer’s plot, some of trees that were previously occupied by ghost
ants were now occupied by weaver ants, and ghost ants were pushed back to the
centre of the plot. This pattern was also shown clearly on the other side of the

boundary trees. With this interesting pattern, Dr Peng worked closely with IAS
project staff to modify the site by shifting some of trees in the farmer’s plot into the
IPM plot and some trees in the IPM plot to the farmer’s plot in order to use this
positive interaction, rather than to spend time on the control of ghost ants in the centre
of the IPM plot where ghost ant populations were too high to control.

To inspect FFS activities, Dr Peng visited 5 FFSs in four provinces: Binh Phouc,
Dong Nai, Ninh Thuan and Binh Thuan. At each FFS, he participated in the training
run by one or two TOT trainers and the field practice. He talked with FFS farmers
about the training topics and the training methods, and about what they had learned
and what they needed for the best management of their orchards. He also answered a
lot of questions raised by farmers. At the end of each FFS visit, Dr Peng exchanged
information with the TOT trainer and the Head of the provincial sub-PPD and made
some comments to improve the FFS training quality in the future. These comments
included:
(1) It is ideal to select at least one farmer with some knowledge about weaver ants
for each FFS,
(2) TOT trainers need to take the farmers into the orchards more often to
selectively demonstrate the different techniques, and
(3) A hard copy of the photo book is necessary to improve the FFS training
quality.

5.4.2. Capacity building of this project (February 2006 – April 2009)

The major objective of this project has been to help cashew smallholders with
increased yield and improved nut quality through developing and implementing an
ICI program based on the IPM programs using weaver ants as a key element
developed at Charles Darwin University. To achieve this, we have conducted an
intensive training with the weaver ant technology and advanced farming tactics and
have used long-term field experiments, together with large scale field surveys. The

details of each of these activities in the training and filed experiments have been given
in our 1
st
, 2
nd
, 3
rd
, 4
th
and 5
th
6-monthly reports (Peng et al., 2006b; 2007 a, b; 2008e,
f), and the following is a summary of our achievements in capacity building.
(1) An ICI manual for TOT trainers and extension officers in Vietnam has been
developed and used in our TOT training. The English version of the ICI

18
manual has been accepted by the CARD Office, and the Vietnamese version of
the manual will be submitted in September 2009.
(2) An ICI photo book for cashew growers in Vietnam has been developed and
used by our TOT trainers in the FFS training. The English version of the photo
book has been accepted by the CARD Office, and the Vietnamese version of
the book was submitted in April 2009.
(3) A total of 113 TOT trainers have graduated from our two TOT training centres
with full knowledge about the ICI program, and they are competent in their
local FFS training.
(4) A total of 2448 cashew farmers have graduated from our FFS training with
improved knowledge of farming tactics, cashew insect pests, diseases and their
natural enemies, and benefits of weaver ants, including reduced costs, etc.
(5) A total of 6 staff at the Institute of Agricultural Science (IAS) for South

Vietnam have been intensively trained with the weaver ant technology. Now,
IAS staff can operate and teach the ant technology successfully (Peng et al.,
2006b, 2007a).
(6) Charles Darwin University has awarded a Ph.D. scholarship to a mumber of
the IAS staff (Mr Nguyen Thanh Binh) for a period of three years to work on a
project related to the cashew ICI program.
(7) Two people (Mr Thai and his assistant) from a national animal conservation
centre in northern Vietnam have been extensively trained with the weaver ant
technology. After the animal conservation people found weaver ants to be the
best food to rear the endangered pangolins (intercepted from smuggling), they
contacted us, wishing to participate in this weaver ant training in order to
establish a weaver ant farm. To assist with this endangered animal
conservation program, we strongly supported their idea and accepted Mr Thai
and his assistant for this training.
5.5. Project Management
Professor Keith Christian and Dr Renkang Peng have been responsible for the overall
coordination of the project and met reporting requirements with input from
Vietnamese personnel as required.

Dr Peng has monitored all the activities of the project, and he has also been
responsible for checking the progress of the ICI program implementation, for training
IAS project staff with the weaver ant technology and advanced farming tactics, for
part of the TOT training, for problem solving in the demonstration orchards, for the
field data analyses, and for the development of the ICI manual and the ICI photo
book.

Since the start of this project, Mr Lan, has been in charge of Vietnamese personnel
and expenses of the project. He has also managed the demonstration orchards with the
help from two experimentalists and worked closely with ten provincial sub-PPDs for
FFS training.

19
Report on Cross-Cutting Issues
6.1. Environment and health
The farming environment has been positively improved with the implementation of
this project. Our long-term field experiments in our demonstration orchards have
shown that more natural enemies of cashew insect pests are found in the IPM plots
than in the farmers’ plots (Peng et al., 2008b).

In our survey of farmers who graduated from the first-year FFS training, 89% of the
farmers believed that there would be a significant improvement in their farm
environments and 95% of the farmers believed that their health would be greatly
improved (Peng et al., 2009). This is because there are no highly toxic pesticide
sprays involved in this ICI program. In contrast, before FFS training, 80% of the
farmers’ health had been affected by various kinds of pesticide poison, and 92% of the
farmers realized that pesticide spray had already caused adverse effects on the farm
environment (Peng et al., 2006a).
6.2. Gender and Social Issues
In our FFS training, women and minority people have been strongly encouraged to
participate. In each FFS, we have included 20-30% women. We also had minority
people involved in the demonstration orchard management.

Our survey of the first-year FFS farmers showed that there was no difference in
women’s role before and after the FFS training (Peng et al., 2009). This may be due to
the fact that time (only 7 months after the completion of the FFSs) has been too short
to show any changes in family labour participation. In the long run, we expect that
women’s participation in smallholder’s cashew production will be promoted because
this ICI program using weaver ants as a major component is not physically strenuous

and it does not involve toxic insecticide sprays.
7. Implementation & Sustainability Issues
7.1. Implementation
The implementation of the developed ICI program has been successfully completed.
Our survey of the first-year FFS farmers showed that farmers were very pleased with
our FFS training. Of 196 farmers who made comments on the quality of our FFS
training, 98%, 95% and 96% of farmers were happy with the FFS training programs,
with the training methods, and with the results from FFS demonstration orchards,
respectively. This suggests that the implementation of the ICI program has been
successful.

In addition to this, there was high demand for the FFS training of the ICI program by
local cashew smallholders who have not been trained. This is because of the positive
impact of the farmers who have already participated in the FFS training. This high
demand will stimulate provincial sub-PPDs and local Governments to continue the
implementation of the ICI program to meet the requirements of cashew growers after
this project is terminated.

20
7.2. Sustainability
Sustainability of cashew production in Vietnam is the focus of this project. All the
objectives, approaches, implementation methods and the training program have been
linked with this issue. From the results of FFSs and the demonstration orchards, using
weaver ants as a major component to manage cashew insect pests is effective and
profitable. Most FFS farmers commented that this IPM program would achieve
sustainable cashew production because the farming techniques used in this ICI
program would improve soil structure and fertility. Also, the reduction of the use of
toxic insecticides will soon help cashew orchards recover from the currently
unbalanced relationship between pests and their natural enemies.
7.3. Other issues

Master TOT trainers, TOT trainers, plant protectionists in cashew growing provinces,
and farmers that have graduated from our FFSs are very interested in having a hard
copy of the ICI photo book and the ICI manual for their reference and for teaching
other farmers. According to a quotation from the Agricultural Publishing House in
HCM City, total costs for printing 3000 copies of the ICI photo book and 500 copies
of the ICI manual book are Au$7200. The project has Au$4000 reserved for this
purpose. Therefore, we apply for a shortfall of Au$3200 from the CARD Office.
7.4. Options
Not applicable for this report.
8. Next Critical Steps
Not applicable for this report.
9. Conclusion
Because this completion report includes the 6
th
6-monthly report, the conclusion is
comprised of the conclusion of the 6
th
6-monthly activities and the conclusion of the
project achievements against the project objectives, outputs and activities.
9.1. Conclusion of the sixth six-monthly activities
In the last six six-months of this project, the following 5 activities have been
successfully completed.
• Conduct and complete the second year FFS training in ten cashew growing
provinces
• Complete all the field experiments in the demonstration orchards,
• Complete the cashew IPM curriculum,
• Complete the cashew IPM photo book, and
• Conduct the second baseline survey, and compare the results with those of the
first baseline survey.

A total of 70 FFSs in 9 cashew producing provinces have been successfully completed
by the first- and second-year TOT trainers. The training period for each FFS covered
three most important periods: pre-flowering flush, flowering and nut setting and

21
harvest. During the training, each FFS had 9 – 10 training periods, and each period
lasted two days. A total of 1750 farmers have graduated from the 70 FFSs. FFS
farmers were very pleased with the ICI training contents, methods and general results
from the demonstration orchards. Over 80% of FFS farmers were willing to use
weaver ants in their orchards in next cashew season. Most FFS farmers have made
suggestions to their local governments that they wish to establish ‘ICI clubs’ to pass
this IPM knowledge to other farmers in their local regions. Due to the positive
influence of the current FFSs, there was high demand by local cashew farmers to have
the ICI program training.

Two demonstration orchards in Dong Nai province were used in the final year of the
project. The field experiments at the two demonstration orchards have been
successfully completed. The main results are:
• the ghost ant problem in Mr Bi’s orchard was successfully resolved,
• weaver ants were kept at high and stable levels throughout the year,
• The main insect pests in this orchard were tea mosquito bugs, the shoot borer,
leaf rollers, leaf miners, mealy bugs and aphids. In general, the mean damage
level on cashew flowers or young nuts by each of these pests was similar
between the farmer’s plot and the IPM plot,
• The average yield of cashew nuts per tree was either similar or higher in the
IPM plot than in the farmer’s plot, and the nuts were cleaner and shinier in the
IPM plot than in the farmer’s plot, and
• Compared to the farmer’s plot, net profit was 13% higher in the ICI plot.

The cashew IPM curriculum has been developed. A manual “Integrated cashew

improvement program using weaver ants as a major component – Manual for ICI
program trainers and extension officers in Vietnam” was completed.

A ICI photo book for Cashew Growers and TOT trainers in Vietnam was also
developed.

The second baseline survey was conducted between November and December 2008
using a standard questionnaire. Farmers’ knowledge and farming skills have been
greatly improved after the FFS training in terms of
(1) general cashew farming,
(2) farmers’ health and farm environment,
(3) cashew insect pests, diseases and their natural enemies, and
(4) farmers’ use of weaver ants with particular reference to cashew yield and nut
quality.

Over 95% of farmers were happy with the FFS training programs, with the training
methods, and with the results of demonstration orchards.
9.2. Conclusion of the project achievements against the project
objectives, outputs and activities
The objectives of this project have been:
(1) to conduct TOT training in cashew IPM for TOT trainers to conduct FFSs in
their local region,

22
(2) to develop an IPM cashew curriculum and an IPM cashew photo book that
will work in Vietnamese conditions based on the cashew IPM programs
developed in Australia, and
(3) to assess the effectiveness of the FFS model in increasing farmer knowledge
and reducing pesticide use in cashew production.
These objectives have been successfully achieved. A total of 113 TOT trainers have

graduated from our TOT training, and they are very competent in FFS training. These
TOT trainers have successfully conducted 98 FFSs in their local regions, resulting in a
total of 2,448 ICI program farmers with improved knowledge and farming skills. The
reasons why these numbers are lower than originally proposed have been discussed.

The cashew curriculum “The integrated cashew improvement (ICI) program using
weaver ants as a major component - Manual for ICI program trainers and
extension officers in Vietnam” has been developed as planned. The manual includes
cashew botany,
• breeding,
• culture practice,
• diseases and their control,
• insect pests and their damage,
• natural enemies,
• integrated pest control,
• the role of weaver ants,
• weaver ant keeping,
• cashew harvest, and
• a checklist of the things to be done at different growing periods.

An ICI photo book has also been developed as planned. It covers
• cashew variety selection,
• advanced farming practice,
• major diseases,
• insect pests,
• natural enemies,
• integrated pest control,
• the role of weaver ants, and
• weaver ant keeping techniques.

We have obtained positive comments on these two documents from master TOT
trainers, TOT trainers and Heads of provincial Sub-PPDs. The English version of the
ICI manual and the ICI photo book have been accepted by the CARD Office with
very positive comments. The Vietnamese version of the ICI photo book has been
submitted, and the Vietnamese version of the ICI manual will be submitted in
September 2009.

The effectiveness of the FFS training on farmers’ knowledge and farming skills has
been assessed against our baseline data. Over 95% of farmers were happy with the
FFS training contents, with the training methods, and with the results of
demonstration orchards. More than 80% of the farmers were sure that weaver ants
could control the main cashew insect pests and would improve cashew yield and nut

23
quality. Over 80% of farmers knew how to use weaver ants, would use weaver ants
and would tell their friends and other farmers to use the ants. Farmers’ knowledge
about insect pests, diseases and their natural enemies as well as general farming skills
has been significantly improved.

Before the FFS training, 91% of farmers used insecticides, and 80% of the farmers
experienced various kinds of poison symptoms during or after the insecticide
operations. However, after the FFS training, 67% of farmers used insecticides,
resulting in a 24% reduction. This was because insect pest damage was greatly
reduced after using weaver ants in their orchards. However, with the application of the
ICI program, we expect that the current level (67%) of farmers using insecticides will
decrease further when farmers get more and more experience using weaver ants. In
addition to this, 92% of the farmers demonstrated a full understanding of when and
how to properly use insecticides in their orchards.
Smallholder Benefits
Based on the results of our survey of 197 cashew farmers who graduated from the

first-year FFSs, the cashew smallholders’ benefits are:
• Improved knowledge about cashew farming practice,
• Improved knowledge about insect pests, diseases and the role of the natural
enemies,
• Cost-effective pest control system using weaver ants as a major component,
• Considerable reduction of insecticide use while maintaining high yield,
• Greatly improved cashew nut quality,
• Potential of ‘organic’ nut production,
• Improvement of the environment in which farmers are living, and
• Improved farmers’ health.
Demonstration orchards suggested that, compared to the net profit under the
conventional management, smallholders can get 13% more net profit when they use
the ICI program.
Capacity Building
The details of this project in the training and field experiments have been given in our
1
st
, 2
nd
, 3
rd
, 4
th
and 5
th
6-monthly reports, and the following is a summary of our
achievements in capacity building.
• An ICI manual for TOT trainers and extension officers in Vietnam has been
developed and used in our TOT training.
• An ICI photo book for cashew growers in Vietnam has been developed and

used by our TOT trainers in the FFS training.
• A total of 6 staff at the Institute of Agricultural Science (IAS) for South
Vietnam have been intensively trained with the weaver ant technology. Now,
IAS staff can operate and teach the ant technology successfully.
• A total of 113 TOT trainers have graduated from our two TOT training centres
with full knowledge about the ICI program, and they are competent in their
local FFS training.
• A total of 2448 cashew farmers have graduated from our FFS training with
improved knowledge of farming tactics, cashew insect pests, diseases and their
natural enemies, benefits from weaver ants and reduced costs, etc.

24
• Charles Darwin University has awarded a Ph.D. scholarship to a member of
the IAS staff for a period of three years to work on a project related to the
cashew ICI program.
• Two people from a national animal conservation centre in northern Vietnam
have been extensively trained with the weaver ant technology.
Project Management
Since the start of this project, the project leaders and the principal researcher have
managed the project smoothly. They have successfully collaborated with each other to
run demonstration orchards and TOT and FFS training, and to develop and implement
the ICI manual and the photo book.
Environment
The farming environment has been positively improved with the implementation of
this project. In the farmers’ survey after the FFS training, 89% of the farmers
believed that there would be a significant improvement in their farm environments
and 95% of the farmers believed that their health would be greatly improved
Gender and Social Issues
In our FFS training, women and minority people have been strongly encouraged to
participate. In each FFS, we have included about 20-30% women. We also had

minority people involved in the demonstration orchard management. Although our
survey showed that there was no difference in women’s role before and after the FFS
training, which may be because time (only 7 months after the completion of the FFSs)
has been too short to show any changes in family labour participation, in the long run,
we expect that women’s participation in smallholder’s cashew production will be
promoted because this integrated cashew improvement (ICI) program using weaver
ants as a major component is not physically strenuous and it does not involve toxic
insecticide sprays.
Implementation
The implementation of the developed ICI program has been successfully conducted
and completed. Over 95% of farmers were happy with the FFS training programs,
with the training methods, and with the results of demonstration orchards, indicating
that the ICI program has been successfully implemented. Importantly, there was high
demand for the FFS training of the ICI program by cashew smallholders who have not
been trained because of the positive impact of the FFS farmers. This high demand for
cashew FFS training will stimulate provincial sub-PPDs under the local Government
support to continue implementing the ICI program after this project is finished.
Sustainability
Sustainability of cashew production in Vietnam is the focus of this project. All the
objectives, approaches, implementation methods and the training program have been
linked with this issue. The project has showed that using weaver ants as a major
component to manage cashew insect pests is effective and profitable. Most FFS
farmers commented that this IPM program would achieve sustainable cashew