Báo cáo định kỳ: Introduction of the principles of GAP for citrus through implementation of citrus IPM using Farmer Field Schools (MS10)

Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Development Introduction of the principles of GAP for citrus through implementation of citrus IPM using Farmer Field Schools CARD 037/06VIE MS10: Project Completion Report August 2010 1. Institute Information Project Name Introduction of the principles of GAP for citrus through implementation of citrus IPM using Farmer Field Schools Vietnamese Institution Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Vietnamese Project Team Leader Australian Organisation Australian Personnel Date commenced Completion date (original) Completion date (revised) Reporting period Development, Plant Protection Department Mr Ngo Tien Dung University of Western Sydney Oleg Nicetic, Robert Spooner-Hart March 2007 February 2010 August 2010 Completion report Contact Officer(s) In Australia: Team Leader Name: Position: Organisation Oleg Nicetic (til 2/07/10) Robert Spooner-Hart (from 3/07/20) Research Program Coordinator University of Western Sydney Telephone: Fax: Email: +61245701329 +61245701103 o.nicetic@uws.edu.au In Australia: Administrative contact Name: Position: Organisation In Vietnam Name: Position: Organisation Gar Jones Director, Research Services University of Western Sydney Mr Ngo Tien Dung National IPM coordinator Plant Protection Department Telephone: Fax: Email: Telephone: Fax: Email: +6124736 0631 +6124736 0905 g.jones@uws.edu.au +84-4-5330778 +84-4-5330780 ipmppd@fpt.vn 2 2. Project Abstract The key objective of this project was to align the Vietnamese citrus industry with world standard production practices and open opportunities for export markets. Adoption of sustainable integrated pest management (IPM) aligned to principles of good agricultural practice (GAP) leads to both economic and environmental benefits, and will enable Vietnamese citrus growers to be at the forefront of production in the Asia-Pacific region. Production of export quarantine-compliant citrus fruit with pesticide levels below international minimum residue levels (MRLs) as the result of this project will open new market opportunities in the competitive export markets and will enhance food safety for domestic consumption. The project was based on an interactive learning and action research paradigm, and uses the farmer field school (FFS) model. Leading research institutions from Southern and Northern Vietnam, together with extension officers from PPD and farmer organisations including VACVINA and Farmers Union have been working together to produce a GAP procedures tailored to suit Vietnamese conditions. They were also working closely with the farmers on validation of the GAP manual and providing training of trainers and farmers in IPM and GAP through FFS. Project activities were conducted in 5 provinces in the Mekong delta and 8 provinces of Central and Northern Vietnam. The IPM component is based on practices developed in project 036/04 VIE which have been adjusted in consultation with key personnel from Northern Vietnam, to account for local conditions. 3. Executive Summary The objectives of this project were to develop GAP production procedures for the Vietnamese citrus industry that will be published as a manual and to introduce GAP practices using the FFS model. Through the FFS training program a national cadre of citrus IPM/GAP master trainers and provincial level FFS facilitator teams have been established. The key methodologies used were participatory based learning and action based research. The objective of both techniques is to fully engage participants and allow them to direct the learning and research to best meet their needs. A key component of this project was Training of Trainers and Master Trainers in citrus GAP including IPM. Trainers conducted FFSs in their provinces and together with the trained farmers became leaders in citrus production aligned to GAP. The first objective was met by completing a GAP Manual which consists of two parts: a more theoretical part that introduced the concept of GAP and a practical part that included procedures and formats for GAP implementation and compliance. Complementary to the GAP Manual, an on-farm recording system was developed in 2007 and was successfully implemented in 2008 and 2009. The record keeping books are now used by farmers several years after the completion of FFSs. In some provinces, extension services have reprinted the book and distributed them to farmers. In focus group discussions in all 13 provinces, the acceptance of record keeping was overwhelming with 97% of farmers finding record keeping useful and with 91% of farmers saying they will continue to keep records. IPM compliance requirements are covered in the GAP manual but, to meet extension services and farmers’ needs for practical guide for implementation of IPM, the Field Guide for Citrus Pest and Diseases was developed and published in 2008. This book is co-authored by Dr Pham Van Lam from PPRI, Oleg Nicetic (UWS/UQ), Ngo Tien Dung and Dinh Van Duc. Mr Nguyen Tuan Loc and master trainers who facilitated FFSs edited the guide and made 3 changes to the original text to make it more easily understandable to citrus growers. Five thousand copies of the Field Guide were printed by Agricultural Press in Hanoi and distributed to PPSDs, DARDs, trainers and farmers. However, the Guide is still too technical and contains a deal of information that was not easily understood by many farmers. To overcome this problem a simple, a very practical 2-page brochure “Guide for management of major pest and diseases” was developed and printed on waterproof paper in 2009. Successful implementation of the FFSs program over three years has resulted in a total of 3000 farmers been trained. Out of the 3000 farmers, 2,451 have been trained using AusAID CARD funds and approximately 540 additional farmers have been trained using provincial funds. Farmers increased their knowledge and skills for many components of citriculture including density of plantings, pruning, plant nutrition and integrated pest management. Most of the farmers can now keep records of the main operations on their farm. Record keeping also helped farmers to improve their understanding of pesticide and fertiliser dose calculations and application of the correct amount of pesticides and fertilisers, and at the right time. Farmers’ abilities to critically evaluate the citrus production process and elements of the agro-ecosystem were also improved. In the years following the FFSs, farmer practices changed considerably resulting in better canopy management, reduction of pesticide use, changes in the type of pesticides used from broad spectrum pesticides with high negative environmental impacts to softer pesticides, better soil management with increased use of organic fertilisers and more frequent application of smaller amount of fertilisers. In the Mekong delta the vast majority of farmers have introduced weaver ants into their orchards and regularly use Trichoderma sp. mixed with compost. They also use PSO as part of IPM strategy for control of mites and leafminer. This makes the Mekong delta one of the most advanced regions in implementation of IPM in citrus, not just in Vietnam, but probably in Southeast Asia. It is interesting to note that in Ha Giang province the use of pesticides actually increased, but with a corresponding improvement in fruit quality. Changes in practices resulted in significant economic benefits for farmers including increased fruit yield, quality and price, reduction of input costs and greater profitability. Changes in practices also reduced detrimental impacts of citrus cultivation on the environment and, thus, improved ecosystem health. These positive impacts on the environment are mainly a result of reduced pesticide through implementation of IPM strategies that farmers learned in the FFSs. In all provinces, positive effects on the environment were noticed as increased number of beneficial arthropods in orchards and reduced pollution from pesticide and fertiliser packaging. In the Mekong delta, positive impacts on the environment also included increased abundance of fish in the farm canals and in Hoa Binh province, farmers observed increased numbers of birds. In the Mekong delta all farmers who participated in the impact assessment now rear weaver ants in their orchards. The project had very positive social impacts as a result of participatory approach used as well as very strong support from local government and farmer organisations, including the Farmers’ Unions and the Women’s Unions. One of the FFSs participants become president of local Farmer Union organisation (Phu Tho province), and three participants became leaders of their hamlets (Ha Giang and Ha Tay provinces). In Yen Bai province, the Women’s Union meetings were used as a platform for sharing knowledge and information from FFSs. 4 In most communities where FFSs were held, social activities increased and better relationships have been built between the community members. FFS participants shared their knowledge and experiences with their neighbours and, as a result, their standing in the community increased. On a personal (human) level the self-esteem and confidence of FFS participants increased. Farmers’ clubs were formed after FFS completion in Yen Bai, Tuyen Quang, Tien Giang and Ben Tre provinces. In Vinh Long province, activities in My Hoa cooperatives increased as result of FFSs, and the cooperative received GAP certification. The first successful GAP implementation and certification was achieved in Vinh Long province where FFSs were conducted for 26 members of My Hoa cooperative in Binh Minh district. Farmers from the cooperative cultivate a total of 22 ha of pomelo. The cooperative secured financial support to implement GLOBALG.A.P. from the supermarket chain Metro in 2007 and our project also supported involvement of VACVINA for short farmer training activities on specific GAP issues. All these effort resulted in GLOBALG.A.P. certification being granted to the cooperative on 19 September 2008, by SGS Vietnam. GAP implementation activities were also conducted in Dong Thap province where our project team headed by Dr Vo Mai worked with a group of 11 farmers from Long Hau village, Lai Vung district, with the aim of achieving VietGAP certification. Technical support and training of farmers was provided by VACVINA members and extension officers from Lai Vung district Plant Protection Station. The Farmers’ Union and local government have provided great support, including a subsidy towards the building of toilets in the fields. Both local government and the Farmers’ Union see GAP certification as a very prestigious achievement because of the political support the accreditation scheme has from both the central and provincial government. The approach to GAP implementation with the Long Hau village group has been very different to that in My Hoa. The Long Hau group has been implementing GAP via a much longer process of learning and have been making adjustments in their production practices by themselves, under the guidance of VACVINA consultants; nothing has actually been done for farmers by the consultants. This group of growers is much smaller than in My Hoa, with only 11 members cultivating a total area of 3.45 ha. They are all neighbours with adjacent properties and the initiative for GAP certification and leadership in implementation came from two members of the group with the highest production and good connections with the market. The group members sell their product at traditional markets just before the Vietnamese New Year holiday (Tet), so they achieve a very high price with the average net profit per group member of 70,000,000 VND to 226,470,000 VND/ha, 3 times above the industry average. So the group members are high achievers with the vision that VietGAP certification will differentiate their product on the market. They hope to capitalise on certification by obtaining higher prices as a result of selling their product to supermarkets or/and on their own market stall in Ho Chi Minh City clearly marked with the sign “Safe mandarins”. Initial certification inspection was conducted and the farmer group met all VietGAP requirements, except that they do not have packing facility. At the time of writing this report, the group is in the process of building the packing facility with funds provided by the provincial government. After its completion, it is expected that VietGAP certification will be granted. 5 ... - tailieumienphi.vn