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 " MS8 doc

Institute Information Project Name Reducing pesticide residues, improving yield, quality and marketing of vegetable crops in Northern Central Vietnam through improved varieties, GAP pr

Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Development

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

MS8: Fourth Six-Monthly Report

Table of Contents

1 Institute Information _ 2

2 Project Abstract _ 4

3 Executive Summary 4

4 Introduction & Background _ 4

5 Progress to Date _ 5

5.1 Implementation Highlights 5 5.2 Capacity Building 6 5.3 Publicity 6 5.4 Project Management _ 6 5.5 Environment 7 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

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, Vietnam

Vietnamese Project Team Leader Dr Chuong

Australian Organisation Applied Horticultural Research Pty

Ltd.(AHR) ACN 073 642 510 Suite 352 Biomedical Building

1 Central Ave Eveleigh NSW 2015 Australia

Australian Personnel Prof Gordon Rogers

Completion date (original) July 2008

Completion date (revised) July 2008

Reporting period Milestone achieved December 2008

Contact Officer(s)

In Australia: Team Leader

Name: Assoc Prof Gordon Rogers Telephone: +61 2 8627 1040

Position: Project Leader Fax: +61 2 9544 3782

Organisation AHR, Applied Horticultural

Research Suite 352 Biomedical Building

1 Central Ave Eveleigh NSW 2015 Australia

Email: gordon@ahr.com.au

In Australia: Administrative contact

Name: Lynn Christie Telephone: +61 2 9527 0826

Position: Administrator Fax: +61 2 9544 3782

Organisation AHR, Applied Horticultural

Research

PO Box 3114 Bundeena NSW 2230 Australia

Email: lynn@ahr.com.au

In Vietnam

Name: Dr Pham Van Chuong Telephone: +84 (903) 221 612

Position: Team Leader Vietnam Fax: +84(0) 38 851 981

Organisation Agricultural Science

Institute for Northern Central Vietnam

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

Email: chuong.phamvan@gmail.com

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

The project is running well and during this reporting period has focused on the review of

input from Mr Titley (visit June 2008) on problems with the previous watermelon crop and

address for the following crop This resulted in a new watermelon production site at Dien

Phong Watermelons were successfully supplied to Metro Cash and Carry in Hanoi, following

up the success of the previous cabbage crop The traditional and supermarket system for

watermelons and cabbage were studied

Training was delivered on agronomy, supply and marketing of cabbage in preparation for the

coming winter crop in the form of Farmer Field Schools

Crop supply scheduling tools were developed which can be used to assist farmers in

developing planting schedules to meet retail orders and also to monitor crop progress This

helped with the expansion of the number from crops being supplied to Metro from Quynh

Luong from 2 to 5 to include carrots, tomatoes and chinese cabbage There were two visits by the Australian team to Vietnam during this time

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.:

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

• 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 6) include:

(i) Review input from Mr Titley (visit June 2008) on problems with the previous

watermelon crop and address for the following crop

(ii) Finding a new watermelon production site for next season as an alternative to Hung

Dong where the soil is too heavy The new site is at Dien Phuong and has light sandy soils with well developed infrastructure for vegetable growing

(iii) Successfully supplied watermelons to Metro Cash and Carry in Hanoi, following up

the success of the previous cabbage crop There were some issues with root diseases, especially Fusarium sp and this resulted in a lower than expected delivery to Metro The expected delivery was 100 tonnes, but only about 70% of this was delivered due to poor yields from the Hung Dong Collective

(iv) Study of the traditional marketing system for watermelons and cabbage undertaken

and compared to the supply chain for supermarkets This report will be supplied with milestone 7

(v) Deliver training on agronomy, supply and marketing of cabbage in preparation for

the coming winter crop in the form of Farmer Field Schools A report on training activities in included with this milestone report as an attachment

(vi) Crop supply scheduling tools were developed which can be used to assist farmers in

developing planting schedules to meet retail orders and also to monitor crop

progress Crop planting and supply tools have been developed in the form of

Excel ® spreadsheets The tools were developed for cabbage, watermelon,

chinese cabbage, tomatoes and carrots The starting point is the quantity and time each consignment is required by the retailer For example, 5 tonnes of cabbage

per week from January to March Then, the program determines planting dates, numbers of seed or seedlings required, area required each week to produce the

required amounts of produce

(vii) Expansion of the number from crops being supplied to Metro from Quynh Luong

from 2 to 5 to include carrots, tomatoes and chinese cabbage

(viii) There were two visits by the Australian team to Vietnam during this time

22nd

September –

3rd October

2008

Gordon Rogers Jenny Jobling

Review planning for coming cabbage season Find new watermelon site Deliver training on Cabbage agronomy

Visit QL and DP sites FFS at QL and HD

10-17th

December

2008

Gordon Rogers John Baker

Plan crop supply schedules

Plan for supply of other vegetable crops, especially from QL

Plan supply schedules Review current cabbage and other plantings

5.2 Capacity Building

Skills have been built in by providing training especially in the recognition and management

of root diseases in watermelons It was also assisted through the development of

computer-based crop supply tools which simplify the process of supplying set amounts of produce on a regular basis to meet supermarket requirements Training was provided to farmers, ASINCV staff and Metro on the use of these tools

5.3 Publicity

No particular activities to report

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

Continue with training and developing skills of farmers Successfully supply the next cabbage crop to Metro and also the new vegetable species Continue to improve skills in post harvest handling and IPM (problem identification and management options) Improve farmers understanding of the role of market requirements in scheduling of production, product quality and post-harvest handling

8 Conclusion

Will be covered in the project final report

Attachments

Training and Marketing Report

Vegetable crop supply tools (Excel)