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

1 Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Development Collaboration for Agriculture and Rural Development PROJECT PROGRESS REPORT 027/07VIE Improving traditional integrated farming systems (VAC) – a new livelihood option for poor farmers in the coastal communities MS4: Second six - monthly report 5 th August 2008 to 5 th February 2009 May, 2009 2 Table of Contents 1. Institute Information ___________________________________________________ 3 2. Project Abstract _______________________________________________________ 4 3. Executive Summary ____________________________________________________ 4 4. Introduction & Background _____________________________________________ 5 5. Progress to Date _______________________________________________________ 5 5.1 Implementation Highlights ________________________________________________ 5 5.2 Smallholder Benefits______________________________________________________ 6 5.3 Capacity Building ________________________________________________________ 6 5.4 Publicity________________________________________________________________ 6 5.5 Project Management _____________________________________________________ 6 6. Report on Cross-Cutting Issues___________________________________________ 7 6.1 Environment ____________________________________________________________ 7 6.2 Gender and Social Issues __________________________________________________ 7 7. Implementation & Sustainability Issues ____________________________________ 7 7.1 Issues and Constraints ____________________________________________________ 7 7.2 Options_________________________________________________________________ 7 7.3 Sustainability____________________________________________________________ 7 8. Next Critical Steps _____________________________________________________ 8 9. Conclusion ___________________________________________________________ 8 10. Statutory Declaration___________________________Error! Bookmark not defined. 3 1. Institute Information Project Name Improving traditional integrated farming systems (VAC) - a new livelihood option for poor farmers in the coastal communities Vietnamese Institution Centre for Environment and Disease Monitoring in Aquaculture (CEDMA) Vietnamese Project Team Leader Mr. Mai Van Tai (Project director) Mr. Vo Van Binh (Project manager) Australian Organisation Agriculture and Environment - Division of Science and Engineering-Curtin University of Technology (CUT) Australian Personnel Assoc. Professor Ravi Fotedar (Team Leader) Prof. Graeme Robertson (Management) Dr Jane Fewtrell (Environmental Scientist) Mr Simon Longbottom (Aquaculture Scientist) Date commenced 8 th February 2008 Completion date (original) January 2010 Completion date (revised) February 2010 Reporting period 6-monthly (Second) Contact Officer(s) In Australia: Team Leader Name: Dr Ravi Fotedar Telephone: +61 8 92664508 Position: International Program Director, A/Prof Fax: +61 8 92664422 Organisation Muresk Institute, CUT Email: r.fotedar@curtin.edu.au In Australia: Administrative contact Name: As mentioned above Telephone: Position: Fax: Organisation Email: In Vietnam Name: Mr Vo Van Binh Telephone: 0983105537 Position: Head of environment Department Fax: 0241840241 Organisation Centre for Environment and Disease Monitoring in Aquaculture (CEDMA) Email: binhvanvo@yahoo.com 4 2. Project Abstract 3. Executive Summary The overall objective for project 027/07VIE, ‘Improving traditional integrated farming systems (VAC) - a new livelihood option for poor farmers in the coastal communities’, is to improve the income base to sustain livelihoods of poor coastal farmers in the Central provinces. This objective is to be achieved by improving the productivity of the existing traditional farming systems and managing water quality simultaneously and therefore reducing the environmental impact of their operations. To date the project achievements have included the successful completion and operation of three demonstration sites. The RAS on these sites are stocked with high- value species and are in operation. The growth rates of the selected species and environmental impact of these modified operations are being monitored and recorded. The operational protocol has been extended to local extension workers who in turn disseminate the technology to households which have similar farming situations (secondary beneficiaries). Further modifications and lessons learned from these 3 household demonstration farms are also incorporated into the households of similar farming situations. To facilitate this effect, a series of field trips have been conducted in order to extend the demonstrations to other suitable and interested households who fulfill the criteria of the project objectives. During this reporting period, a further seventeen (17) households have been added as demonstration sites. These additional sites are located in four provinces: Thanh Hoa, Nghe An, Ha Tinh, Quang Binh, and Hue. It is envisaged that seven (7) farmers out of twenty (20) will set up earthworm production facilities. The households were given demonstrations in order to modify and improve their farming practices for the better nutrient recycling and for higher returns on their investments. Three workshops and five farmers-exchange visits were also conducted during this period. This project is expected to make a significant contribution to the Government of Vietnam’s Comprehensive Poverty Reduction and Growth Strategy (CPRGS), which is aligned with the CARD program strategic framework. The project is expected to improve the productivity of traditional VAC farming practices through the farming of high-value aquatic species and following better managed farming practices in an environmentally friendly manner. The outcome of the project will assist in improving the management of all components of VAC farming. So far surveys have been conducted to collect base-line information on the economic status of farmers participating in traditional VAC farming systems in four selected districts of Vietnam. The staff from CEDMA have been updated on the proposed improvements in the traditional VAC farming systems and related environmental issues. The selection of twenty (20) demonstration sites has been finalised. The semi-intensive culture systems based on recirculating aquaculture system (RAS) technologies are running on 3 (three) demonstration farms. The systems have been stocked with local but high-value species. The operational plan for these three sites has been disseminated to local extension workers, the households of modified VAC systems and other interesting farming households. The monitoring and recording of growth performance of high-value species is underway. Modifications to the rest of the demonstration sites (17) are in progress. 5 4. Introduction & Background This project aims to improve efficiency of the traditional VAC system while decreasing environmental impact through the application of current farming technologies and introduction of local but higher value species. The objectives are: i) To carry out an analysis of current economics status and practices of household farming (includes aquaculture, horticulture and animal husbandry practices) and identify incentives and constraints for improved VAC application ii) To develop appropriate improved VAC guidelines and manuals for household aquaculture in the North Central of Vietnam. iii) To build capacity for improved VAC application among stakeholders involving in aquaculture product market chains, especially smallholder producers. Objective i) has been completed with the revised performance measures. More demonstration sites have been selected under the framework of Objective 1 in order to represent wider existing faming practices. As outlined in the log frame, the performance measures are the collection of improved VAC materials available regionally and internationally; construction of questionnaire and interviewing of existing farming communities who are participating in the traditional VAC systems; selection of 20 households/farms to demonstrate improved VAC practices; drafting of action plans for VAC demonstration systems which include farming of high-value species in an environmentally friendly manner. Additional demonstration farms selected represent traditional VAC systems where the intensification of the aquaculture production is not possible but other environmental and operational/management modifications will assist in achieving the objectives of this project. To the best of our knowledge the household/farms selected are representative examples of the typical VAC systems in the region. Activities to complete Objective ii) have commenced. 5. Progress to Date 5.1 Implementation Highlights Main achievements for this reporting period were; i) Completion and running of three VAC demonstration farms (1 in Nghe an, 2 in Quang tri province). These demonstration VAC farms were stocked with a high-value species and after initial teething problems the systems are up and running. The performance of these modified recirculating systems is recorded continuously. ii) The household of these modified farms were trained to run the systems, observe and record some of the basic environmental data including water quality parameters (appendix 1). iii) Conducting and implementing environment monitoring activities for these three adapted farms. 6 iv) Introduction and implementation workshop for extension officers was conducted in Hue (appendix 2). v) The third trip to Vietnam for Dr. Ravi and first trip for Prof. Graeme Robertson to Hanoi, Hue, Quang tri and Nghe An. vi) Recording performance (growth) data of the high-value species. vii) Completion of worm production facilities at the demonstration sites. viii) Conducting field trips to various provinces in order to select seventeen (17) other demonstration households in four (4) provinces. The total demonstration households in the farm are now twenty (20). The diagrammatic sketch of some of the selected sites is shown in appendix 3. ix) Among selected demonstration households, modifications of seven (7) traditional VAC farms have been completed. x) Collection of baseline data for all additional demonstration households have commenced. xi) Based on the discussion with CARD and extension officials, a draft Matrix Summary Table (MST) is getting formulated which will assist in monitoring the progress of the project. xii) Extension/dissemination information in the form of brochures and pamphlets have been published and distributed to households in the selected provinces (appendices 4, 5 and 6). 5.2 Smallholder Benefits At this stage it is expected that the benefits to the household farmers will be achieved as outlined in section 2.2 of the project proposal. The benefits will be quantified during the second year of the project. To date, the direct benefits in terms of knowledge and skills of modified VAC operations to small-scale farmers have been achieved through the workshops run in various provinces and at demonstration sites. 5.3 Capacity Building A capacity building initiative has commenced at CEDMA. The transfer of technology in the area of water RAS, nutrient recycling across various farming components of VAC practices and environmental monitoring programs have been under progress and capacity building exercise have been successfully achieved. To this effect workshops including one in Hue for the local Extension Officers were conducted. 5.4 Publicity Extension material which includes brochures, posters and single page pamphlets have been published and distributed. 5.5 Project Management Management of the project has been satisfactory and no major constraints were encountered. 7 6. Report on Cross-Cutting Issues 6.1 Environment The proposal for monitoring the environmental impacts of the improved systems has been formulated and its monitoring activities have commenced. No impact report has been produced yet but it is expected to show some first hand data in MS#4. 6.2 Gender and Social Issues Gender proposition was not favourable in the introductory workshop for extension- staff in Hue (5:30 female to male ratio). The gender issue at the household-level participation was not an issue as there was a fair representation from both genders. 7. Implementation & Sustainability Issues 7.1 Issues and Constraints Two alterations to the original project proposal were necessary, one being the proposed commencement date for the project and the second being the change in the personnel from CEDMA, Vietnam. The project commencement date was delayed by more than a month as a result of a delay in the initial signing of the contract. Mr Mai Van Ha has been replaced by Mr Binh Vo. This was necessary due to personal reasons in which Mr Ha decided to finish his tenure with CEDMA. Mr Binh has replaced him and is currently the Project Manager and contact person from Vietnam. Further, the contributions from other personnel from Vietnam have been altered. The contribution from Mr Tai has been increased to 30% from the initial 5%. Please see details of this change in appendix 7. Though these changes did not significantly influence the progress of the project, it did result in a delay in reporting the progress of the project. 7.2 Options The issues encountered have been resolved and the options that have been applied are as explained in section 7.1. 7.3 Sustainability The main highlight of the project is to improve the economic status of the farmers practicing traditional VAC practices. This is achieved by improving the productivity and thus the income base from the traditional VAC system in an environmentally sustainable way. The modified VAC system envisages minimum adverse impact on the surrounding environment and diversifying the production base so that disease, production and marketing risks are minimised. The established environmental protocol will also help householders to recycle the nutrients from one production base to another and hence reduce the cost of overall VAC operations. This will have a positive impact on the sustainability of the farming practices too. 8 8. Next Critical Steps The projects activities for the next 6 months will include: 1. Completion of all socio-economic status reports from all 20 house holds (base- line data) 2. Completion of all the modifications in all twenty (20) demonstration households and commencement of the production of operations under modified the VAC environment. This also include the stocking of all required species in the selected demonstration households. 3. Continuation of monitoring environmental data in all selected households. 4. Production and distribution of extension VAC materials (paper-based and Videos) 5. Organise training workshops on improved VAC practices for farmers and extension staff. 6. Continuation of collection of performance data from modified VAC farming operations. 7. Provide technical training in Australia for two Vietnamese scientists (planed in October or November, 2009) 8. Finalisation of the final MAS internal reporting system. 9. Conclusion Progress has been satisfactory and the objectives set for the second 6 months have been achieved. . overall objective for project 027/07VIE, Improving traditional integrated farming systems (VAC) - a new livelihood option for poor farmers in the coastal communities , is to improve the income. farmers participating in traditional VAC farming systems in four selected districts of Vietnam. The staff from CEDMA have been updated on the proposed improvements in the traditional VAC farming. improve the productivity of traditional VAC farming practices through the farming of high-value aquatic species and following better managed farming practices in an environmentally friendly manner.