Báo cáo nghiên cứu khoa học " Improving the safety and quality of Vietnamese vegetables through research and capacity building in quality assurance, postharvest management and high technology protected cropping systems - MS2" pdf

Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Development


CARD Project Progress Report



004/04VIE: Improving the safety and quality of
Vietnamese vegetables through research and capacity
building in quality assurance, postharvest management
and high technology protected cropping systems





MS2: FIRST SIX-MONTHLY REPORT







30 January 2006

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1. Institute Information

Project Name
Improving the safety and quality of Vietnamese vegetables
through research and capacity building in quality assurance,
postharvest management and high technology protected
cropping systems.
Vietnamese Institution
Research Institute of Fruits and Vegetables (RIFAV)
Trau Quy, Gia Lam, HANOI
Vietnamese Project Team
Leader
Associate Prof. Dr. Tran Khac Thi
Australian Organisation
NSW Department of Primary Industries
Gosford Horticultural Institute
Centre of Excellence in Market Access and Greenhouse
Horticulture
Incorporating the National Centre for Greenhouse Horticulture
Australian Personnel
Dr. Vong Nguyen
Date commenced
30
th
September 2005
Completion date (original)
30
th
September 2007
Completion date (revised)
30
th

November 2007 (to take into account delay in signing of
contracts)
Reporting period
1
st
Six monthly report

Contact Officer(s)
In Australia: Team Leader
Name:
Dr Vong Nguyen
Telephone:
(02)4348 1927
Position:
Special Research
Horticulturist
Fax:
(02)4348 1910
Organisation
NSW Department of
Primary Industries
Email:


In Australia: Administrative contact
Name:
Graham
Denney
Telephone:

Position:
Administrative officer
Fax:

Organisation
NSW Department of
Primary Industries
Email:


In Vietnam
Name:
Associate Prof Dr Tran Khac Thi
Telephone:
84-4-8276316
Position:
Deputy Director
Fax:
84-4-8276148
Organisation
Research Institute of Fruits and
Vegetables (RIFAV), Trau Quy, Gia
Lam, HANOI

Email:
;



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2. Project Abstract














Chemical residues left by fungicides and insecticides are among the major problems causing
contamination of vegetables in Vietnam. The development of safe food production methods was
fostered by the previous NSW Department of Primary Industries project (CARD-0016; 2001-
2003) but this can only be realised with further research and development. This project will
address the issues of food safety and food quality from production to market to encourage the
economic viability and sustainability of the Vietnamese vegetable industry. The objectives are to
1) Facilitate the wider implementation and adoption of protected cropping systems of low to
medium technology that require fewer chemical inputs through targeted research and extension
activities 2) Examine current supply chain constraints and utilise quality assurance principles to
implement targeted system improvements and 3) Enhance Vietnamese research, development and
extension capacity in the areas of protected cropping systems, postharvest management and
quality assurance systems.
3. Executive Summary
Project CARD-004/04 VIE “Improving the safety and quality of Vietnamese vegetables”
commenced in September 2005. The overall objective of this project is to provide

Vietnamese scientists and extension specialists with the training and tools to implement and
foster regionally feasible improvements to current vegetable production practices and supply
chains. The project is led by the Research Institute of Fruit and Vegetables with Hue
University of Agriculture and Forestry and the Institute of Agricultural Sciences for South
Vietnam the major Vietnamese project partners. NSW Department of Primary Industries is
the Australian partner. The project start date was delayed due to extended contract
negotiations until September 2005.
Key achievements during this six monthly reporting period include:
1. Project management
• CARD contract signed with NSW Department of Primary Industries on 15
th
August
2006. Vietnamese and Australian team members and roles within the project
finalised.
• Planning and resource development for training workshops in Vietnam to be held in
February 2006
2. Capacity building
• In October-November 2005, three Vietnamese scientists visited Australia for a 4
week period to undertake intensive training in agricultural production systems at
Gosford Horticultural Institute and Yanco Agricultural Institute. The visit also
provided the opportunity to plan the demonstration research trials and the training
workshops in Vietnam.
3. Demonstration research trials
• Two demonstration research trials have been established at IAS and RIFAV. The
objective of these two trials is to investigate the effect of growing media on crop
development, yield and quality of greenhouse grown tomato and cucumber.
4. Publication

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• Three articles in Vietnamese language on safe vegetables production, Good

Agricultural Practice (GAP) and Vietnam joining WTO were published in
Vietnamese papers.
4. Introduction & Background
Project Objective:
The previous project AusAID-CARD0016 (2001-2003) demonstrated that a protected
cropping system (a net-house) is suitable for the production of safe and good quality
vegetables in Vietnam. This demonstration system used local waste coconut fibre (cocopeat)
as a growing medium, a suitable alternative to soil in peri urban areas for intensive vegetable
production with low chemical inputs. Although the protected cropping system is not
necessarily required to reduce chemical inputs into vegetable production, adoption of this
technology has the benefit of higher yielding production and ultimately is demonstrated to be
safer for workers in terms of a reduced need for pesticides. In such systems use of cocopeat as
a plant substrate would also reduce the use of already contaminated agricultural soil and helps
to eliminate a waste problem. However, the implementation of “best practice” for the
production of safe and high quality vegetables in new growing systems is still a long way off.
To successfully address these issues this project will use a multifaceted approach to improve
production efficiency; reduce reliance on pesticides; reduce postharvest losses and to utilise
quality assurance principles.
Objectives of this project are as follows:
1. Facilitate the wider implementation and adoption of protected cropping systems of
low to medium technology (greenhouses/nethouses) that require fewer chemical
inputs through targeted research and extension activities;
2. Examine current supply chain constraints and utilise quality assurance principles to
implement targeted system improvements;
3. Enhance Vietnamese R&D capacity in the areas of protected cropping systems,
postharvest management and quality assurance systems. Six scientists from RIFAS,
IAS and HUAF that gain experience in Australia will aid the setup of trial sites at
their locations in Vietnam. About 300 extension, plant protection officers, traders and
key growers from 64 provinces/cities will participate in workshops convened by four
Australian project members. Vietnamese professional officers and farmers exposed to

training will impact on vegetable horticulture in Vietnam increasing production and
safety of quality vegetables to the benefit of all consumers.
4. Establishment a link of researchers/traders/producers/growers to increase the
productivity and competitiveness of Vietnamese smallholder agriculture and related
rural enterprises

Output expected:
1. Visit by 6 Vietnamese scientists to Australia will expand their knowledge in
agricultural production systems including greenhouse production, implementing
quality management systems, pest & disease management and innovations in supply
chain management.
2. A research and demonstration project titled "Evaluation of growing media (including
cocopeat) and nutrient solutions for greenhouse vegetables" will be established at
each of the RIFAV-Hanoi, HUAF-Hue and IAS-HoChiMinh. A supply chain
management strategy will be incorporated. This will allow both Vietnamese and
Australian scientists to collaborate in this joint research and demonstration project.
Outputs of this research will include the creation of hydroponic systems for tropical
areas, determination of suitable nutrient solutions and evaluation of Vietnam’s coir
dust. A better understanding of the constraining factors for greenhouse production in
the tropics will also be achieved.

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3. Visit by Australian scientists to Vietnam (Quality Assurance officer, Postharvest
officer, Greenhouse specialist) for the presentation with MARD horticultural
scientists of workshops on Vegetable Production, Quality Assurance, Post-harvest
and Greenhouse management for extension, Plant Protection officers, traders and key
growers. A meeting will also be held with Vietnam government representatives to
discuss how a quality assurance system could be implemented in the Vietnamese
vegetable industry.
4. Institutional capacity building is enhanced by this project with researchers from

several Vietnamese institutions working together to increase their knowledge in
horticultural production, postharvest and quality assurance systems.
5. Farmers adopting new technology will increase their production quality and output
and the ability to increase their income. A better standard of living for families
(including women) on farms will result.
6. The concept of a sustainable growing system is integral to this project. Reduced
chemical inputs and the use of waste products such as cocopeat reduce the
environmental impacts of horticulture and increase the sustainability of production
systems.

Approach and Strategy
This project uses a participatory research approach to foster uptake by both Vietnamese
institutions and key stakeholders (farmers, extension agents, supply chain partners). The
three pronged approach of: intensive training opportunities for Vietnamese scientists; the
establishment of demonstration research trials and the delivery of regional workshops should
ensure that the project targets key stakeholders and that the project benefits are widespread.
The production of “CLEAN” and “GREEN” vegetables in greenhouses with hydroponic
systems, the key research component of this project, should contribute to Vietnam’s ability to
achieve their goals in production of safe and high quality vegetables in the future. This project
focuses on reducing chemical inputs into the production system and should lead to more
sustainable environmental practices.
Methodologies
This project will take an integrated research and extension approach with quality assurance,
postharvest management and production technologies focussing on the production of safe and
high quality vegetables. The project is divided into 3 parts, they are:
1. Part One : Intensive training of Vietnamese horticulturists in Australia;
2. Part Two : Demonstration research trials; and
3. Part Three: Regional extension workshops in Vietnam
5. Progress to Date
5.1 Implementation Highlights

i. CARD contract signed:
The project contract was officially signed on the 9
th
August 2005, with the project
commencing in September 2005.

ii. Training Vietnamese scientists in Australia
1. Three Vietnamese horticultural scientists, who were nominated by the Vietnamese
Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Affairs, visited Australia from 31
st
October to
27
th
November, 2005 for a 4- week course of focussed on the Best practices for
vegetable production, Postharvest management skills in supply chain mapping, Good
Agricultural Practices (GAP) and QA systems (Appendices 1 & 2).

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At the end of the course, Vietnamese scientists were awarded Certificates in Greenhouse &
Hydroponic production, Postharvest Technology, Good Agricultural Practices and Quality
Assurance from NSW DPI.
2. During training course establishment of demonstration experimental trials in Vietnam and
Scientists from NSW Department of Primary Industries visiting Vietnam were discussed and
have been suggested as follows:

•
Establishment of demonstration experimental trials in Vietnam:
An experimental trial in protected cropping for production of safe and high quality
vegetables titled “Evaluation of hydroponic systems and growing media for
greenhouse vegetables such as cucumber and tomatoes" will be organised at IAS,

Hochiminh (Duc Duong, Lam Dong province) and RIFAV, Hanoi using Australian
greenhouse and hydroponic technologies in November and December, 2005
(Appendix 3). The aims of this experiment in Year 1 are evaluation of Vietnam’s coir
dust and another media in greenhouse systems. Plant growth and yields will be
recorded. These demonstrations provide also multiple training and workshops which
will be organised in February 2006.


•
Scientists from NSW DPI visiting Vietnam and Regional workshops:
NSW DPI horticultural scientists including Quality Assurance Officer, Mr Joseph
Ekman; Postharvest Officer, Dr. Suzie Newman; Greenhouse Physiologist, Dr.
Sophie Parks and Project Leader, Dr. Vong Nguyen will visit Vietnam from 8
th

February, 2005 to:
a) assist the Vietnamese Government to develop safe management systems
for its vegetable industry,
b) organize workshops in two locations (Hanoi and Hochiminh) in Vietnam
for training of approximately 100 Extension and Plant Protection
horticulturists and approximately 50 vegetable traders and key growers of 34
provinces and cities in north and south Vietnam focussing on Quality
Assurance, postharvest management and horticultural “best practice”
protected cropping systems.
c) inspection of demonstration trials in RIFAV, IAS and Lam Dong province.

Due to late commencement in September 2005, the original plan to visit Vietnam was
changed to February 2006 instead of November 2005 as planned.

iii. Demonstration research trials in Vietnam:

A research and demonstration project titled "Evaluation of growing media (including
cocopeat) and nutrient solutions for greenhouse vegetables" is established at each of the
RIFAV-Hanoi and IAS-HoChiMinh. The aims of this experiment in Year 1 were
evaluation of Vietnam’s coir dust in greenhouse systems.
•
Experimental trial in IAS-Hochiminh:
Trial which is randomised block design with 3 replications was organised in Don
Duong, Lam Dong province where tomato is the major vegetable crop. Tomatoes
(cultivars Manila and 386) and cucumbers were sown on 1 November 2005 on 4
different media from IAS (cocopeat + rice husk + earth worm casting), Cau Vong
(cocopeat), Hieu Giang (coffee bean husk+ earth worm casting) and Don Duong (peat
+ cow manure + chemical NPK). Plant growth and yields will be recorded.
•
Experimental trial in RIFAV-Hanoi:
Trial which is randomised block design with 5 replications was organised in research
farm, RIFAV. Tomatoes (cultivar VL2500) and cucumber (cultivar Status) were sown

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on 25
th
November and 20
th
December 2005, respectively on 4 different media
including Media 1 (Sugar cane waste + peanut husk+ soybean), Media 2 (Sugar cane
waste + peanut husk + peat), Media 3 (Sugar cane waste + peat + volcano rock) and
Media 4 (Cocopeat). Plant growth and yields will be recorded.

5.2 Smallholder Benefits
Fresh market tomatoes sold in Hochiminh market used to be supplied from Don Duong
province of Lam Dong highland. It is about 200km south-north of Hochiminh city. The

industry was once destroyed by wilt diseases, particularly Bacterial wilt. However it has
recovered thanks to the grafting technique which was introduced in 2002/03 by
CARD004/04VIE’s research partner; the Institute of Agricultural Science for South Vietnam.
The benefits of grafting are in producing plants with resistance to bacterium and pythium
wilts. Freshmarket tomatoes industry in Don Duong now is reaching up to approx. 4,000 -
5,000ha, employing a large number of people, particularly women.
A plastic house with drip irrigation systems which was built in November 2005 as part of this
project could provide another new technology, bringing benefits to the smallholders in the
area. It should be noted that greenhouse tomato is a new industry for the Don Duong area.
5.3 Capacity Building
Three Vietnamese horticulturists who were invited to Australia in November 2005 have
increased their understanding of modern horticulture through four weeks training in Australia,
enhancing their capacity for developing the Vietnamese rural horticultural industry.
5.4 Publicity
Three articles in Vietnamese language on safe vegetables production, Good Agricultural
Practice (GAP) and Vietnam joining WTO were published in Vietnamese papers.
They were:
1. Nguyen Quoc Vong, 2005. Lam gi de co mot tam “ho chieu” cho rau qua Viet nam ?
(How to get a “visa” for Vietnamese vegetables?) Khoa Hoc & Đoi Song (Science &
Life). Vol. 59 25 July 2005. Page 6. In Vietnamese.
2. Nguyen Quoc Vong, 2005. Nhung thach thuc moi cua nong nghiep Vietnam (Good
Agricultural Practices: New challenges ahead for Vietnamese agricultural industry).
Saigon Economy Times (Thoi Bao Kinh Te Saigon). Vol. 22 September 2005. Pages
37-38. In Vietnamese.
3. Nguyen Quoc Vong, 2005. Rau qua Dalat can co tam “visa” GAP de gia nhap WTO
(Dalat vegetables need a “visa” GAP for joining WTO). Lam Dong Cuoi Tuan (The
Lam Dong Weekend). So 2579, 23 December 2005. Page 3 & 7. In Vietnamese.
5.5 Project Management
• CARD contract signed with NSW Department of Primary Industries on 15
th

August
2006.
• Vietnamese and Australian team members and roles within the project finalised.
• Three Vietnamese scientists visited Australia in October-November 2005 for a 4
week period to undertake intensive training in agricultural production systems.
• Two demonstration research trials have been established at IAS and RIFAV. The
objective of these two trials is to investigate the effect of growing media on crop
development, yield and quality of greenhouse grown tomato and cucumber.

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• Planning and resource development for training workshops in Vietnam to be held in
February 2006
6. Report on Cross-Cutting Issues
6.1 Environment
Experimental trials in Hanoi and Hochiminh which focused on 4 -5 uncontaminated
media would bring benefits to food safety for Vietnamese horticultural industry. There
is great concern of safety in vegetables in Vietnam due to chemical left in the soil from
fungicides, insecticides, heavy metal and mycotoxins.
6.2 Gender and Social Issues
Introduction of grafting technique, greenhouse horticulture, uncontaminated media
and drop irrigation systems have helped local Hanoi and Don Duong areas,
contributing more job to the local community, particularly women

7. Implementation & Sustainability Issues
7.1 Issues and Constraints
Extended contract negotiations have delayed the implementation of this project. Due to the
seasonality of project activities this has caused substantial delays in project activities. This
may lead to the need to renegotiate some of the project milestones over the next few months.
7.2 Options
Nil

7.3 Sustainability

8. Next Critical Steps
Project’s activities in the next six months are as follows:
1. Two workshops on Quality Assurance, Postharvest and horticultural “Good
Agricultural Practice” protected cropping systems in Hanoi and Hochiminh to be
held in February 2006;
2. Evaluation of Vietnamese cocopeat is investigated in Gosford Horticultural
Institute, Australia;
3. Experimental trials of greenhouse tomatoes and cucumber to be organised in
Hanoi and Hue;
4. Australian Project Leader visiting Vietnam for evaluating of Year 1 and
developing program for remaining workshops in Hue and Can Tho.

9. Conclusion
The project which commenced in September 2005 - 8 months later than the original proposed
plan of January 2005 - is going well without any problem. Key achievements during this six
monthly reporting period include:


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1. Project management
• CARD contract signed with NSW Department of Primary Industries on 15
th
August
2006. Vietnamese and Australian team members and roles within the project
finalised.
• Planning and resource development for training workshops in Vietnam to be held in
February 2006
2. Capacity building

• In October-November 2005, three Vietnamese scientists visited Australia for a 4
week period to undertake intensive training in agricultural production systems at
Gosford Horticultural Institute and Yanco Agricultural Institute. The visit also
provided the opportunity to plan the demonstration research trials and the training
workshops in Vietnam.
3. Demonstration research trials
• Two demonstration research trials have been established at IAS and RIFAV. The
objective of these two trials is to investigate the effect of growing media on crop
development, yield and quality of greenhouse grown tomato and cucumber.
4. Publication
• Three articles in Vietnamese language on safe vegetables production, Good
Agricultural Practice (GAP) and Vietnam joining WTO were published in
Vietnamese papers.



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