Cooperation programs and agricultural rural developmen:" Technical and economic feasibility of applying the Better Management Practices (BMP) to household aquaculture in Vietnam - MS 11 " pdf

Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Development COLLABORATION FOR AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT (CARD) 002/05/VIE project Technical and economic feasibility of applying the Better Management Practices (BMP) to household aquaculture in Vietnam MS 11: Project completion report The Research Institute for Aquaculture No 1 (RIA1), Tu Son, Bac Ninh The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Hwy, NEDLANDS WA 6907 Bac Ninh, Mar./2009 Table of Contents 1. Institute Information____________________________________________________3 2. Project Abstract ________________________________________________________4 3. Executive Summary_____________________________________________________4 4. Introduction & Background ______________________________________________5 5. Progress to Date________________________________________________________8 5.1 Implementation Highlights _______________________________________________ 8 5.2 Smallholder benefits: ____________________________________________________ 9 5.3 Capacity Building ______________________________________________________ 10 5.4 Publicity______________________________________________________________ 10 5.5 Project Management____________________________________________________ 11 6. Report on Cross-Cutting Issues __________________________________________11 6.1 Environment __________________________________________________________ 11 6.2 Gender and Social Issues ________________________________________________ 11 7. Implementation & Sustainability Issues____________________________________11 7.1 Issues and Constraints __________________________________________________ 11 7.2 Options_______________________________________________________________ 12 7.3 Sustainability__________________________________________________________ 12 8. Next Critical Steps _____________________________________________________12 9. Conclusion ___________________________________________________________12 10. Statutory Declaration ________________________________________________13 2 1. Institute Information Project Name Technical and economic feasibility of applying the Better Management Practices (BMP) to household aquaculture in Vietnam Vietnamese Institution Research Institute for Aquaculture No.1 Vietnamese Project Team Leader Dr. Le Xan Australian Organisation The University of Western Australia (UWA) Australian Personnel Dr. Steven Schilizzi Date commenced January/2006 Completion date (original) December/2007 Date commenced (revised) August/2006 Completion date (revised) December/2008 Reporting period Project completion Contact Officer(s) In Australia: Team Leader Name: Dr. Steven Schilizzi Telephone: +61 8 6488 2105 Position: Senior lecturer Fax: +61 8 6488 1098 Organisation The University of Western Australia (UWA) Email: schilizz@cyllene.uwa.edu.au or Steven.Schilizzi@uwa.edu.au In Australia: Administrative contact Name: Telephone: Position: Fax: Organisation Email: In Vietnam Name: Dr. Le Xan Telephone: 030.827124 or 04.8271368 Position: Vice Director Fax: 04.8273070 Organisation Research Institute for Aquaculture No.1 Email: lexancb@hn.vnn.vn or vie97030.ria1@fpt.vn 3 2. Project Abstract Household coastal aquaculture farms, ranging in area between 0.5 ha and 3 ha, produce 90% of the output of farmed shrimp from in Vietnam, worth $USD 1 billion in 2004. The economic viability and environmental sustainability of farms in this sector are threatened by poor farming practices that lead to disease outbreaks, environmental degradation; crops contaminated with chemical and antibiotic residues and decreased yields. Pilot–scale Better Management Practices (BMP) can, and have been applied to large commercial aquaculture ventures in Vietnam, with outcomes of improved yields and quality, environmental sustainability and reduced risk of disease. However, difficulties arise in the administration of BMP to small-scale household farms because of financial constraints, lack of knowledge and little incentive or initiative to adopt BMP. The overall objective of this project is to investigate the effectiveness of BMP application to household farms and to develop methods to initiate BMP within this sector. The project will use consultative, incentive, demonstration, training and dissemination methods that are appropriate to the needs and abilities of household farmers. 3. Executive Summary During two and a haft years (from August 2006 to February 2009), CARD 002/05 VIE project has finished all activities planned for the project lifetime. The provincial partners at three provinces of Nghe An, Ha Tinh and Thua Thien Hue were selected in cooperation of project implementation. In each province, three core demonstration farms in connection with three shrimp communities (20-30 households in each community) were selected in order to implement and apply BMP. To assess the current status of socio-economic, technical, environment and constrain of shrimp households in the project area, a study of initial assessment was conducted, the results of this study were the sources to compare with the project results at the end. The overview of BMP in Vietnam and other courtiers in region was studied, this was a basis to develop a BMP protocol which prepared by project experts with comments from local officers, extension workers and key shrimp farms. In order to apply the BMP parameters to shrimp operation, eleven training courses were organized (one course on general BMP for participation of extension workers, local officers and trial farms, one course on shrimp product quality management for participation of related attendants and nine courses for participation of shrimp household at communities). In addition, six cross-visiting were organized for participation of extension workers, local officers and key shrimp farmers. More than 100 monthly meeting were organized in project communities for shrimp households to exchange experiences and improve the BMP knowledge. The partial financial, experts and field staffs were provided to monitor the pond, environment and diseases management during culture crops in the two years of 2007 and 2008. Of which, the important issues were to ensure the free diseases of shrimp seed and checking shrimp disease sample and environment sample during over crops. Two workshops, namely inception and first year workshops were organized for participants to discuss and comments on project activities. In order to improve 4 capacities for project members, some other activities were organized such as the short trip to University of Western Australia, the attendant of national workshop of young scientist in aquaculture at RIA1, the attendant of international ViFINET workshop at Cantho University and supervision of Bachelor and Master students. The BMP protocols and training materials were provided to farm households and local officers, extension workers during project lifetime. A survey to assess the production results of households and project terminal assessment of environment and adoption rate of BMP of households were conducted after finishing of second year crops. In addition, the Australian expert group had done six visiting to Vietnam and project locations in order to assist the Vietnamese group implements the project as more effectiveness. 4. Introduction & Background Project objective: The overall objective of this project is to investigate the effectiveness of BMP application to small-scale household farms through reducing negative environmental impacts, increasing yields, lowering risks and improving product quality - thereby contributing significantly to long-term poverty alleviation and income generation for households directly involved in aquaculture production chains. The short term objectives of the project are: a) to carry out an analysis of current status of household aquaculture and identify incentives and constraints to BMP application; b) to develop appropriate BMP guidelines and manuals for household aquaculture in the North Central region of Vietnam; and c) to build capacity for BMP application among stakeholders involved in aquaculture product market chains, especially smallholder producers. Output expected: Project outcomes will be the development of methods for dissemination and utilisation of BMP amongst household farmers, leading to tenable farm practices, reduced risk of disease, reduction in environmental degradation, increased yields and improvement of economic viability of the sector in the long term. The project will contribute to the Government of Vietnam’s Comprehensive Poverty Reduction and Growth Strategy (CPRGS), which is aligned with CARD program strategic framework. Approach and strategy: The project will involve three stages: a) analysis of current status of household aquaculture practices and identification of incentives and constraints for BMP implementation; b) development of appropriate BMP guidelines and manuals for household aquaculture through participatory on-farm and community trials; and c) building capacity for BMP implementation and opening dialogues with exporters, traders and processors to explore market incentives for BMP promotion. 5 For the first stage, the project must begin with a review of the literature and experience concerning BMP in the region and move to analysis of current small farm practices and the current production, health and resource status of household farms, and incentives and constraints to BMP implementation. The baseline study will be used to gain experience in methods to derive relevant information as well as equip research staff and fisheries officers with a comprehensive picture of the present status of household aquaculture in three provinces of Vietnam. At the end of the first phase, a draft action plan and sites for BMP demonstration will be prepared and selected by involved stakeholders. For the second stage, the project will focus BMP demonstration on two main shrimp aquaculture systems namely i) semi-intensive and ii) improved extensive which are considered as the dominant shrimp aquaculture models in the North Central region of Vietnam. Selected small scale aquaculture farmers from these two types will be encouraged to form aqua-clubs or associations for BMP demonstration. The roles of demonstration farmers from these groups are in consultation with staff from RIA1, UWA and local extension centres to select appropriate BMP to their conditions and to maintain a farm diary that records all inputs into the trials and relevant indicators as the trial progresses. Through a participatory process, relevant stakeholders such as farming communities, extension workers, researchers and fisheries department staff will be participating in BMP selection and supervision and monitor experimental trials that are being implemented by demonstration farmers. Data collected by demonstration farmers and other regular data collected by RIA1 and fisheries staff will be used to establish project findings. For the third stage, findings of the project will then be used by demonstration farmers, extension workers and RIA1 staff to develop suitable BMP guidelines and training manuals for small farmers and extension workers, which will be disseminated through communication channels to build capacity for concerned stakeholders at all levels. Demonstration farmers, extension officers, BMP guidelines and training manuals and farmer associations will be key participants and factors in the dissemination of outcomes of the demonstration trials and the implementation of BMP throughout the regions. Those demonstration farmers, who are trained in: the use of basic water quality equipment, feeding strategy, selection of quality seed and some extension skills by the project technical staff, will disseminate the project findings to other farmers in the region. Market incentives for BMP implementation and product quality requirement will be explored by opening dialogues with local traders, collectors, whole traders, processors and importers. These stakeholders will be invited to participate in project activities such as training and workshops to share their concerns and product quality requirements with small scale producers. Methodology: Baseline study for assessment of BMP status: Standardised surveys and participatory assessment methods will be developed by RIA1 and UWA and used for assessing current aquaculture status, incentives and constraints of farmers 6 to BMP application and draft BMP action plans for demonstration at household farm level. In each province 30 household farms will be sampled. The questionnaire will be designed to elicit information on current farming practices, status of farm production, socio-economic and environmental conditions, constraints and interests of household farmers in adopting BMP on their farms. Data will be processed and analysed by staff at RIA1 and UWA to serve as the basis for demonstration farm selection and kept as baseline indicators for comparison with demonstration and control farms during and after the project implementation. On farm trials for BMP development: The trials will work with two types of common farming systems practiced by household farmers: semi-intensive and improved extensive. In the semi-intensive systems, a group of 20- 30 farms in each province will be selected and be encouraged to form an aqua-club or association for BMP demonstration. BMP practices will be promoted and shared among group members throughout the project implementation period. In the first year, each semi- intensive group will select 1 household farm to demonstrate BMP application through experiment treatment. To be considered for selection, household farms need to already conform to some initial criteria for BMP such as appropriate infrastructure and irrigation systems. In addition, farm size will be limited to 0.5 ha, farmers will need to be willing to participate in the experiment, and have financial capacity to co-invest with the demonstration trial. By participatory consultation, RIA1, UWA and farmers and extension workers at project sites will select suitable BMP for demonstration once the project has been approved. These may tentatively include: practices of pond preparation, seed certification and stocking, feed and feeding management, water quality management, disease management, post-harvest handling and product control. RIA1 staff will conduct seed control and certification for the trials. Post-larvae that are free of white spot disease (WSD) and Monodon Baculovirus (MBV) will be approved for use in trials. Hatcheries that can be certified disease-free will be identified by RIA1 staff and stipulated for purchase of seed. Some data (observations of shrimp health, feed tray clearance, water quality data) will be collected daily by farmers using field test kits and equipment. Farmers will be given a farm record book to write all practices, data recordings, seed, and feed and water inputs he/she applies to the farm. Environmental data (salinity, pH, DO, BOD, NH 3 , NO 2 ) will be analysed monthly by project staff. Shrimp will be checked for chemicals and antibiotic residues one month before harvest (with specific analysis for contaminants banned by EU). Data on BMP demonstrations will be analysed by statistical methods to assess and validate impacts of BMP practices and as a basis to draft a BMP manual. In the second year the BMP manual will be verified for all members of the group and will be improved before recommending outcomes widely to all communities. In the improved extensive systems, two groups of 20-30 farms per province will be selected and encouraged to form aqua-clubs or associations and the applying procedure will be similar to the semi-intensive. The BMP practices selected for improved extensive farms may deal principally with pond preparation, seed selection, stocking and some management practices. 7 One extension worker per project site will be assigned to assist demonstrated farmer groups in the project site. She/he will play an active role in facilitating monthly aqua-club/association meetings to promote BMP development and implementation. In addition, monthly, RIA1 staff will visit the project site to assist and give technical advice and collect environmental, disease and product samples to analyse and give feed back to farmers. Building capacity for BMP implementation: During the project implementation, capacity of stakeholders for BMP implementation will be built through participating in project meetings, training courses, workshops, cross visits and study tours: Fifty-four monthly club/association meetings will be arranged each year to facilitate and exchange experience on BMP implementation and development during and after the crop. Eleven short training courses on different subjects will be organised and conducted for participants during the lifetime of the project: one BMP training course for 48 demonstration farmers and local extension workers before introducing BMP demonstrations in the first year; one general training course on product quality management for 40 participants comprising small producers, extension workers, collectors, traders and processors; three training sessions on BMP application to semi-intensive systems and; six training sessions on BMP application to improved extensive systems involving 90 and 180 participants respectively. Three workshops will be arranged within the project, namely the inception workshop, the project first year and terminal workshops. Three cross province study tours will be arranged for 24 representatives of demonstration farmers and extension workers in the target provinces in the first year. One 10-day training course at UWA, Perth will be arranged for two RIA1 researchers involved in the project on data analysis and reporting. 2000 copies of BMP manuals for semi-intensive and improved extensive farming systems will be developed at the end of the project. 5. Progress to Date Implementation Highlights The principal achievements to date have been: 1) Completion of assessment of socio-economic, technical and constraint of shrimp household in the project area (around 100 shrimp households in 3 project provinces were surveyed). Completion initial environment assessment of project area before implementing. 2) Completion of overview of BMP in Vietnam and other countries in the region as a basis source to prepare a BMP protocol for project. The especially BMP draft use for 8 project area was prepared and tested during two years of project implementation in the region of North Centre Vietnam. 3) Two workshops (inception and first year project close) were organized for attendants discuss and comments to improve quality of project activities. 4) Eleven training courses were organized, of which, one course on general BMP and one course on shrimp products management and food safety for attendant of extension workers, local officers and trial farms and trades; and nine other BMP training courses for attendant of shrimp household in the project communities (with more than 200 shrimp farmers participating). 5) Six cross-visiting among provinces were organized for attendant of different participants in order to exchange experiences on BMP implementation into shrimp operation in different provinces (total of more than 90 participants). 6) More than 100 monthly meetings were successfully organized in project communities of 3 provinces for attendant of shrimp households to improve the BMP implementation and application capacities (with more than 1,200 participants). 7) The materials, experts, field staffs and partial financial support were provided to households to monitor the pond, environment and diseases management during culture crops in the two years of 2007 and 2008. 8) Project organized successful the short trip of 3 project staffs to visit and work in University of Western Australia. In this trip, Vietnamese staffs worked together with Australian experts and well finished all purposes of trip. 9) Project staffs attended and presented the project outcomes at national and international workshops. Project staffs also supervised Bachelor and Master students to practice their thesis and they have got very satisfied results 10) The results of production of project shrimp household, the environment of project area and BMP adoption rate of farmers were assessed after 2 years implementing. The results were presented in the MS10 report. 11) During two years of project, the Australian experts group was performed five trips to Vietnam and project area to assist Vietnamese staffs to more effective implementation of project. Smallholder benefits: The most benefit smallholders of this project are the shrimp households in the project area and project staffs from top to local who directly involve in this project. Shrimp households were improved the BMP knowledge though the training courses, cross- 9 visiting, monthly meeting and etc, therefore, the effect of shrimp culture investment of those households was improved (the specific results were presented in MS10 report). In addition, the BMP household, especially trial farmers were directly benefited from project though partial support of materials and provided environment equipments from project. The capacities on management, research, training, etc of project staffs were improved though out the project activities. Especially, extension workers were approached the new training methods (TOTs and parallel of theory and practice). The Extension Centres of project provinces were benefit from project though provided environment equipments and its staffs capacities were also improved by implement project activities. The project communes were benefit from project such as improvement of aqua-clubs/associations system. In addition, project provided environment test-kits and partial financial support for operation of communities. Finally, the institutional staffs (RIA1, NAFIQUAVED) capacities were improved in term of group working, management and research skills though project activities that trainings, study tour and directly work with Australian experts. Capacity Building Project contributed to improve capacities for different stakeholders of different levels: • At central level, the RIA1s’ staffs, who directly involve in the project (both managers and technical experts), were improved capacity in both management and research. • At provincial level, the extension staffs in three provinces, who worked for project were improved the BMP implementation capacities and they were approached the BMP knowledge thought management, technical transferring and training activities • At local level, communities’ officers, aquaculture communities’ managers and shrimp households, who are in the project area, were improved the capacities of BMP implementation. Of which, the more important issue is the capacities to manage and operate the aquaculture clubs/associations were improved in order to development of shrimp culture as effective and sustainable. Publicity The related information and the outcomes of project were published thought different sources as: • The results of the general BMP training course were published in the Thua Thien- Hue newspaper. • The BMP practical process was broadcasted in the Ha Tinh television program 10 [...]... Outputs, Activities And Inputs Project Title: Technical and economic feasibility of applying the Better Management Practices (BMP) to household aquaculture in Vietnam Vietnamese Implementing Institution: Research Institute for Aquaculture No 1 Narrative OBJECTIVES PROPOSAL Information Required 1) Assessing current status of shrimp households operation and find out advantages and disadvantages of BMP application... 3a) BMP technical and community based parameters applying into shrimp farms and communities in the project provinces 3b) Monitoring, recording all data of techniques, socio -economic and environment of trial farms and communities during implementing BMP protocols 4) Improving capacity of implementation and application of BMP for different stakeholders of different levels of central, provincial and local... provincial, district, commune officers, extension workers, key farms 20 Organizing the BMP training courses for households in the communities (Jan.-Mar./2008) 20 Nine BMP training courses were organised in 3 provinces run by extension workers for the attending of shrimp households in communities 21 Analysing and reporting of assessment of socio -economic, technical and environment of project trial farms... data, information on BMP in international, regional and Vietnam; the current status data of shrimp farms (100 farms); initial environment data 2) To ensure BMP protocols is suitable and applicable to the project area to improve the production effect in term of technical, social, economic and environmental 2) BMP protocols were pilot application into trials farms and communities in the first year The. .. equipment to monitor and warning to households and communities in term of environment conditions 14 Recording all of related information and data of shrimp crops of trial farms (Jan.-Aug./2007 and 2008) 14 Trial farms was provided “shrimp diary record book” to record all information, data over shrimp culture crops (technical, environment, economic data - all of input to output information and data) 15 Testing... due to unchanged of project personnel at provincial and local levels • The shrimp households were negative effect by natural disaster such as the Storm Number 5 in Ha Tinh and Nghe An and flood in Thua Thien Hue in 2007 The white sport disease outbreak in Vietnam in 2007 and 2008 was also negative effect to shrimp farms in project sites In addition, in 2008, financial crisis and increasing in input... of shrimp farms (Nov.-Dec./2008) 25 Design questionnaires and survey of 120 shrimp households to assess the project effect in term of technical, economic and social and related issues and BMP adoption rate of trials and BMP farms 26 Assessing the terminal environment of project sites after implementing project (Oct.-Dec./2008) 26 Completion of collection, analysing, and reporting the terminal environment... samples after implementing project 27 Reporting the project validation on technical, socio -economic, environment of BMP and nonBMP farms and BMP adoption rate of farms (Dec./2008 and Jan.-Feb./2009) 27 Completion of report of assessment of project validation in term of technical, economic, social and environment impacts and the BMP adoption rate of shrimp households 28 Reporting the project completion... aqua-club/association meetings 06 cross-visits 01 product quality and food safety training course 09 BMP training courses for communities - Total budget AusAID support for Vietnamese Institution - Total budget that AusAID support for Vietnamese Institution: 243,923 AUD -Total budget was delivered to Vietnamese Institution (up to 4 Mar 2009) -Total budget was delivered to Vietnamese Institution (up to. .. Mar 2009): 163,030 AUD -Remaining budget to be delivered to Vietnamese Institution -Remaining budget to be delivered to Vietnamese Institution: 80,893 AUD 21 BRIEF TRAINING REPORT I TRAINING COURSE ON BMP FOR EXTENSION STAFFS, LOCAL OFFICERS AND TRIAL FARMS 1 Location: Hue city, Thua Thien-Hue province 2 Time: March 10 -1 2, 2007 3 Purpose: To provide the knowledge on BMP in shrimp aquaculture for local . economic feasibility of applying the Better Management Practices (BMP) to household aquaculture in Vietnam Vietnamese Institution Research Institute for Aquaculture No.1 Vietnamese Project Team. common farming systems practiced by household farmers: semi-intensive and improved extensive. In the semi-intensive systems, a group of 2 0- 30 farms in each province will be selected and be encouraged. class="bi x27 y177 w5 h1 3" alt ="" Project Progress Against Proposed Objectives, Outputs, Activities And Inputs Project Title: Technical and economic feasibility of applying the Better Management