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Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Development
_____________________________________________________________________
037/06VIE Project Progress Report
MS4: 2
nd
six-monthly report
(October to March 2008)
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GENERAL 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 Development,
Plant Protection Department

Email:
[email protected]

In Australia: Administrative contact
Name:
Gar Jones
Telephone:
+6124736 0631
Position:
Director, Research Services
Fax:
+6124736 0905
Organisation
University of Western
Sydney
Email:
[email protected]

In Vietnam
Name:
Mr
Ngo Tien Dung
Telephone:
+84-4-5330778
Position:
National IPM coordinator
Fax:
+84-4-5330780
Organisation
Plant Protection Department

handbook and an advanced draft of Pest and Disease Field Guide for the North of
Vietnam and formation of coherent farmer group in Dong Thap that made a good start
in implementing VietGAP.

Within the reporting period a total of 24 FFS were completed in 13 provinces
resulting in 741 farmers being trained. An additional 17 FFSs were conducted by PPD
staff trained in this project or CARD project 036/04 VIE with funds provided by the
provincial government. That makes an estimated total of 1250 farmers trained in
principles of GAP including record keeping, IPM, understanding of citrus orchard
ecosystem, influence of pruning and tree density on yield and tree health, and
understanding of the influence of organic and mineral nutrients on soil health and
citrus orchard productivity.
Refresher TOTs were held in Vinh from 26 to 29 February and from 03 to 06 March,
and in My Tho from 04 to 07 March 2008. Refresher TOTs focused on discussions
about GAP and ways it could be implemented in Vietnam, and on identification of
citrus pests and diseases and importance of spray application including spray
calibration, calculation of spray volumes and pesticide dose on successful pest and
disease control.

The key objective of this project is 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 is 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 are working together to produce a

Citrus fruit is one of the major fruit crops in Vietnam (MARD 2004) and citrus
production is an important source of income for many Vietnamese farmers. However,
productivity and production of citrus in Vietnam is considerably lower than in
Australia and major citrus producing countries of the world such as Brazil and the
USA. It has been stated by MARD that “in general, citrus cultivation has not been
significantly developed over the past few years, largely because of the serious damage
of pests and diseases, especially greening disease (officially known as huanglongbing)
and therefore studies on their control methods, in combination with managing citrus
plantations and using advanced and intensive technology is a vital necessity” (MARD
2004).
The objectives of this project are to develop GAP production procedures for the
Vietnamese citrus industry that will be published as a handbook 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 will be
established. The key methodologies adopted are 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 is Training of Trainers and Master Trainers in citrus GAP
including IPM. Trainers will conduct FFSs in their provinces and together with the
trained farmers will become leaders in citrus production aligned to GAP.
Multiple outputs from FFS training have been demonstrated in previous CARD
projects in citrus. These include: farmer empowerment through increased knowledge
of the agro-ecosystem; the conservation of biodiversity and protection of the

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environment through reduced pesticide application as a result of improved knowledge
of pests and diseases and more effective control measures; increased food security
through enhanced production; and protection of the health of farming communities
and consumers of fruit through reduced pesticide use in fruit production. In addition
to these outputs it is expected that this project will establish a locally relevant GAP

Dong Thap 1 + 1* 45 22%
Vinh Long 2 60 2%
Can Tho 2 + 2* 60 3%
Ben Tre 1 + 5* 30 7%
Sub-Total 8+10* 261 9%
NORTHERN VIETNAM
Ha Tinh 2 60 60%
Nghe An 2+7* 60 20%
Hoa Binh 2 60 28%
Ha Tay 2 60 38%
Phu Tho 2 60 35%
Yen Bai 2 60 20%
Tuyen Quang 2 60 13%
Ha Giang 2 60 20%
Sub-Total 16+7* 480 29%
TOTAL 24+17* 741 22%
* Funded by local government

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A total of 741 farmers were trained of which 22% were female (Table 1).
Participation of women was significantly higher in the Northern Vietnam where
female participation was 29% with Ha Tinh province recording 60% female
participation. In Mekong delta female participation was only 9% with Dong Thap
recording highest female participation of 22%. A list of the FFSs participants from the
Mekong delta is shown in Annex 1a and from Northern Vietnam in Annex 1b. In most
provinces FFSs commenced before flowering and terminated after harvest. A total of
21 sessions were held during the growing season covering topics presented in Annex
2.

4.1.2. Review workshops and refresher TOT

and make their input so the Guide meet trainers and farmers needs. The guide is
expected to be published in June 2008.

4.1.4. Implementation of GAP

Output 6 of the project is to implement GAP in one of the cooperatives (farmer
groups) in the Mekong delta and implementation of GAP is the main focus of the 3
rd

year of the project (2009). However, because of the complexity of the certification
process and the existence of a large gap between the reality of Vietnamese citrus

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production and GlobalGAP requirements, implementation of GAP has already
commenced and the farmers who will participate in the GAP implementation process
have been selected. The team from SOFRI headed by Dr Hoa has done the initial
assessment of farmers from a cooperative in My Luong village, Cai Be district, Tien
Giang province. More than 20 farmers have been assessed and the action plan for
implementation of GAP was drawn up. Following acceptance of the action plan the
cooperative will seek support from local government for financial help to cover part
of the costs associated with GAP implementation.
The team from VACVINA headed by Dr Vo Mai works with two groups of farmers.
The first group is from Long Hau village, Lai Vung district, Dong Thap province.
Eleven farmers from the village actively participate in GAP implementation. This
group grows Tieu mandarin, which is a very popular variety on the Vietnamese
market but with very low prospects for export. It was decided that for this group of
farmers VietGAP would be more appropriate. At the moment there is no certification
scheme for VietGAP but it is anticipated that the certification scheme will be
established before the end of the project. The second group of farmers Dr Vo Mai
works with are from My Hoa cooperative. All farmers involved in this cooperative


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At the farmers level training focussed on integrated crop management that included
IPM, plant nutrition and pruning. In regards to GAP training, the focus was on record
keeping. At workshops in November 2007 and refresher TOTs in February-March
2008 it was concluded that in Northern Vietnam the focus should remain on
Integrated Crop Management (ICM) and record keeping while in Mekong delta other
elements of GAP may be included in FFS curriculum.
Refresher TOTs were used for discussion about GAP principles and the ways GAP
can be implemented in Vietnam. Discussion focused particularly on the role of
cooperatives in implementation of GAP. Another important part of refresher TOTs
was the identification of pests and diseases in the orchard and practical exercises to
calibrate knapsack and calculate dose of pesticide applied. Participants also assessed
spray coverage of citrus canopy. At the end of refresher TOTs practical exercises for
FFS orchards were designed.
4.4 Publicity
A finding of the pre-intervention survey was that the best way to disseminate
information to farmers through the media is by television, as more than 90% of all
farmers have a television set in their own home. Every province in Vietnam has a
local television station and as 70% of the population live in rural areas, the level of
content relating to agricultural matters is high. Television reporters have been invited
to all major project events such as meetings and the opening and closing of FFS.
Details of coverage by local TV stations will be reported in the next report.

4.5 Project Management
A project management framework was established during the stakeholder meetings
held in February and March 2007. Mr Ngo Tien Dung (Vietnamese project leader) is
in charge of coordinating overall project activities in Vietnam and organising and
managing activities in the 8 participating provinces of Northern Vietnam. Mr Dung

5. Report on Cross-Cutting Issues
5.1 Environment
The focus of FFS is to increase the farmers understanding of the ecosystem and the
impact of human influences on it. This approach has the potential to reduce the
detrimental impacts of human activities on the environment. The IPM strategies
farmers learn and implementation of GAP should result in improved ecosystem
health. At this stage of the project it is too early to detect any evidence of
environmental improvement.
5.2 Gender and Social Issues
In the training of master trainers and trainers about 30% of the total number of trainers
was females. This proportion of males and females is reflective of the overall PPD
trainer gender balance. In the Mekong delta only 9% of trained farmers were woman
and in Northern Vietnam woman participation was 29% with Ha Tinh province
recording 60% female participation. This reflects the differences in traditional roles of
women between the regions.

All project activities are strongly supported by local government and farmer
organisations including the Farmers Union and The Women’s Union. Participants in
FFS are encouraged to actively engage with their local community and share
knowledge acquired in FFS. From previous CARD projects we have evidence that the
FFS participants became the founders and core members of farmer’s clubs and
cooperatives and it can be anticipated that FFS participants will become actively
involved in dissemination of their newly acquired information in this project as well.
6. Implementation Issues
6.1 Issues and Constraints
There are two issues that pose minor constraints to the project successful
implementation. These are limited knowledge of trainers in the area of citrus pests and
diseases in some provinces and the selection criteria for participants of FFS in the
North that is based on social status of the farmers with preference given to poorer
farmers without taking in account level of farmers’ knowledge and level of

participants.
The final drafts of GAP manual will be submitted to CARD PMU for evaluation and
the Pest and diseases field guide will be completed and printed.

8. Conclusion

In the first year of the project an efficient management structure was established.
Good planning, open communication between project personnel and sustained efforts
have resulted in successful training of 1250 farmers and 98 trainers. The GAP
handbook draft was written and GAP implementation is progressing well in in Dong
Thap and Vinh Long provinces. The final draft of Citrus Pest and Diseases Field
Guide for Northern provinces of Vietnam was completed and the guide will be printed
on time. The guide will be a very important reference book for trainers in the second
and third years of the project. 11

List of Annexes Annex 2a Curriculum summary for FFSs in Northern Vietnam 2007

Annex 2b Curriculum summary for FFSs in Mekong delat 2007

Annex 3. Report from the workshops held in November 2007


- Group dynamic/team building activities
6 - Ago-Ecosystem analysis
- Use of spray mineral oil and other IPM compatible pesticide for control
of major citrus pest:
spray techniques,
Determine the dosage, volume
- Insect zoo
- Group dynamic/team building activities
7 - Ago-Ecosystem analysis
- Management of Insects, Mites and Natural enemies
- Insect zoo
- Group dynamic/team building activities
8 - Ago-Ecosystem analysis
- Management of Insects, Mites and Natural enemies (continue)
- Insect zoo
- Group dynamic/team building activities
9 - Ago-Ecosystem analysis
- Disease management
- Insect zoo
- Group dynamic/team building activities
10 - Ago-Ecosystem analysis
- Disease management (continue)
- Physiology of Citrus at stage of Autumn flush cycle and Fruit mature, the

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factors affect the this stage (Nutrition requirement at flowering and fruit
development stage)
- Group dynamic/team building activities
11 - Ago-Ecosystem analysis
- Negative affect of chemical pesticides and Mineral Oil on Pests and

- Physiology of Citrus at stager of Spring flush cycle and Flowering
- Life Cycle and Food web
- Group dynamic/team building activities
19 - Review of GAP standards implemented during FFS. Discussion on
implementation of GAP standards at farmers own farms.
- Survey farmers after FFS
20 - Synthesis and Analysis of Field Experiment data
- Advantages and disadvantages when conducting IPM training on Citrus
orchard
21 - Post-test
- Closing ceremony

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Annex 2b: Training program for FFSs in 2007 Mekong delta Week Activity
1 Contact, organise class and select orchard
2 Opening class, establish farmer groups and conduct pre-
intervention survey
3 Introduction of record keeping and distribution of record keeping
notebooks. Introduction of GAP principles.

Agro-ecosystem; difference between rice and citrus eco-system,
record keeping and monitoring
4 Game; need for nutrition, organic and mineral fertilizer. CD
provided

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Annex 3: Report from review workshops held in My Tho 27/11, Vinh
30/11 and Ha Tay 7/12 2007 (Report written by Dr Zina O’Leary)

REVIEW MEETINGS

At each of the three 2007 review meetings (held in My Tho on the 27
th
of November, Vinh on
the 30
th
of November and Hanoi on the 7
th
of December) workshop participants were asked to
come together to reflect on FFSs and GAP implementation processes in the first year of the
project.

To facilitate this process, working groups of 6-8 participants of varied stakeholder
backgrounds were formed at each workshop and asked to brainstorm around the following
themes:

• Current GAP conceptions and most effective means of implementation in citrus
farming
• Successes in the 2007 FFSs program and potential improvements for the 2008
program. M
Y THO REVIEW MEETING 27/11


At the micro level participants suggested that FFS should
• continue developing IPM strategies to accommodate need to constantly update IPM
skills but focus more on other aspects of GAP
• provide better record keeping forms
• provide more focus on market factors in order to increase profit margins 2
• ensure that knowledge effects practice

At a more macro level participants pointed to the for
• a stronger push for cooperative development at early stages
• a standard GAP framework such as VIETgap
• the clear pursuit of certification (as early as 2009)
• a need to visit provinces with certification
• the need to seek more government support V
INH REVIEW MEETING 30/11

At the Vinh review meeting participants from Nghe An and Ha Thin provinces formed 3
working groups and brainstormed as follows:

Current GAP conceptions

Participants brainstormed the importance GAP in helping farmers understand
• nutrients
• pests
• disease

• timing for spraying
• plant biology

This in turn led to
• decreased pesticide use 3
• improved cultivation practice
• decreased costs

Mention was also made of the value of two-way communication and the value in one FFS
leveraging the support of the Women’s Union.

What should be done differently in 2008 FFS

Participants were generally happy with the FFS curriculum but suggested the following
• increase the financial support available for participating farmers and trainers
• change criteria for selection of farmers for FFS. Currently social concideration is
main factor for selection of farmers. In future more farmers that have higher potential
for improvement should be selected
• start the 2008 FFS much earlier in the year just after the harvest
• provide record keeping materials
• focus more on anderstending of market
• encourage the development of cooperatives H
ANOI REVIEW MEETING 7/12


products to see that their efforts have been worthwhile.

Elements of the FFS that worked well in 2007

Participants stated that 4
• IPM was the most crucial knowledge to be shared - particularly related to leaf miners
and the identification of both pests and natural enemies.
• Knowledge of fertilizers increased
• General ecosystem knowledge also enhanced
• The sharing of knowledge amongst farmers was good
• Fired trials were useful but need to be limited. What should be done differently in 2008 FFS

Participant’s comments were more about how the FFSs run, rather than the curriculum the
schools cover. Participants noted need for FFS to
• start much earlier in the year
• run for longer period (a full growing season)
• consider criteria for farmers selection (should level of education, age or community
influence be considered)
• hold an orientation session to gage farmer interest
• offer more financial support to participating farmers
• provide record keeping materials
• limit field studies to those that are specific to province/ community needs
• understand the appeal of farmers using cheap illegal Chinese pesticides