Xem mẫu

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. MS6: Third six - monthly report 5th February 2009 to 5th September 2009 April , 2010 1 Table of Contents 1. Institute Information ___________________________________________________ 1 2. Project Abstract _______________________________________________________ 2 3. Executive Summary ____________________________________________________ 2 4. Introduction & Background _____________________________________________ 3 5. Progress to Date_______________________________________________________ 3 5.1 Implementation Highlights ________________________________________________ 3 5.2 Smallholder Benefits______________________________________________________ 4 5.3 Capacity Building ________________________________________________________ 4 5.4 Publicity________________________________________________________________ 4 5.5 Project Management _____________________________________________________ 5 6. Report on Cross-Cutting Issues___________________________________________ 5 6.1 Environment ____________________________________________________________ 5 6.2 Gender and Social Issues __________________________________________________ 5 7. Implementation & Sustainability Issues____________________________________ 5 7.1 Issues and Constraints ____________________________________________________ 5 7.2 Options_________________________________________________________________ 5 7.3 Sustainability____________________________________________________________ 5 8. Next Critical Steps _____________________________________________________ 6 9. Conclusion ___________________________________________________________ 6 2 1. Institute Information Project Name Vietnamese Institution Vietnamese Project Team Leader Improving traditional integrated farming systems (VAC) - a new livelihood option for poor farmers in the coastal communities Centre for Environment and Disease Monitoring in Aquaculture (CEDMA) Mr. Mai Van Tai (Project director) Mr. Vo Van Binh (Project manager) Australian Organisation Agriculture and Environment - Division of Science and Engineering-Curtin University of Technology (CUT) Australian Personnel Date commenced Completion date (original) Completion date (revised) Reporting period Assoc. Professor Ravi Fotedar (Team Leader) Prof. Graeme Robertson (Management) Dr. Jane Fewtrell (Environmental Scientist) Mr. Simon Longbottom (Aquaculture Scientist) 8th February 2009 January 2010 June 2010 6-monthly (Third) Contact Officer(s) In Australia: Team Leader Name: Position: Organisation Dr Ravi Fotedar International Program Director, A/Prof Muresk Institute, CUT Telephone: Fax: Email: +61 8 92664508 +61 8 92664422 r.fotedar@curtin.edu.au In Australia: Administrative contact Name: Position: Organisation In Vietnam Name: Position: Organisation As mentioned above Mr Vo Van Binh Head of environment Department Centre for Environment and Disease Monitoring in Aquaculture (CEDMA) Telephone: Fax: Email: Telephone: Fax: Email: 0983105537 0241840241 binhvanvo@yahoo.com 1 2. Project Abstract 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. The project is expected to improve the productivity of traditional VAC farming practices through the farming of high-value aquatic species and following better managed farming practices in an environmentally friendly manner. The outcome of the project will assist in improving the management of all components of VAC farming. Project activities have included; i) Surveys to collect base-line information on the economic status of farmers participating in traditional VAC farming systems in four selected districts of Vietnam. ii) Selection of twenty (20) demonstration sites, of which, 18 are completely operational. The set up includes semi-intensive culture systems based on recirculating aquaculture system (RAS) technologies and have been stocked with local, high-value species including snake head fish, grouper, frog, brackish water white eel and soft-shell turtle. iii) The operational plan for each site has been disseminated to local extension workers, the households of modified VAC systems and other interesting farming households. iii) Environmental monitoring and recording of growth performance of the high-value species has finished at some sites and is underway at others. CEDMA staff have been updated on the resulting improvements to the traditional VAC farming systems and related environmental issues. 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 systems while managing water quality through modified nutrient recycling, thus reducing the environmental impact of the operations. To date the project achievements have included the successful completion and operation of eighteen out of twenty (20) demonstration sites. Storm damage resulted in the delay in operational status of two sites . The RAS on the 18 sites in operation are stocked with high-value species. The growth rates of the selected species and the environmental impact of these modified operations are being monitored and recorded. The operational protocol has been extended to local extension workers who in turn are in the process of disseminating the technology to households which have similar farming situations (secondary beneficiaries). Further modifications resulting from the data and/or knowledge acquired from these 18 household demonstration farms are also incorporated into the households of similar farming situations, focusing on the reduction of the investment cost. A series of field trips have been conducted in order to extend the demonstrations to other suitable and interested households that fulfill the criteria of the project objectives. . A series of formal meetings amongst farmers operating demonstration sites and farmers interested in incorporating aspects of the new VAC system into their existing system has been successfully conducted. Also each visit to demonstration sites conducted by CEDMA’s staff, was used as an opportunity to share knowledge for making further modifications in the management and/or design to adapt the new technology . Also within this reporting period, the project underwent a mid-term review that involved a visit from the CARD officials from Hanoi to suggest to get first hand information on the progress of the project. The discussion with these officials also resulted in the further solutions being offered for any problems or concerns encounterd during the impplementaion process of the project. 2 4. Introduction & Background This project aims to improve efficiency of the traditional VAC system while decreasing environmental impact through the application of current farming technologies and introduction of local but higher value species. The objectives are: i) To carry out an analysis of current economic status and practices of household farming (includes aquaculture, horticulture and animal husbandry practices) and identify incentives and constraints for improved VAC application 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 involved in aquaculture product market chains, especially smallholder producers. Objective i) has been completed with the revised performance measures. More demonstration sites have been selected under the framework of objective i) in order to represent wider existing farming practices. 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 20 households/farms to demonstrate improved VAC practices; drafting of action plans for VAC demonstration systems which include farming of high-value species in an environmentally friendly manner. Additional demonstration farms selected represent traditional VAC systems where, introduction of new high-value species and production intensification by incorporating a new recirculating system into the existing VAC was either not feasible or not necessary. These situations involoved VAC systems where plenty of good quality water was available and it was felt that by modifications in the operation protocols and changes in the species mix can achieve the desired objectives. In making such decisions, markets and skills available were also considered. An example of such a situation is a farm in Ha Tinh where the water surface area was greater than three hactares and instead of intensification, a new worm production system was established in order to convert waste organic manure into a useful by-product (earth worms). This prevented this VAC household farmer to release the raw manure directly into the water body and thus prevented the future possibility of eutrophication and thus loss of productivity. Further, these additional household/farms selected are representative examples of the typical VAC systems in the region. Activities to fulfil Objective ii) have been conducted and it has been successfully completed (Appendix 1). Objective iii) is in progress. 5. Progress to Date 5.1 Implementation Highlights Main achievements for this reporting period were; i) Completion and running of eighteen (18) VAC demonstration farms. These demonstration VAC farms were stocked with a high-value species. Some of these farms have harvested their first stock reared in the new systems. Initial figures indicate that the new systems resulted in improvement of water quality, additional 3 ... - tailieumienphi.vn
nguon tai.lieu . vn