Báo cáo định kỳ: IMPROVEMENT OF OPERATOR SKILLS AND TECHNOLOGY IN SMALL RURAL SAWMILLS IN VIETNAM (MS2)

Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Development CARD Project Progress Report 027/06/VIE IMPROVEMENT OF OPERATOR SKILLS AND TECHNOLOGY IN SMALL RURAL SAWMILLS IN VIETNAM MS2: First Six-Monthly Report 30/8/2008 1 Table of Contents 1. Institute Information ....................................................................................................... 2 2. Project Abstract................................................................................................................ 3 3. Executive Summary ......................................................................................................... 3 4. Introduction & Background............................................................................................ 4 5. Progress to Date............................................................................................................... 5 5.1 Implementation Highlights.................................................................................................5 5.1.1 Inception meeting ..............................................................................................................................5 5.1.2 Survey................................................................................................................................................5 5.1.3 Australian Study Program .................................................................................................................5 5.1.4 Advisory Group Meeting...................................................................................................................6 5.1.5 Training course (North).....................................................................................................................6 5.1.6 Training of trainers............................................................................................................................6 5.1.7 Training course (Central)...................................................................................................................6 5.1.8 Sawmill and Furniture Industry site visits ........................................................................................7 5.2 Capacity Building................................................................................................................7 5.3 Project Management ...........................................................................................................7 6. Report on Cross-Cutting Issues....................................................................................... 7 6.1 Gender and Social Issues ....................................................................................................7 7. Implementation & Sustainability Issues......................................................................... 7 7.1 Issues and Constraints.........................................................................................................7 8. Next Critical Steps............................................................................................................ 8 9. Conclusion........................................................................................................................ 8 1 1. Institute Information Project Name Improvement of operator skills and Vietnamese Institution Vietnamese Project Team Leader technology in small rural sawmills in Vietnam. Forest Science Institute of Vietnam Dr Doan Van Thu Australian Organisation The University of Melbourne, Australian Personnel Date commenced Completion date (original) Completion date (revised) Reporting period Australian Centre for Advanced Wood Processing. Professor Peter Vinden 23/5/2007 March 2009 March 2009 Contact Officer(s) In Australia: Team Leader Name: Position: Organisation Professor Peter Vinden Chair Forest Industries and Director of Research CRC Wood Innovations The University of Melbourne, Australian Centre for Advanced Wood Processing. Telephone: Fax: Email: 03 8344 5238 03 5321 4113 Mobile: 0407 554 11 +61 (3) 9349 4172 pvinden@unimelb.edu.au In Australia: Administrative contact Name: Position: Organisation In Vietnam Name: Position: Organisation Philip Blackwell Research Fellow The University of Melbourne, Australian Centre for Advanced Wood Processing. Dr Doan Van Thu Deputy Director General Forest Science Institute of Vietnam Telephone: Fax: Email: Telephone: Fax: Email: +61 (3) 53451021 0429487886 +61 (3) 53451021 philipab@unimelb.edu.au 84-4-8 362 232 84-4-8 389 722 nqtrung-icd@fsiv.org.vn 2 2. Project Abstract The establishment of fast growing plantations of mostly Australian species has largely substituted for a substantial reduction in logging of native forests in Vietnam. Concurrently there has been a proliferation of small rural sawmills sourcing their logs from the new plantation estate to meet the growing demand for forest products for the construction and furniture industries. However, these small sawmills are unsuitable for the species and small log sizes now coming from plantations. They are inefficient, use untrained ex-farmer labour, produce poor quality outputs and have very unsafe workplaces. There are currently few means of training sawmill owners or operators, or of introducing or testing more appropriate technologies. Despite these problems small rural sawmills are very important contributors to rural economies in many regions. The goal of the project is to improve the efficiency and profitability of rural sawmills in Vietnam and their contribution to rural development and poverty alleviation. A wide range of stakeholders and interest groups have been consulted in the development of a rural sawmill survey, the field work of which has identified the need for an on going sawmill improvement program. 3. Executive Summary The goal of the project is to improve the efficiency and profitability of rural sawmills in Vietnam and their contribution to rural development and poverty alleviation. A wide range of stakeholders and interest groups were consulted at the start of the project at an inception meeting to inform attendees of the project and seek input on industry problems and needs that can be used in detailed design and implementation. This first step has established a network of stakeholders who are consulted in relation to the project objectives. The challenge for the project is to transfer skills and knowledge from the academic and researcher level in Vietnam and Australia to, and in a form suitable for rural saw millers. Australian researchers have visited Vietnam three times over the reporting period. The first visit in May 2007, culminated in an inception meeting that has been reported. The second visit focused on development and initial testing of the sawmill survey questionnaire. The third visit was to undertake the training of the trainers and conduct two of the sawmiller courses. The inception meeting of 23 stakeholders from industry, education and research institutes, government, bilateral and multi-lateral aid agencies has agreed on the objectives of the program and identified in detail the key requirements to be included in the survey of small community sawmills. Questionnaires for each key stakeholder were completed, reviewed, finalised and tested to ensure that the information gathered was relevant unbiased and useful to the objectives of the project. Fieldwork for the survey could not commence until the University of Melbourne approval was obtained (February 2008). The Survey was completed prior to the third visit in July 2008. Analysis of data obtained from the survey is underway and will be completed by October 2008. An intensive study course for 7 Vietnamese researchers was held in Australia between 28th August and 3rd October 2007. All of the objectives set out for the training program have been achieved. Two of the three required training courses for sawmillers’ have been completed plus a training course for the trainers. 3 4. Introduction & Background The project aims to address two major gaps in capacity in the Vietnamese industry, the lack of skills and experience of sawmill operators in most aspects of timber processing and mill management, and the inadequacy of current technology to meet reasonable market standards and requirements. The Australian participants have been selected for their long experience in development of rural sawmilling in Australia and other countries. As a relatively small, short term project there is a need for precise focus and well-defined project boundaries. This project will limit itself to small rural sawmills that process mostly acacias from plantations, a resource in which Australia has special expertise. This is a substantial and growing sub-sector of the sawmilling industry that will not be covered by other projects, which are more concerned with processing timber from native forests. Implementation methodologies The goal of this project is to improve the efficiency and profitability of small rural sawmills in Vietnam and their contribution to rural development and poverty alleviation. The starting point was to hold an inception meeting with stakeholders in Vietnam and to establish an advisory committee to overview, monitor and regularly evaluate progress throughout the life of the program. This committee includes representatives of the wood processing industries, the plantation growers, other related projects, and appropriate government agencies. The meeting also developed an operational plan and assigned specific responsibilities to Vietnamese and Australian collaborators. Project objectives The project objectives are to: 1 Identify and define industry problems, needs and opportunities through a comprehensive survey and review the rural saw-milling industry. 2 Establish a facility for training and technology development. 3 Develop and conduct training programs to improve operator saw-milling and business skills for trainers and for mill operators. 4 Investigate, demonstrate and recommend more appropriate or alternative technologies to improve industry performance. 5 Develop long-term strategies for industry development. To achieve the stated objectives: An industry survey and review has been undertaken by a joint Vietnam/Australian team in representative provinces, in cooperation with provincial Departments of Agriculture and Rural Development. The survey was conducted in the form of a participatory rural appraisal (PRA). Individual mills were visited and the following types of information sought from owners: log volume input, sawn wood output and grades, price and cost data, market, equipment used, employee statistics, problems identified by owners, and owners views on development needs of industry. A complementary survey has been undertaken to include plantation growers to assess their views on markets and prices, and sawn timber buyers, to assess their views on sawn wood products purchased. The results are now being collated and interpreted with the input of economists, published and used to develop and target training and to refine project objectives and detail further methodology. 4 ... - tailieumienphi.vn