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Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Development Project Progress Report The development and implementation of new appropriate technologies for improving goat production and increasing small-holder income in the central region of Vietnam (009/VIE05) Working Title Vietnam-Australia Goat Improvement Project (2006-2009) Milestone 9 (Outputs 2, 3, 4 and 5) Goat Farming Technical Manual Report on Goat Research Activities (2006-2008) February 2009 B.W. Norton (UQ), Dinh Van Binh (GRRC) and Nguyen Thi Mui (NIAH) Goat and Rabbit Research Centre, Vietnam and University of Queensland, Australia Table of Contents 1. Institute Information ___________________________________________________ 3 2. Project Abstract _______________________________________________________ 4 3. Executive Summary ____________________________________________________ 4 5. Progress to Date_______________________________________________________ 5 6. Next Critical Steps _____________________________________________________ 7 7. Conclusion ___________________________________________________________ 7 Appendix 1 Front cover of New Technologies for Improving Goat Production in Vietnam CD Appendices 9 CD Appendix 1. New Technologies for Improving Goat Production in Vietnam (PDF file) Attachment Copy of "New Technologies for Improving Goat Production in Vietnam” English Version 2 1. Institute Information Project Name The development and implementation of new appropriate technologies for improving goat production and increasing small-holder income in the central region of Vietnam (009/VIE05) Working Title Vietnam-Australia Goat Improvement Project (2006-2009) Vietnamese Institution Goat and Rabbit Research Centre (GRRC), NIAH, MARD Vietnamese Project Team Leader Assoc. Prof. Dr Dinh Van Binh Australian Organisation The University of Queensland Australian Personnel Dr Barry W. Norton Date commenced April 1 2006 Completion date (original) March 31 2009 Completion date (revised) March 31 2009 Reporting period 2006-2008 Report on Activities Contact Officer(s) In Australia: Team Leader Name: Barry W. Norton Telephone: 61732890260 Position: Honorary Research Consultant Fax: 61732890103 Organisation: The University of Queensland Email: b.norton@uq.edu.au In Australia: Administrative contact Name: Ms Katie Cameron Telephone: 61733658268 Position: Research Administration Officer Fax: 61733654455 Organisation: University of Queensland Email: k.cameron@research.uq.edu.au In Vietnam Name: Dr Dinh Van Binh Telephone: 8434838341 Position: Director, Fax: 8434838889 Organisation: Goat and Rabbit Research Centre Email: Binbavi@netnam.vn 3 2. Project Abstract The bbb DmnaweESCRIBES The development of goat production systems in Vietnam has been strongly promoted by the Vietnamese government through the establishment and support for the Goat and Rabbit Research Centre at Son Tay in the north of Vietnam. The initiatives developed at this centre through both national and international R&D programs have been successfully implemented on local farms in the north, and both the national and provincial governments wish now to promote similar schemes in central and southern Vietnam. While many of the technologies exist, the expertise and funding to apply these to small holder farmers are limited. The proposed 3 year project aims to identify the limitations to improving goat productivity and profitability on selected farms in Ninh Thuan, Binh Thuan and Lam Dong provinces; and to train local Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD) staff , participating and other local farmers in goat production systems and in the application of new and appropriate technologies (improved housing, disease control, improved feed supply and quality, introduction of Bachthao bucks of proven genetic merit). In this way the existing limitations to improving productivity will be overcome, thereby improving the income and well-being of farming communities in these areas. The following report (Milestone 9) is a comprehensive description of the findings from project activities, including analysis and interpretation of farming system surveys carried out in 2006 and 2008, and of the biology and productivity of goats following the introduction of new technologies to farmers in Ninh Thuan, Binh Thuan and Lam Dong provinces of southeast Vietnam. The title of the report is “New technologies for Improving Goat Production in Vietnam” and includes not only analysis and interpretation of the data, but also conclusions and recommendations for implementation and future research on goats in Vietnam. 3. Executive Summary The following report presents a final report of Project activities from 2006 to 2008 titled “New Technologies for Improving Goat Production in Vietnam”. This document is submitted as evidence of completion of Milestone 9 as described Table of Milestones, Annex 1 of Schedule 2, Scope of Services for CARD Project 009/05 VIE. It is proposed that while the exact details prescribed in Milestone 9 may not be found in this document, all topics mentioned will be covered in both this report and that for Milestone 10 (Training Manuals). The report presented is written in English, and advice is sought on the requirement for translation into Vietnamese. 4. Introduction & Background Goat production in Vietnam has rapidly expanded in the north with the introduction of new knowledge for disease control, feeding management and the introduction and selection of both local (Co, Bachthao) and exotic (Boer, Saanen, Jumnapari etc) breeds of goats to village systems. These initiatives have been lead by the Goat and Rabbit Research Centre (GRRC) at Bavi, from which an expanding milking and meat goat industry is being developed. While goat meat is not a common commodity in the markets in Vietnam, economic returns for goat farming are high and 4 are attracting many farmers to add goats to their farming enterprises. Goats are particularly important for poor farmers, providing good returns for little investment. The project proposal which has been developed and successfully funded by AusAID under the CARD program was specifically aimed at providing poor farmers in the central provinces of Vietnam (Ninh Thuan, Binh Thuan, Lam Dong) with some of the new technologies which have been developed by GRRC in the north. This aim is reflected in the project title “The improvement and implementation of new appropriate technologies for improving goat production and increasing small-holder income in the central region of Vietnam”. This is a program which includes elements of farm survey, strategic planning for improving health and nutrition of goats, as well as training of key farmers and Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD) staff in these new technologies. Extension of these activities to the wider community will be achieved by conducting field days/workshops for local farmers using demonstration farms. The following report describes the outcomes of the first official visit to Vietnam during which time strategies for project implementation and management were developed, as well as recording the progress made to date in achieving project objectives and plans for activities the coming six-monthly period. Objectives and Outputs of Project: The Project has a list of 7 objectives which it plans to achieve over the 3 year period 2006 to 2009. These are as follows: 1. Identification and characterisation of target farms 2. Training and Information Dissemination 3. Provision of improved housing and health care for goats 4. Improve the availability and quality of feeds and forages for goats 5. Provide local Bach Thao bucks of proven genetic merit for breeding 6. Economic evaluation of impact of new technologies on goat productivity 7. Support for pilot meat processing facilities at the Ninh Hai Goat Research Centre, Ninh Thuan. Within each objective there are a series of activities associated with milestones and expected outputs, and these plans are shown in the Project Design Document. The approaches and methodology used in the project have been described in detail in previous reports. 5. Progress to Date Milestones 1-8 outlined in Table of Milestones, Annex 1 of Schedule 2, Scope of Services for CARD Project 009/05 VIE have now been completed, and payment received and distributed. The report now submitted presents completed Milestone 9 (Goat Training Manual, Outputs 2, 3, 4 and 5) for consideration by the CARD PMU. Details of the content expected in this report were listed as follows: Goat Farming Technical Manual “Improved Management of Goats in Central Vietnam” including recommendations on: • Goat house design and management practices • Field based identification of goat diseases and recommendations for prevention and control 5 • Options for feed and forage supply and management including small scale conservation techniques and management of seasonal feed flow • Analysis of impact and future strategies for buck rotations to improve and maintain goat productivity • Options for genetic improvement of Bachthao goats, including simple on farm recording systems Economic, social and environmental analysis of impact of project interventions ( compared with baselines established in Milestone 3 While this outline was agreed to at the beginning of the Project, as the project progressed, it was thought that a more logical approach would be to present the results of the research completed in the sequence in which the events happened. The topics in the original list were also confounded with two different aspects of the Project, training farmers and extension workers and research to define and refine goat production in these provinces. For example, training courses have been conducted on housing design and hygiene, selection, breeding and management, disease control on treatment and on pasture establishment and use. These training courses with their manuals provided the technical information on topics 1 to 5 in above list, incorporating new information from project activities where possible. The details of this training have been presented earlier, and the manuals presented will be presented as part of the requirement for completion of Milestone 10. It was decided that a detailed report should be made on the outcomes of the three surveys conducted, June 2006, June 2008 and the quarterly recording of goat productivity. The report, now included, has the following contents: New Technologies for Improving Goat Production in Vietnam Chapter 1. Introduction Chapter 2. Characterisation of goat production systems in Vietnam Chapter 3. The management of goat health and disease Chapter 4. Training and information dissemination supporting improved goat productivity in Vietnam Chapter 5. Pasture development for goat production systems in southeast Vietnam Chapter 6. The impact of new technologies on the productivity and economic returns to goat farming systems in southeast Vietnam Chapter 7. The impact of applying new technologies on the productivity of goats in southeast Vietnam Chapter 8. Conclusions and Recommendations Chapter 2 reports in detail the outcomes of the 2006 survey, chapters 3, 4 and 5 describe some specific aspects of project activities, eg diagnosis and treatment of goat diseases in Vietnam, training and information dissemination during the project and the techniques developed and outcomes of pasture research over the 3 years of the project. Chapter 6 analyses in detail results from the 2008 survey and makes comparisons with farms not using the recommended technologies, and chapter 7 reports details of goat biology found from the “productivity” survey. While each of these chapters draws specific conclusions, the final chapter summarises these conclusions and makes recommendations for future action and research. 6 This report is only available in English at the moment, and there are further possible activities which could flow from this report. Firstly, there needs to be a direct translation into Vietnamese, so that Vietnamese scientists might appreciate the new knowledge on goat farming and biology that has been gained from the activities of this project. Secondly, there may also be a need for a Goat Farming Technical Manual, written in Vietnamese for research workers, extension officers and “trainers” to use to improve goat productivity in Vietnam. This manual differs from the “Training Manuals” which are directed at teaching farmers about goat farming, the Technical Manual will be used to help experienced goat farmers improve the productivity and profitability of their enterprises. This manual needs to be written in Vietnamese by Vietnamese research workers distilling the important new facts from the above detailed report, and ensuring direct relevance to Vietnamese farming conditions. 6. Next Critical Steps All workshops, conferences and Advisory Board meetings have been completed, and the last contact with Project farms was at the final conference in Phan Rang, Ninh Thuan in November 2008. The proceedings of this conference, workshop training manuals, evaluation of competency of staff training and a survey of farmers views of the sustainability of the technologies introduced will all be presented in the Milestone 10 report. 7. Conclusions The substantial achievements made in the Project over the past three years (2006-2006) are recorded in the document now submitted as Milestone 9. These achievements have also been officially and extensively publicised at the conference mentioned above, and clear plans of future action are indicated from both these reports. 7 Appendix 1 Covering page of “New Technologies for Improving Goat Production in Vietnam” New Technologies for Improving Goat Production in Vietnam Barry W. Norton, Nguyen Thi Mui and Dinh Van Binh A Final Report of the activities of the Vietnam-Australia Goat Improvement Project (2006-2009) CARD Project 009/05VIE) between Goat and Rabbit Research Centre (Vietnam) and The University of Queensland (Australia) March 2009 8 CD Appendix 1 New Technologies for Improving Goat Production in Vietnam (PDF file) Project Progress Report – CARD Milestone 9 9 . and implementation of new appropriate technologies for improving goat production and increasing small-holder income in the central region of Vietnam (009/VIE05) Working Title Vietnam- Australia. the project title The improvement and implementation of new appropriate technologies for improving goat production and increasing small-holder income in the central region of Vietnam . This is. page of New Technologies for Improving Goat Production in Vietnam New Technologies for Improving Goat Production in Vietnam Barry W. Norton, Nguyen Thi Mui and Dinh Van Binh A Final