Báo cáo khoa học nông nghiệp " Reducing pesticide resides, improving yield, quality and marketing of vegetables crops in Northern Central Vietnam through improved varieties, GAP principles and farmer focused training " MS6 pdf

Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Development CARD Project Progress Report 021/06VIE Reducing pesticide resides, improving yield, quality and marketing of vegetables crops in Northern C

Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Development

CARD Project Progress Report

021/06VIE Reducing pesticide resides, improving yield, quality and marketing of vegetables crops in Northern

Central Vietnam through improved varieties, GAP principles and farmer focused training

MS6: Third Six-Monthly Report

Table of Contents

1.  Institute Information _ 2 

2.  Project Abstract 3 

3.  Executive Summary 3 

4.  Introduction & Background 4 

5.  Progress to Date _ 4 

5.1 Implementation Highlights 4 

5.2 Capacity Building 6 

5.3 Publicity 6 

5.4 Project Management _ 6 

5.5 Environment 6 

5.6 Gender and Social Issues 7 

6.  Implementation & Sustainability Issues 7 

6.1 Issues and Constraints 7 

6.2 Options _ 7 

6.3 Sustainability 7 

7.  Next Critical Steps 7 

8.  Conclusion 7 

9.  Statutory Declaration _Error! Bookmark not defined. 

1 Institute Information

Project Name Reducing pesticide residues, improving yield, quality and marketing

of vegetable crops in Northern Central Vietnam through improved varieties, GAP principles and farmer focused training

Vietnamese Institution Agricultural Science Institute for Northern Central Vietnam

(“ASINCV”), Nghi Kim, Vinh city, Nghe An province, VN

VN Project Team Leader Dr Chuong

Australian Organisation Applied Horticultural Research Pty Ltd.(AHR) ACN 073 642 510

Suite 352 Biomedical Building, 1 Central Ave Everleigh NSW 2015 Australia

Australian Personnel Prof Gordon Rogers

Completion date (original) July 2008

Completion date (revised) July 2008

Contact Officer(s)

In Australia: Team Leader

Organisation AHR, Applied Horticultural

Research Suite 352 Biomedical Building , 1 Central Ave

Everleigh NSW 2015, Australia

In Australia: Administrative contact

Organisation AHR, Applied Horticultural Research

PO Box 3114, Bundeena NSW 2230 Australia

In Vietnam

Organisation Agricultural Science Institute for

Northern Central Vietnam

(“ASINCV”) Nghi Kim, Vinh city, Nghe An province, Vietnam

2 Project Abstract

3 Executive Summary

The project uses a participatory approach to encourage the uptake of good agricultural

practices (GAP) by the collaborating Vietnamese Institutes and the stakeholders (farmers,

extension staff and commercial partners) The project includes several training initiatives

Such as the establishment of demonstration variety and GAP trials which are the basis of

farmer field days, postharvest research investigating temperature management and packaging

along the supply chain and market development

This reporting period has focused on the harvesting, supply and marketing of cabbages to

markets in Hanoi Cabbage research trials have been conducted at ASINCV The baseline

survey is complete Cabbage shipments have been successfully sent to Metro Cash and Carry

in Hanoi By April 2008, over 50 tonnes of cabbages were delivered in good condition and

sold through the Metro cash and Carry network of stores, primarily in the north

The Vinh – Nghe Ahn Brand has been developed including stickers and posters which were

designed by a professional graphic design studio in Sydney Initially 5000 copies of the

stickers were printed in Australia, and subsequently the stickers have been printed in

Vietnam Dr Rogers presented a paper at the Fresh Produce Vietnam conference held in Ho

ChI Minh City from the 2nd to the 4th April 2008 Dr Rogers also wrote articles for the

April/May 2008 Issue of Asia Fruit Magazine and CARD Newsletter

Three scientists, Mr Doan Xuan Canh, Ms Nguyen Thi Hong Quyen and Mr Nguyen Duc

Thang from ASINCV visited Australia between the 10th and 28th February 2008 and attended

the Australian Melon Conference Farmer Field Schools were conducted in Quynh Luong and Hung Ding communes during this period on the harvesting and handling of cabbage as well as the production of watermelon There were three visits by the Australian team to Vietnam

during this time

The project is running well and we look forward to having even more success with the second crop of watermelons later in the year

Vegetable farming in Vietnam can bring an attractive income of around 20-30 Million VND per year which represents 80-90% of the average farming family income There is potential to increase these returns to growers by maximizing yield and quality of the produce they grow This project aims to improve the income of smallholders by encouraging them to adopt clean and sustainable production practices This will involve providing high yielding; disease resistant varieties of watermelon and cabbage, providing information and training in Good Agricultural Practice The introduction of new varieties and GAP will be implanted using a participatory approach with farmer field days and workshops lead by leading Australian industry consultants The highlight from this reporting period is the production of high quality cabbages using GAP at Quynh Luong Commune and Hung Duong Co-operative and the enthusiasm from Metro Cash and Carry to sell these products in the Hanoi store This is a very positive step for developing an alternative supply chain for these farmers which could be more reliable and profitable than the existing ones they use The use of IPM and the agronomic record books has also been an important first steps for the adoption of a QA system for the growers

4 Introduction & Background

Vegetable growing in Vietnam is an important source of income for the country and accounts for 9% of the total cropping including rice

There is potential to increase these returns to growers by maximizing yield and quality of the produce they grow However, there are several aspects of the vegetable industry in Vietnam which currently limit expansion and development of the industry and financial returns to farmers, i.e.:

• High pesticide and nitrosamine residues in produce

• Postharvest temperature management and handling technology limits the quality presented to consumers

• Agronomic practices used by growers can limit potential yields and hence farmer income

• Traditional marketing can limit farmer returns

The project will use a participatory approach to encourage the uptake of good agricultural practices (GAP) by the collaborating Vietnamese Institutes and the stakeholders (farmers, extension staff and commercial partners) The project will include several training initiatives These include the establishment of demonstration variety and GAP trials which will be the basis of farmer field days, postharvest research investigating temperature management and packaging along the supply chain, intensive training of Vietnamese horticulturalists in

Australia and the delivery of a large workshop at the end of the project to ensure the

information is available to as wide an audience as possible

Another important aim is to develop a new and reliable market for growers by establishing supply chain links with Metro supermarkets This will mean that the number of steps in the supply chain will be reduced and the product will reach the final customers more quickly, resulting in a fresher product with increased demand and sales As a result, farmers will benefit through increased sales, more reliable markets, better communication with product buyers and in turn better returns Retailers benefit through reliable supplies of consistent clean product that meets their specifications and thus improving their sales and returns The project is focussed on outdoor farmers adopting methods to produce clean high quality vegetables by:

o New varieties

o Good Agricultural Practice (GAP)

o Participatory training

o Postharvest research and training

o Developing supply chain links

5 Progress to Date

5.1 Implementation Highlights

The main activities undertaken since the last six-monthly report (milestone 4) include:

(i) The cabbage research trials including variety, nutrition, planting density and planting time

at the ASINCV research institute in Vinh City have now been completed The results of these trials have been reported and reports were attached to milestone 5

(ii) The baseline survey is complete The first baseline survey was carried out at: Hung Dong

commune, Vinh city, with 30 farmer households; Quynh Luong commune, Quynh Luu

district, with 30 farmer households; and at Hung Loi commune, Hung Nguyen district, with

30 farmer households

The survey found that farmers are skilled in traditional vegetable production methods Many vegetable crops are grown from local varieties which produce only low yields, which could be improved by changing to new varieties Pesticide and chemical safety was poor at three

surveyed sites for vegetable production Improved postharvest handling represented a good

opportunity to increase vegetable quality and improve shelf life but individual farmers were

not interested because of their small scale Quality Assurance management was not yet being practiced at the surveyed sites

(iii) Cabbage shipments have been successfully sent to Metro Cash and Carry in Hanoi By

April 2008, over 50 tonnes of cabbages were delivered in good condition and sold through the Metro cash and Carry network of stores, primarily in the north

(iv) Vinh – Nghe Ahn Brand has been developed and this includes stick on labels and posters

Stickers for fruit were designed by a professional graphic design studio in Sydney and 5000

copies of the stickers were printed and sent to Vietnam Subsequently labels have been

printed in Vietnam This development was funded from the Australian component of the

project budget The stickers were important to differentiate the GAP-produced cabbages and

identify them as having been grown under GAP guidelines and free from excessive pesticide residues The stickers were supported by in-store posters and training on postharvest handling and marketing present by John Baker to farmers and retail staff from Metro Hanoi

(v) Dr Rogers was invited to attend the Fresh Produce Vietnam conference in Ho Chi Minh

City (2nd – 4th April 2008) and present a paper on the project In addition, Dr Chuong and Mr Cuong were invited to attend the conference The presentation is attached to the milestone

report

(vi) Dr Rogers wrote articles for the April/May 2008 Issue of Asia Fruit Magazine and the

CARD Newsletter These articles are attached to this milestone report

(vii) Three scientists, Mr Doan Xuan Canh, Ms Nguyen Thi Hong Quyen and Mr Nguyen

Duc Thang from ASINCV in Vinh City visited Australia between the 10th and 28th February

2008 They visited farms, retailers and marketers in Australia and attended the Australian

Melon Conference in Ipswich, Queensland during their visit

(viii) Training was delivered to farmers in Quynh Luong and Hung Ding communes during

this period on the harvesting and handling of cabbage as well as the production of

watermelon

(ix) Trainer of Trainer workshops were presented at ASINCV by Dr Jobling and Mr Baker on cabbage harvesting, postharvest and marketing in January 2008 Separate training on

watermelon agronomy was presented by Mr Titley in March/April 2008 at Quynh Luong and

at ASINCV

(x) There were three visits by the Australian team to Vietnam during this time

Dates Who went Objective(s) of Trip Activities

14th

January –

22nd

January

Jenny

Jobling

John Baker

Train Metro Cash and Carry in handling techniques Oversee harvesting and ensure adequate quality

Presentation by JB at Metro Hanoi Oversee first cabbage harvest in QL Travel to Hanoi and view produce on arrival Liaise with Mr Thai - Metro

27th March

– 5th April

Gordon

Rogers

Review Crops and attend Fresh produce Vietnam

Review cabbage crops Present farmer field school Attend Fresh produce Vietnam

1st June –

6th June

2008

John Baker

Mike Titley

Develop a marketing plan for watermelons Review crops in the field and train farmers (FFS) and

QL and HD

Visit field and inspect crops with farmers Provide training at HD and QL

Meeting with Metro in Hanoi Develop detailed marketing plan with metro (see trip report)

5.2 Capacity Building

Skills have been built in several ways:

• Three staff members from ASINCV travelled to Australia, inspected modern seedling production facilities, watermelon farms in NSW and Qld, and attended the Australian Melon Conference

• Dr Chuong and Mr Cuong attended the Fresh Produce Vietnam conference in Ho Chi Minh City

• Members of Metro, farmers and ASINCV staff trained in marketing and postharvest

handling of cabbage

• Field research skills of staff at ASINCV have been enhanced through the successful

planning, execution and reporting of field trials

• Skills and knowledge of farmers and ASINCV research and support staff have been

enhanced through training provided by Australian experts and by ASINCV and

MARD staff locally

5.3 Publicity

• Dr Chuong was interviewed on national television about the project The file of the

TV program is available if required, but since the file is large, it will not be attached

to this email

• An article was written for the April/May 2008 Issue of Asia Fruit Magazine and the

copy is attached to this milestone report

• An article was written for the CARD Newsletter about the project and this was

published in 2008

5.4 Project Management

The project activities have been progressing as per the schedule in the project logframe The

submission of milestone reports has been slow and this has affected cash flow to fund project operations Applied Horticultural Research has made payments to ASINCV in advance of

receiving payments from CARD to keep things moving and this has been successful The

current plan is to have all outstanding milestone reports submitted by the end of March 2010

5.5 Environment

The farmers participating in the project were been provided with feedback that on one

occasion, high pesticide residue levels were found in their produce (reported in milestone 4) This problem has been solved and no further incidences of high pesticide residues have been found

5.6 Gender and Social Issues

This project will continue to address gender and social issues by trying to improve the income

of local farmers by facilitating a linkage between the growers and Metro Cash and Carry

6 Implementation & Sustainability Issues

6.1 Issues and Constraints

There have been no significant issues which have compromised project activities

6.2 Options

Nil

6.3 Sustainability

No sustainability issues

7 Next Critical Steps

The next critical steps are to successfully produce and market watermelons for the northern market to follow up on the successes of the cabbage supply Watermelon agronomic trials need to assessed and reported, and the results passed back to project team members The supply chain analysis needs to be conducted and crop specifications generated for cabbage and watermelons Farmer Field Schools and training will be conducted to assist in the

implementation of these activities

8 Conclusion

Will be covered in the project final report

Attachments

Presentation at Fresh Produce

Logo for cabbage

Poster for cabbage

Article in Asia Fruit Magazine

Article in CARD newsletter

1 training presentation (English and VNM)

John Baker presentation on cabbage

Trip Itinerary for Mr Canh, Ms Quyen and Mr Thang visit to Australia