Báo cáo khoa học nông nghiệp " Capacity Building in Applied Natural Resource Economics and Management for Vietnam " MS2 ppt

Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Development CARD Project Progress Report 025/05VIE Capacity Building in Applied Natural Resource Economics and Management for Vietnam MS2: FIRST SIX-MONTHLY REPORT 11th December 2006 1. Institute Information Project Name Capacity Building in Applied Natural Resource Economics and Management for Vietnam Vietnamese Institution Faculty of Economics and Rural Development, Hanoi Agricultural University Gialam, Hanoi, Vietnam Vietnamese Project Team Leader Mr. Tran Dinh Thao Australian Organisation Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources University of Sydney, NSW, 2006, Australia Australian Personnel Professor Thomas Gordon MacAulay Date commenced January 1, 2006 Completion date (original) June 30, 2008 Completion date (revised) Reporting period 6 Months Contact Officer(s) In Australia: Team Leader Name: Prof. Thomas Gordon MacAulay Telephone: 61 2 9351 8547 Position: Professor Fax: 61 2 9351 8562 Organisation Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Email: g.macaulay@usyd.edu.au Natural Resources University of Sydney, NSW 2006, a.vervoort@usyd.edu.au Australia Also contact to Ms Annette Vervoort (as above) In Australia: Administrative contact Name: Ms. Luda Kuchieva Telephone: 61 2 9351 7903 Position: Administration officer Fax: 61 2 9351 3256 Organisation Research Grants Email: Luda.kuchieva@usyd.edu.au University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia In Vietnam Name: Mr. Tran Dinh Thao Telephone: 84 48 769 770 Position: Senior Lecturer, Head of Fax: 84 48 276 554 Department Organisation Faculty of Economics and Rural Development Hanoi Agricultural University Email: tdthao@netnam.org.vn Or trandinhthaoktl@yahoo.com Gialam, Hanoi, Vietnam 2. Project Abstract With very rapid growth and development in Vietnam, there is a danger of overuse and mismanagement of natural resources, thus compromising sustainable development. The level of knowledge, understanding and use of the principles of natural resource economics (NRE) and management is limited in Vietnamese agriculture. The designed outcome of the project is to begin to have resource management concepts used in various institutions in Vietnam (Universities, MARD, and the extension system) and to strengthen the ability to deliver knowledge, set policies and advise farmers in this area. This will be approached through a participatory approach using workshops in Vietnam on NRE held by the University of Sydney staff and then staff of the participating organizations. Two training workshops have already been held in Hanoi and Can Tho, Vietnam. Two of the Vietnamese scholars had three months visit to the University of Sydney so as to broaden their understanding of NRE. In the next stage, extension workshops at the provincial level will be held by Vietnamese staff, thus transferring the acquired knowledge to extension specialists and thereby to smallholder farmers. In the final stage, a limited number of training workshops with farmers will be conducted to demonstrate the use of practical knowledge and skills in resource management. 3. Executive Summary The project is aimed at strengthening the teaching and research capacity in the field of natural resource economics in several key Vietnamese Institutions (Universities, MARD) and encourage the transfer of knowledge from the University teaching and research staff to extension staff. The project is designed to strengthen the use of resource management concepts in Vietnam through a participatory approach using workshops in Vietnam on Natural Resource Economics in three stages. The first stage of the project, that is, institutional capacity building has been approached through conducting training workshops by staff of The University of Sydney in Hanoi and Can Tho with a group of academics in Hanoi Agricultural University (26 participants), and Can Tho University (19 participants). The aim of the workshops was to enhance the capacity of the participants to pass on the acquired knowledge to extension specialists. Two research scholars from Vietnam travelled to The University of Sydney (Ms.Le Thi Kim Lien and Ms. Do Thi Den) for a period of three months, and completed research projects related to the development of case studies for use in the training workshops. The approach to be used in the second stage of the project is to conduct Extension Workshops in the North and South with a maximum of 30 extension specialists per training session of about one week each. The workshops will be run by selected participants in the earlier Trainer Workshops held in Hanoi and Can Tho. In the third stage of the project, pilot extension workshops for farmers will be conducted with a focus on economically efficient natural resource management, where practical knowledge and skills in resource management will be demonstrated. 4. Introduction & Background As Vietnam is experiencing rapid development and exposure to markets, enormous pressure is put on the nation’s natural resources. Because of market imperfections and failures, especially with respect to various natural resources, there is a danger of resource overuse and collapse, resulting in economic inefficiencies, and social and environmental problems. Adequate knowledge of economics and the management of natural resources becomes a crucial factor in the quest for stable and sustainable long-term development. Such knowledge is lacking at the academic, research and extension levels. This project will strengthen the teaching and research capacity in the field of natural resource economics in several key Vietnamese institutions of higher education (Hanoi Agricultural University (HAU), Hue College of Economics (HCE), Can Tho University (CTU) and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD), Xuanmai Forestry University, Thai Nguyen University, National Centre for Extension, and the College for Agriculture and Rural Development Managers). This will be accomplished through assistance in curriculum development and course design and transfer of research expertise. The project is also designed to foster links between the Universities and extension system and will encourage the transfer of knowledge from the university teaching and research staff to the extension staff. The University of Sydney staff members who are part of the team are currently involved in teaching and research activities involving water, land and fisheries economics, as well as the economics of the environment and sustainable development. 1. 4.1 Project Objective: The project links to the CARD strategic objective 2.1 of increasing rural productivity and particularly 2.1.1 of increasing agricultural efficiency and competitiveness. The project also links to strategic objectives 2.4 of reducing vulnerability to environmental and economic shocks and the intermediate objective 2.4.2 of increasing stability of household incomes through encouraging diversification of production and marketing. 2. 4.2 Key Stakeholders: There are three levels of stakeholders/beneficiaries (details of stakeholder analysis and expected impacts of the proposed activities are provided in Annex 1 and Annex 2) that will be directly and indirectly targeted by the project. The first level is comprised of academic, research and policy analysis staff at the Vietnamese institutions of higher education (Hanoi Agricultural University (HAU), Hue College of Economics (HCE), Can Tho University (CTU) and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD), Xuanmai Forestry University, Thai Nguyen University, National Centre for Extension, and the College for Agriculture and Rural Development Managers). They will benefit through training sessions in Vietnam held by University of Sydney staff and through visits to Australia by four staff members from the Vietnamese institutions. The aim is to specifically address their capacity to pass on the acquired knowledge to the next level of beneficiaries – the extension specialists at the provincial level and the Departments of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD) staff members. They will benefit through the workshops within this project conducted in Vietnam by the Vietnamese universities. It is expected that this will result in incorporating natural resource economics principles into the guidelines, directives and advice that provincial level authorities provide for farmers. The transmission to farmers will be through the district and community level extension specialists. Within the project, several pilot workshops will be conducted at this level to initiate the knowledge transfer process. The farmers are expected to directly benefit from these workshops through gaining skills in efficient management of natural resources on the farm, as well as sustainable farming practices. 3. 4.3 Project Approach: The proposed project is designed to strengthen capacity in natural resource economics in Vietnam in a layered framework. In the first layer, and after considerable consultation, the University of Sydney staff will provide research, teaching and policy analysis training to Vietnamese academics, policy analysts and extension specialists at a national level. This training will be in the context of the problems and issues identified in the farmer surveys. In the second layer, those trained in the first layer will train the extension specialists and policy analysts at a provincial level. The training will be designed to impact the advice and information provided to farmers on the use of natural resources. This will be demonstrated through a series of district level workshops. In the third layer, pilot extension workshops for farmers will be conducted, with a focus on economically efficient natural resource management. The University of Sydney will provide assistance in this process through participation and input to the curriculum design of the extension workshops. The approach to capacity building through workshops and training sessions has been successfully implemented in a previous CARD project (Pilot Program). 1. 4.3.1 Institutional Capacity Building: The approach to institutional capacity building is through three types of activities: training workshops and curriculum development at the level of Vietnamese institutions (Universities and MARD), visits of a small number of staff from Vietnamese institutions to Australia, and fostering and initiating joint research projects in the area of natural resource economics. 2. 4.3.2 Communication/Outreach Approach. The main approach to communication/outreach is through extension workshops that will be conducted in the Mekong Delta at Can Tho University, the Central Coast through Hue University and in the north of Vietnam at Hanoi Agricultural University. These workshops will address the strategic questions of strengthened and broadened capacity for natural resource management training of extension personnel in Vietnam. Once this capacity is built it will provide a continuing human resource base, which can be sustained into the future. This will also result in an improved advisory capacity of the selected extension staff (emphasis will be placed on ensuring a balance of both males and females are trained) and an improved ability to provide advice with an economic content in relation to resource use at the farm level. 3. 4.4 Methodology 4.4.1 R&D Methodology: The approach used in the proposed project is through research into specific resource use issues designed to allow development of training modules for use in knowledge transfer and knowledge base building. This will also feed into the curriculum development process. It is envisaged that the project will have a significant research component in the form of economic analysis of the issues related to aquaculture, water use, land use and farm forestry. A list of potential research projects is included in the Annex 3. The basic approach will be to develop simple examples using computer simulation in spreadsheets as applied to a variety of cases of on-farm resource issues. 4.4.2 Participatory Methods: On-going consultations with the major stakeholders will be conducted in order to, in the first place determine the nature of the training and extension activities, and subsequently to obtain feedback and then re-address some of the key issues. This will assist in developing the priority areas for training. The expertise in HAU in participatory extension will be fully utilised (Linh, 2004). The case study material will be developed in consultation with extension personnel and a small number of farmers. Care will be taken to also ensure a balance of males and females in these consultations 5. Progress to Date 5.1 Implementation Highlights -Inception meeting held (8 th -14 th January 2006). -Workshop Curriculum and handbooks prepared for natural resource management and extension Trainer Workshops. (Handbook attached with the report) -Trainer Workshops held in Hanoi with 26 participants and Can Tho with 19 participants in July 2006 and Workshop evaluation reports were completed. (Refer to Annex 4-9 for details) -Two research scholars (Ms.Le Thi Kim Lien and Ms. Do Thi Den) chosen and travelled to Sydney. -Mini research projects initiated and completed by two Vietnamese scholars. (Refer to Annex 10 and 11 for abstracts of these research projects) -Agricultural Knowledge Information System website established and database implemented (http://www.hau1.info/card/index.php?newlang=english). 5.2 Smallholder Benefits At this initial stage of the project the necessary investment is being made in training academic staff in resource management so there has not been an impact at the smallholder level at this stage. These impacts will be reflected in the pilot training at the farmer level later in the project. 5.3 Capacity Building The first stage of the project is about institutional capacity building designed to allow a group of academics, particularly in Hanoi Agricultural University and Can Tho University, but other universities as well, including Thai Nguyen, Vinh University, Forestry University, Hue University, Hai Phong University and MARD. Two training workshops have already been conducted in Hanoi and Can Tho by University of Sydney academics. Pre and post workshop competency tests were conducted among the participants to compare their knowledge level before and after workshops. The results were very satisfactory, in the post workshop competency tests. A survey was conducted to determine the personal impressions of the participants toward the workshop outcome and the evaluation results of the survey showed that the trainees were quite satisfied with the workshop contents and quality. They seemed to be quite sure about getting positive impacts in their future career development from knowledge gained during the workshop. Two research scholars from Vietnam arrived at The University of Sydney, and have completed research projects related to the development of case studies in resource use. Ms. Do Thi Den, who arrived on 22 nd July and departed on 22 nd October 2006, carried out research entitled “Technical Efficiency of Shrimp Farming in the Mekong Delta of Vietnam”. Similarly, another research scholar Ms. Le Thi Kim Lien, who arrived on 27 th August and departed on 1 st Nov 2006, undertook a research project entitled “An Inquiry into Four Alternative Systems of Shrimp Culture in the Lagoon area of Thua Thien, Hue, Vietnam”. 5.4 Publicity At each of the workshops, banners were used acknowledging both the participating Universities and also CARD and AusAID funding. The Handbooks delivered at the workshops all contained logos and acknowledgement of the source of funding from AusAID through the CARD program. Newspaper articles were obtained for both workshops in Hanoi and Can Tho. Two articles on our project workshop in Can Tho were published in two newspapers: (a) Hau Giang Newspaper, July 21: Capacity Building Project for Implementing and Managing the Natural Resources Economics (Thuc hien du an nang cao nang luc kinh te va quan ly tai nguyen thien nhien). (b) Can Tho Newspaper, July 25: Training on Natural Resources Economics and Management (Boi duong kien thuc kinh te va quan ly tai nguyen thien nhien). Information on the workshop in the north was posted on 18 July on the web site of the National Agricultural Extension Centre (NAEC), MARD. The link is as follows: http://www.khuyennongvn.gov.vn/?act=XemChiTiet&Cat_ID=46&News_ID=3719&Lin ksF rom=http://www.khuyennongvn.gov.vn/Home.asp 5.5 Project Management The project team in Sydney have set up a series of approximately fortnightly meetings and link to the project team in Vietnam using email. 6. Report on Cross-Cutting Issues 6.1 Environment As the current work on the project has involved training in resource use and related environmental issues the effect of the work must be seen as positive in an environmental context through the enhanced understanding that workshop participants have been given of resource management and the related environmental issues. For example, issues of water use, fisheries management and policy, forestry management, etc. were considered in the training. 6.2 Gender and Social Issues In the workshops the balance between males and females was as follows: Hanoi 14 males and 12 females Can Tho 12 males and 7 females 7. Implementation & Sustainability Issues 7.1 Issues and Constraints Thus far there appears to be little in the way of constraints on the work relative to what was planned. However, it is clear that significant time and effort is required for even academics and administrative staff in government to gain an in-depth understanding of resource management issues and their analysis. In this area progress was somewhat slower than expected. 7.2 Options a) Reduce the extent of coverage of material and provide a more intense level of training in specific areas. b) Expand the number of sessions by using parallel teaching in the North and South. However, none of the above are recommended at this stage. 7.3 Sustainability The project is involved in human capacity building. The capacity developed will be transmitted and sustained through use in academic institutions and eventually the extension systems and to farmers. 8. Next Critical Steps The project has achieved the relevant milestones as specified in the project proposal. The next critical step is the preparation of curriculum and handbooks for the Extension Workshops to be held in Hanoi and Can Tho in January 2007. One Extension Workshop will be conducted in the North and one in the South with a maximum of 30 people per training session of about one week each. It is a training program at the Provincial and District level that will be run by selected members of those trained in the Trainer workshops held in Hanoi and Can Tho. . 2006 1. Institute Information Project Name Capacity Building in Applied Natural Resource Economics and Management for Vietnam Vietnamese Institution Faculty of Economics and Rural Development,. Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Development CARD Project Progress Report 025/05VIE Capacity Building in Applied Natural Resource Economics and Management for Vietnam MS2: . strengthened and broadened capacity for natural resource management training of extension personnel in Vietnam. Once this capacity is built it will provide a continuing human resource base,