The 1st Mekong Delta Forum on Developing Partnerships Between Australia and Vietnam for Organic Agriculture Movement Promoting household-based organic vegetable gardens in improving nutrition and food security for Khmer ethnic minority children

The 1st Mekong Delta Forum on Developing Partnerships Between Australia and Vietnam for Organic Agriculture Movement Promoting household based organic vegetable gardens in improving nutrition and food[.]

Organic Farming in the Mekong Region

Participatory Action Research for an Agroecological transition:

Real stories of implementing community-based organic vegetable garden at O Lam

village, Tri Ton district, An Giang province, Vietnam

August 17, 2021

Speaker:

Mr Thai Van Nguyen (MSc)

Lecturer of An Giang University Research Associate of Mekong Organics

The course is sponsored by the University of Barcelona (Spain) and the service provider of Mekong

Organics (Australia)

Session: Participatory Action Research for an Agroecological transition

What to expect?

Content of this session

Research?

3 How to apply for small grants?

4

What is agroecology? (10m)

Sudents required to do:

Let’s go to the link

https://padlet.com/nvthai6rd/54uqdngwihapz5tm

Note: click on the (+) item at the bottom of your

laptop screen and type your answer on the ticky notes.

Concept of agroecology

• 1983: Agro-ecology as the application of ecological principles to agriculture

(Altieri, 1983)

• 1987: Agroecology is an approach that helps us to better understand the

ecology of traditional farming systems (Altieri, 1987)

• 1990: Ecological concepts and principles to the design of sustainable

agricultural systems” (Gliessman 1990)

• 1999: Agroecology concept should be understood in the sociocultural contexts

(Guzmán-Casado et al, 1999)

• 2009: Academic publications and initiatives related to agroecology

agro-ecology means either a scientific discipline, agricultural practice, or political or

social movement Agro-ecology has become a concept of action that includes

all these three dimensions (Wezel et al 2009)

• 2014: International Symposium on Agroecology for Food Security and Nutrition

in September (hosted by FAO)

6

Concept of agroecology transition (AT)

8

Three dimensions of agroecology

Sevilla Guzmán (2006)

The ecological–

cultural dimension

The sociopolitical dimension

Source: Sevilla Guzmán (2006)

Common challenges facing the agroecological transition

by scale and dimession

- Lack of knowledge of appropriate

- Climate change

- High dependence on flows of imported energy and materials

Common challenges facing the agroecological

transition by scale and dimession

- Low investment capacity

- Need for investment (machinery, facilities, etc.) during the transition

- High cost of third-party certification for small-scale producers

- Erosion of traditional agricultural knowledge

- Weak local food networks/social network

- Marginalization of agricultural activity (invisibility)

- Significant erosion of traditional agricultural knowledge

- No payment for environmental services provided by organic agriculture

- Difficulty to access loans and insurance for the agroecological

transition

- Little commitment to generate sustainable Food networks

Source: Méndez, V E., Bacon, C M., Cohen, R., & Gliessman, S R (2016)

Common challenges facing the agroecological

transition by scale and dimession

Dimension 

Socio-political - Low participation in

agricultural organizations

- Low capacity of the agricultural sector to influence local public policies

- Low institutional support for theproduction/consumption of organic foods

- Low capacity of the agricultural sector toinfluence nationalpublic policies

- Inadequate regulations for the development of small-scale agroindustry

What is Participatory Action Research?

12

What is

Participatory

Action Research?

Sudents required to do:

Let’s go to the link

https://padlet.com/nvthai6rd/rx9qtyfadk9o8sev

Note: click on the (+) item at the

bottom of your laptop screen and type your answer on the ticky notes

Participatory Action Research

Improve ecological sustainability of farming systems,

of the farm and local community

Define an objective, realistic situation using sustainability

criteria

14

The details of case study:

• It is one of four work packages under the

project entitled “Developing partnerships

between Australia and Vietnam for organic agriculture movement: training and workshop in two countries” funded by the

Australian Alumni Grants Fund (2018-2019).

• Project location: O Lam village, Tri Ton district, An Giang province, Vietnam

• Scope of this project: piloting household/community-based organic vegetable garden for Khmer women and the whole community.

A case study was conducted at O Lam village, Tri Ton district, An Giang

province, Vietnam

Map of the Vietnamese

16

Project site

Ethnicity > 90% (Khmer people)

Areas of farm land (2016)

2,258.60

Types of livelihoods Rice & vegetable production, small trades, hired labouring.

Who engage in the PAR process?

The temple (15-20) and female household (1)

Experiences in organic farming in the area

None-Low

Farmers’ traditional agrarian knowledge

Medium-High

Farmers’ social organization

Low

Phases applied in the Agroecological Processes

Phase III

participatory research

Phase IV

participatory action

Phase V

evaluation and adjustment

Phases and Methods Applied in the Agroecological Processes

Preliminary

Objectives To build mutual trust and relationships

between researchers and social agents

Methods/tools Secondary information analysis; interview

Participant observation Challenges need to be addressed Is there potential for the agroecological

process?

Phase I: Preliminary

20

Phases and Methods Applied in the Agroecological Processes

Diagnostic

Objectives Understand subjective views of people with

whom we are working

Methods/tools Interview; Participant observation;

discussion groups ; SWOT analysis

Challenges need to be addressed How do we explain the situation?

who can we rely on?

Phase II: Participatory Diagnostic

22

Phases and Methods Applied in the Agroecological Processes

research

Objectives Converts the diagnosis into an action

plan, and map all the local actors who involve in the project

Methods/tools Field observation;

PRA techniques

Challenges need to be addressed How can we determine what is

possible?

How do we create the plan?

How do we generate useful information?

Phase III: Participatory

Research

This phase converts the

diagnosis into an action plan,

the drafting of which involves

all the local actors

24

Phase IV:

Participatory Action

Phases and Methods Applied in the Agroecological Processes

26

Action

Objectives Promote the development of actions

included in the action plan

Methods/tools Co-implement with farmers

M&E program Challenges need to be addressed How should we

act every day?

Technical workshop

Techinical supports (farm design and irrigation) at the temple

28

Techinical supports (farm design and irrigation) at Khmer women’s house

Soil preparing and seed

sharing

30

Phases and Methods Applied in the Agroecological Processes

Evaluation and Adjustment

Objectives Evaluate the evolution of the local social

map and subjective aspects

Methods/tools M&E program

Final report Challenges need to be addressed How can we further the transformation

process?

Phase VI: Evaluation and

Adjustment

32

Phases and Methods Applied in the Agroecological Processes

Phases Phase I

Preliminary

Phase II Diagnostic

Phase III research

Phase IV Action

Phase V Evaluation and Adjustment

Objectives Mutual trust and

relationships between researchers and social agents is a key

Understand subjective views of people with whom we are working

Converts the diagnosis into an action plan, and map all the local actors who involve in the project

Promote the development of actions

included in the action plan

Evaluate the evolution

of the local social map and subjective aspects

Methods/tools Secondary

information analysis;

interview Participant observation

Interview;

Participant observation;

discussion groups ; SWOT analysis

Field observation;

PRA techniques

Co-implement with farmers

M&E program

M&E program Final report

Challenges need to

be addressed

Is there potential for the agroecological process?

How do we explain the situation?

who can we rely on?

How can we determine what is possible?

How do we create the plan?

How do we generate useful

information?

How should we act every day?

How can we further the transformation process?

Before After

Community-based organic garden

34

Final output: based organic garden

community-Household-based organic garden

36

Final output: household-based organic garden

Video clip of the project

38

Summary of results of the case study

At the temple At the household

Use of local recources - Mainly organic matter

- The cultivation of local varieties is consolidated.

- Mainly organic matter

- High diversification of crops

- The cultivation of local varieties is consolidated.

Social impacts - High

- Strengthening of local farmers association.

- Introduction of agriculture into public life locally.

- High (role-model)

- Household income is improved

Instituonal impacts - The political parties (district and

commune levels) supported the action plan.

40

CHIA SẺ CÁCH TIẾP CẬN CÁC

DỰ ÁN QUỐC TẾ VỀ NÔNG NGHIỆP SINH THÁI/HỮU CƠ

Cách tiếp cận Dự án quốc tế

Các cách tiếp cận thông tin dự án:

Bước 1: Kênh thông tin dự án (Làm thế nào để

biết được thông tin dự án từ nhà tài trợ?)

- Từ đồng nghiệp trong cơ quan

- Từ thầy/cô đã từng dạy trước đó (Giáo sư bên Úc)

- Từ các câu lạc bộ, diễn đàn và các nhóm chuyên môn (phải là thành viên chính thức trong nhóm

Ví dụ: nhóm Alumni Úc)

- Tự tìm kiếm với các key words như Research grants, funding, scholarships, awards…(có thể gắn thêm với key words về lĩnh vực cụ thể)

Bước 2: Đọc kỹ các thông tin về dự án (Tài trợ cho ai?

Các hoạt động và lĩnh vực tài trợ nào? Khả năng mình có phù hợp với dự án này không?)

- Tên đầy đủ dự án: Australian Alumni Grants Fund

(AAGF)

- Thông tin website:

http://australiaawardsvietnam.org/index.php/en/alumni -4/alumni-opportunities/australian-alumni-grants-fund

- Trụ sở văn phòng: Đại sứ quán Úc tại Việt Nam

- Quốc gia được tài trợ: Cựu sinh viên Úc ở Việt Nam

- Thời gian thực hiện: 12 tháng

Dự án Australian Alumni Grants Fund

Các hoạt động hỗ trợ của AAGF

• Category 1 Development and conduct of a training program or

training course(s), workshop(s), seminar(s), or conference(s)

• Category 2 Applied research.

• Category 3 Organisational and Institutional Change.

• Category 4 HRD application projects/action plans.

Number of alumni applicants Maximum Grant

Selected priority areas/sectors

Governance

and Economic

Growth

Infrastructure and Transport

Water and

Gender Equality

Agriculture

and Rural

Development

Regional Stability and Human Rights

Climate

Dự án Australian Alumni Grants Fund

SEARCA (Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture)

Dự án SEARCA

Bước 2: Đọc kỹ các thông tin về dự án (Tài trợ cho

ai? Các hoạt động và lĩnh vực tài trợ nào? Khả năng mình có phù hợp với dự án này không?)

- Tên đầy đủ dự án: SEARCA Seed Fund for Research and Training (SFRT)

- Thông tin website:

researchtraining

http://searca.org/index.php/scholarship/seed-fund Trụ sở văn phòng: Philippines

- Quốc gia được tài trợ: các nước Đông Nam Á

- Các hoạt động hỗ trợ của SEARCA:

+ Dự án nghiên cứu + Các khóa tập huấn ngắn hạn (viết đề cương nghiên cứu; khóa nghiên cứu ngắn hạn dành cho nghiên cứu sinh…)

- Ngân sách tài trợ: USD 15,000

Dự án SEARCA

- Các mục tiêu tài trợ:

Dự án SEARCA

- Các lĩnh vực/dự án được tài trợ

Dự án SEARCA

Dự án AAGF & SEARCA

Bước 3: Tìm ra ý tưởng nghiên cứu và viết đề cương

NC (Ý tưởng nghiên cứu từ đâu?)

- Literature Review (đọc sách, báo, tạp chí, các bài

nghiên cứu khoa học…)

- Từ các chuyến đi thực tế tại cộng đồng nông thôn

- Từ các yêu cầu bài tập trong chương trình học cao học

- Từ việc trò chuyện với đồng nghiệp cơ quan qua các buổi café, tiệc tùng…

- Từ các lần tham gia chương trình tập huấn, hội thảo.

- Ý tưởng NC có thể phát sinh từ 1 dự án đang thực hiện.

- …

Bước 4: Thành lập nhóm nghiên cứu (ai có thể cộng tác với mình trong dự

án nghiên cứu này?)

- Tìm hiểu về chuyên môn và các thế mạnh của cộng sự

- Trao đổi về ý tưởng NC

- Phân chia công việc (dựa vào các yêu cầu format của dự án) Cụ thể: phần giới thiệu, lược khảo tài liệu, phương pháp nghiên cứu, khung thời gian, kết quả dự kiến và các kế hoạch tương lai duy trì sự bền vững của dự án…).

- Quyết định hợp tác

➔ Lưu ý về tính đa ngành và liên ngành trong nộp xin dự án.

Dự án AAGF & SEARCA

Bảng tóm tắt cách tiếp cận dự án nghiên cứu

nhiêu?

Mục tiêu nhà tài trợ là gì?

Format dự án của nhà tài trợ ra sao?

Hạn nộp hồ sơ dự án khi nào?

Bắt đầu viết đề cương NC như thế nào?

Phân chia công việc trong dự án thế nào?

Thank you for your attention