Báo cáo khoa học nông nghiệp " Improving traditional integrated farming systems (VAC) – a new livelihood option for poor farmers in the coastal communities " MS2 pot

Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Development Collaboration for Agriculture and Rural Development PROJECT PROGRESS REPORT 027/07VIE Improving traditional integrated farming systems VAC

Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Development

Collaboration for Agriculture and Rural Development

PROJECT PROGRESS REPORT

027/07VIE Improving traditional integrated farming systems (VAC)

– a new livelihood option for poor farmers

in the coastal communities

MS2: First six-monthly report

5th February 2008- 5th July 2008

Table of Contents

1 Institute Information _ 2

2 Project Abstract _ 3

3 Executive Summary 3

4 Introduction & Background _ 3

5 Progress to Date _ 4

5.1 Implementation Highlights 4 5.2 Smallholder Benefits 4 5.3 Capacity Building 5 5.4 Publicity 5

6 Report on Cross-Cutting Issues _ 5

6.2 Gender and Social Issues 5

7 Implementation & Sustainability Issues 5

7.1 Issues and Constraints 5

7.3 Sustainability 6

8 Next Critical Steps _ 6

9 Conclusion _ 6

1 Institute Information

(VAC) - a new livelihood option for poor farmers in the coastal communities

Vietnamese Institution Centre for Environment and Disease Monitoring in

Aquaculture (CEDMA)

Vietnamese Project Team Leader Mr Mai Van Tai (Project director)

Mr Mai Van Ha (Project manager)

Australian Organisation Muresk Institute - Division of Science and

Engineering-Curtin University of Technology (CUT)

Australian Personnel Dr Ravi Fotedar (Team Leader)

Dr Jane Fewtrell (Environmental Scientist)

Mr Simon Longbottom (Aquaculture Scientist)

Completion date (original) January 2010

Completion date (revised) February 2010

Contact Officer(s)

In Australia: Team Leader

Position: International Program

Director, A/Prof

Organisation Muresk Institute, CUT Email: r.fotedar@curtin.edu.au

In Australia: Administrative contact

In Vietnam

Organisation Centre for Environment and

Disease Monitoring in Aquaculture (CEDMA)

Email: mvha@ria1.org

2 Project Abstract

3 Executive Summary

The overall objective for project 027/07VIE, ‘Improving traditional integrated farming systems (VAC) - a new livelihood option for poor farmers in the coastal communities’, is to improve the income base to sustain livelihoods of poor coastal farmers in the Central provinces This objective is to be achieved by improving the productivity of the existing traditional farming system and managing water quality simultaneously and therefore reducing the environmental impact of operations

To date the projects achievements have included the design of questionnaire to assess and document the existing VAC practices in the selected provinces, selection of demonstration households/farms (VAC), selection of higher value species, transfer of technology to Vietnamese staff and the design of the improved production systems The construction of recirculating aquaculture systems in Nghe an and Quang tri has commenced A strategic plan for environment monitoring protocol has been developed Two on-field workshops were conducted in March for potential adapters

of new technology in Nghe An and Quang Tri The first workshop was attended by 21 farmers and commune’s extension workers The second workshop was attended by 23 farmers and district’s extension staff Most of the office and laboratory equipment has been ordered or purchased

4 Introduction & Background

This project aims to improve efficiency of the traditional VAC system while decreasing environmental impact through the application of current technology and introduction of local but higher value species The objectives are:

i) To carry out an analysis of current economics status and practices of

household farming (includes aquaculture, horticulture and animal

The farming communities in the Central coastal areas of Vietnam have very limited productive land, and marine aquatic resources are overexploited The diversification of income base for communities practicing VAC farming systems is a main issue for the local and central Government Therefore, the Government is strategically putting in an effort to reduce coastal exploitation by identifying alternative livelihood options This project is an appropriate approach

to increase income for these communities using existing available resources This project is expected to make a significant contribution to the Government of Vietnam’s Comprehensive Poverty Reduction and Growth Strategy (CPRGS), which is aligned with the CARD program strategic framework So far a survey has been conducted to collect the base line information on the economic status of farmers participating in traditional VAC farming systems in two selected districts of Vietnam The staff from CEDMA have been updated on the proposed improvements in the traditional VAC farming systems and related environmental issues The selection of demonstration sites and aquatic species to be farmed under the modified VAC system has been finalised Modifications to the aquaculture production system have been designed and the constructions of recirculating aquaculture systems are under progress

ii) To develop appropriate improved VAC guidelines and manuals for

household aquaculture in the North Central of Vietnam

iii) To build capacity for improved VAC application among stakeholders

involving in aquaculture product market chains, especially smallholder producers

Objective i) has been completed with the revised performance measures

As outlined in the log frame, the performance measures are the collection of improved VAC materials available regionally and internationally; construction of questionnaire and interviewing of existing farming communities who are participating in the traditional VAC systems, selection of 2-3 households/farms to demonstrate improved VAC systems; drafting of action plans for VAC demonstration system which includes farming of higher value species in a environmentally friendly manner

To the best of our knowledge the household/farms selected are representative examples of typical VAC systems of the region

Activities to meet Objective ii) have commenced

5 Progress to Date

5.1 Implementation Highlights

Main achievements for this reporting period were;

i) Final signing of contract

ii) First trip to Vietnam (Ravi Fotedar and Jane Fewtrell)

- visited household farm systems practices traditional VAC in Nghe An and Quang Tri provinces

iii) Formulation of environmental monitoring plan

iv) Formulation and implementation of questionnaire

v) Interviews conducted

vi) Second trip to Vietnam (Ravi Fotedar)

- final selection of demonstration farms

- selection of aquatic species

- update on the technology issues to CEDMA staff and extension workers

vii) Design of improved aquaculture system to be utilised by the three

demonstration farms finalised (Appendix 3)

viii) Two field workshops conducted

5.2 Smallholder Benefits

At this stage it is expected that the benefits to the house hold farmers will be achieved

as outlined in section 2.2 of the project proposal The benefits will be quantified during the second year of the project To date, the direct benefits in terms of knowledge of modified VAC operations to small-scale farmers have been achieved through the workshops run at the two provinces

5.3 Capacity Building

A capacity building initiative has commenced at CEDMA The transfer of technology

in the area of water recirculating systems in aquaculture, nutrient cycling across various farming components of VAC system and environmental monitoring programs

have been successfully achieved

5.4 Publicity

Extension material which includes brochures, posters and single page pamphlets are under preparation

5.5 Project Management

Management of the project has been satisfactory and no major constraints were encountered

6 Report on Cross-Cutting Issues

6.1 Environment

The proposal for monitoring the environmental impacts of the improved systems have been formulated (Appendix 1)

6.2 Gender and Social Issues

Gender balance was appropriate for the first workshop run for farmer and extension staff (14:9 female to male ratio), however the gender balance was significantly skewed in favor of males (2:17 female to male ratio) in the second workshop in Quang Tri

7 Implementation & Sustainability Issues

7.1 Issues and Constraints

Two alterations to the original project proposal have been necessary, one being the proposed commencement date for the project and the second being the number of demonstration house holds/farms to be included

The project commencement date was delayed by more than a month as a result of delay in signing the contract

After the Australian collaborators’ first viewing of a selection of actual household farms in March 2008, it was decided that the logistics of including 10 demonstration households/farms in the proposed time frame would be impossible Therefore, taking all factors into account, the number of demonstration farms/households was reduced

to three

7.2 Options

The issues encountered have been resolved and the options that have been applied are

as explained in section 7.1

7.3 Sustainability

The main highlight of the project is to improve the economic status of the farmers practicing traditional VAC systems This is achieved by improving the productivity and thus the income from the traditional VAC system in an environmentally sustainable way The modified VAC system envisages minimum adverse impact on the surrounding environment and diversifying the production base so that disease, production and marketing risks are minimised This will have a positive impact on the sustainability of the project

8 Next Critical Steps

The projects activities for the next 6 months will include:

(1) Collect, collate and analyze the data from the questionnaire and interviews of farmers participating in the workshops These farmers are the potential adapters

of the improved VAC system

(2) Continue improved VAC construction work in Nghe An and Quang Tri (3) Stock the selected higher value species into the recirculating aquaculture systems

(4) Establish the environmental monitoring protocol and collect the relevant data

on water quality in and around modified VAC systems

(5) Organize trainings on improved VAC practices for farmers and extension staff (6) Conduct exchange visits for the project-evolved farmers between Nghe an and Quang tri

(7) Provide technical training in Australia for two Vietnamese scientists

9 Conclusion

Progress has been satisfactory and the objectives established for the first 6 months have been achieved