Báo cáo khoa học nông nghiệp " Reducing pesticide resides, improving yield, quality and marketing of vegetables crops in Northern Central Vietnam through improved varieties, GAP principles and farmer focused training " MS8 doc

1 Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Development Project Progress Report 021/06VIE Reducing pesticide resides, improving yield, quality and marketing of vegetables crops in Northern Central Vietnam through improved varieties, GAP principles and farmer focused training MS8: Fourth Six-Monthly Report 1 Table of Contents 1. Institute Information ___________________________________________________ 2 2. Project Abstract _______________________________________________________ 4 3. Executive Summary ____________________________________________________ 4 4. Introduction & Background _____________________________________________ 4 5. Progress to Date _______________________________________________________ 5 5.1 Implementation Highlights ________________________________________________ 5 5.2 Capacity Building ________________________________________________________ 6 5.3 Publicity________________________________________________________________ 6 5.4 Project Management _____________________________________________________ 6 5.5 Environment ____________________________________________________________ 7 5.6 Gender and Social Issues __________________________________________________ 7 6. Implementation & Sustainability Issues ____________________________________ 7 6.1 Issues and Constraints ____________________________________________________ 7 6.2 Options_________________________________________________________________ 7 6.3 Sustainability____________________________________________________________ 7 7. Next Critical Steps _____________________________________________________ 7 8. Conclusion ___________________________________________________________ 7 2 1. Institute Information Project Name Reducing pesticide residues, improving yield, quality and marketing of vegetable crops in Northern Central Vietnam through improved varieties, GAP principles and farmer focused training Vietnamese Institution Agricultural Science Institute for Northern Central Vietnam. (“ASINCV”) Nghi Kim, Vinh city, Nghe An province, Vietnam Vietnamese Project Team Leader Dr Chuong Australian Organisation Applied Horticultural Research Pty. Ltd.(AHR) ACN 073 642 510 Suite 352 Biomedical Building 1 Central Ave Eveleigh NSW 2015 Australia Australian Personnel Prof. Gordon Rogers Date commenced March 2007 Completion date (original) July 2008 Completion date (revised) July 2008 Reporting period Milestone achieved December 2008 3 Contact Officer(s) In Australia: Team Leader Name: Assoc Prof. Gordon Rogers Telephone: +61 2 8627 1040 Position: Project Leader Fax: +61 2 9544 3782 Organisation AHR, Applied Horticultural Research Suite 352 Biomedical Building 1 Central Ave Eveleigh NSW 2015 Australia Email: gordon@ahr.com.au In Australia: Administrative contact Name: Lynn Christie Telephone: +61 2 9527 0826 Position: Administrator Fax: +61 2 9544 3782 Organisation AHR, Applied Horticultural Research PO Box 3114 Bundeena NSW 2230 Australia Email: lynn@ahr.com.au In Vietnam Name: Dr Pham Van Chuong Telephone: +84 (903) 221 612 Position: Team Leader Vietnam Fax: +84(0) 38 851 981 Organisation Agricultural Science Institute for Northern Central Vietnam. (“ASINCV”) Nghi Kim, Vinh city, Nghe An province, Vietnam Email: chuong.phamvan@gmail.com 4 2. Project Abstract 3. Executive Summary The project uses a participatory approach to encourage the uptake of good agricultural practices (GAP) by the collaborating Vietnamese Institutes and the stakeholders (farmers, extension staff and commercial partners). The project includes several training initiatives. Such as the establishment of demonstration variety and GAP trials which are the basis of farmer field days, postharvest research investigating temperature management and packaging along the supply chain and market development. The project is running well and during this reporting period has focused on the review of input from Mr Titley (visit June 2008) on problems with the previous watermelon crop and address for the following crop. This resulted in a new watermelon production site at Dien Phong. Watermelons were successfully supplied to Metro Cash and Carry in Hanoi, following up the success of the previous cabbage crop. The traditional and supermarket system for watermelons and cabbage were studied. Training was delivered on agronomy, supply and marketing of cabbage in preparation for the coming winter crop in the form of Farmer Field Schools. Crop supply scheduling tools were developed which can be used to assist farmers in developing planting schedules to meet retail orders and also to monitor crop progress. This helped with the expansion of the number from crops being supplied to Metro from Quynh Luong from 2 to 5 to include carrots, tomatoes and chinese cabbage. There were two visits by the Australian team to Vietnam during this time. 4. Introduction & Background Vegetable growing in Vietnam is an important source of income for the country and accounts for 9% of the total cropping including rice. There is potential to increase these returns to growers by maximizing yield and quality of the produce they grow. However, there are several aspects of the vegetable industry in Vietnam which currently limit expansion and development of the industry and financial returns to farmers, i.e.: Vegetable farming in Vietnam can bring an attractive income of around 20-30 Million VND per year which represents 80-90% of the average farming family income. There is potential to increase these returns to growers by maximizing yield and quality of the produce they grow. This project aims to improve the income of smallholders by encouraging them to adopt clean and sustainable production practices. This will involve providing high yielding; disease resistant varieties of watermelon and cabbage, providing information and training in Good Agricultural Practice. The introduction of new varieties and GAP will be implanted using a participatory approach with farmer field days and workshops lead by leading Australian industry consultants. The highlight from this reporting period is the production of high quality cabbages using GAP at Quynh Luong Commune and Hung Duong Co-operative and the enthusiasm from Metro Cash and Carry to sell these products in the Hanoi store. This is a very positive step for developing an alternative supply chain for these farmers which could be more reliable and profitable than the existing ones they use. The use of IPM and the agronomic record books has also been an important first steps for the adoption of a QA system for the growers. 5 • High pesticide and nitrosamine residues in produce • Postharvest temperature management and handling technology limits the quality presented to consumers • Agronomic practices used by growers can limit potential yields and hence farmer income • Traditional marketing can limit farmer returns The project will use a participatory approach to encourage the uptake of good agricultural practices (GAP) by the collaborating Vietnamese Institutes and the stakeholders (farmers, extension staff and commercial partners). The project will include several training initiatives. These include the establishment of demonstration variety and GAP trials which will be the basis of farmer field days, postharvest research investigating temperature management and packaging along the supply chain, intensive training of Vietnamese horticulturalists in Australia and the delivery of a large workshop at the end of the project to ensure the information is available to as wide an audience as possible. Another important aim is to develop a new and reliable market for growers by establishing supply chain links with Metro supermarkets. This will mean that the number of steps in the supply chain will be reduced and the product will reach the final customers more quickly, resulting in a fresher product with increased demand and sales. As a result, farmers will benefit through increased sales, more reliable markets, better communication with product buyers and in turn better returns. Retailers benefit through reliable supplies of consistent clean product that meets their specifications and thus improving their sales and returns. The project is focussed on outdoor farmers adopting methods to produce clean high quality vegetables by: o New varieties o Good Agricultural Practice (GAP) o Participatory training o Postharvest research and training o Developing supply chain links 5. Progress to Date 5.1 Implementation Highlights The main activities undertaken since the last six-monthly report (milestone 6) include: (i) Review input from Mr Titley (visit June 2008) on problems with the previous watermelon crop and address for the following crop. (ii) Finding a new watermelon production site for next season as an alternative to Hung Dong where the soil is too heavy. The new site is at Dien Phuong and has light sandy soils with well developed infrastructure for vegetable growing. (iii) Successfully supplied watermelons to Metro Cash and Carry in Hanoi, following up the success of the previous cabbage crop. There were some issues with root diseases, especially Fusarium sp. and this resulted in a lower than expected delivery to Metro. The expected delivery was 100 tonnes, but only about 70% of this was delivered due to poor yields from the Hung Dong Collective. 6 (iv) Study of the traditional marketing system for watermelons and cabbage undertaken and compared to the supply chain for supermarkets. This report will be supplied with milestone 7. (v) Deliver training on agronomy, supply and marketing of cabbage in preparation for the coming winter crop in the form of Farmer Field Schools. A report on training activities in included with this milestone report as an attachment. (vi) Crop supply scheduling tools were developed which can be used to assist farmers in developing planting schedules to meet retail orders and also to monitor crop progress. Crop planting and supply tools have been developed in the form of Excel ® spreadsheets. The tools were developed for cabbage, watermelon, chinese cabbage, tomatoes and carrots. The starting point is the quantity and time each consignment is required by the retailer. For example, 5 tonnes of cabbage per week from January to March. Then, the program determines planting dates, numbers of seed or seedlings required, area required each week to produce the required amounts of produce (vii) Expansion of the number from crops being supplied to Metro from Quynh Luong from 2 to 5 to include carrots, tomatoes and chinese cabbage. (viii) There were two visits by the Australian team to Vietnam during this time. Dates Who went Objective(s) of Trip Activities 22 nd September – 3 rd October 2008 Gordon Rogers Jenny Jobling Review planning for coming cabbage season Find new watermelon site. Deliver training on Cabbage agronomy Visit QL and DP sites FFS at QL and HD 10-17 th December 2008 Gordon Rogers John Baker Plan crop supply schedules. Plan for supply of other vegetable crops, especially from QL Plan supply schedules Review current cabbage and other plantings 5.2 Capacity Building Skills have been built in by providing training especially in the recognition and management of root diseases in watermelons. It was also assisted through the development of computer- based crop supply tools which simplify the process of supplying set amounts of produce on a regular basis to meet supermarket requirements. Training was provided to farmers, ASINCV staff and Metro on the use of these tools. 5.3 Publicity No particular activities to report. 5.4 Project Management The project activities have been progressing as per the schedule in the project logframe. The submission of milestone reports has been slow and this has affected cash flow to fund project operations. Applied Horticultural Research has made payments to ASINCV in advance of 7 receiving payments from CARD to keep things moving and this has been successful. The current plan is to have all outstanding milestone reports submitted by the end of March 2010. 5.5 Environment The farmers participating in the project were been provided with feedback that on one occasion, high pesticide residue levels were found in their produce (reported in milestone 4). This problem has been solved and no further incidences of high pesticide residues have been found. 5.6 Gender and Social Issues This project will continue to address gender and social issues by trying to improve the income of local farmers by facilitating a linkage between the growers and Metro Cash and Carry. 6. Implementation & Sustainability Issues 6.1 Issues and Constraints There have been no significant issues which have compromised project activities. 6.2 Options Nil 6.3 Sustainability No sustainability issues. 7. Next Critical Steps Continue with training and developing skills of farmers. Successfully supply the next cabbage crop to Metro and also the new vegetable species. Continue to improve skills in post harvest handling and IPM (problem identification and management options). Improve farmers understanding of the role of market requirements in scheduling of production, product quality and post-harvest handling. 8. Conclusion Will be covered in the project final report. Attachments Training and Marketing Report Vegetable crop supply tools (Excel) . Institute Information Project Name Reducing pesticide residues, improving yield, quality and marketing of vegetable crops in Northern Central Vietnam through improved varieties, GAP principles. Northern Central Vietnam through improved varieties, GAP principles and farmer focused training MS8: Fourth Six-Monthly Report 1 Table of Contents 1. Institute Information. Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Development Project Progress Report 021/06VIE Reducing pesticide resides, improving yield, quality and marketing of vegetables crops in Northern