1
Milestone 8: Extension and Farmer Adoption

Deliverables:
• Training materials for extension worker training
• Assessment of impact and appropriateness of training for extension workers and
growers and survey of 2005 trainees to determine use of training material and
uptake by growers
• Quality specifications for at least 3 crops developed with assistance from Marketing
Companies

Training materials for extension work
In addition to the training materials produced for the workshops in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh,
Dalat and Can Tho (previously supplied), several factsheers for extension officers have
been developed by the team:
• Greenhouse tomato production
• Greenhouse cucumber production
• An economic analysis of greenhouse tomato and cucumber production
• An introduction to hydroponic systems
• what protected cropping systems have been trialled in Vietnam
• what are the current recommendations
• ideas on how to develop systems that are economically viable
• retaining quality from farm to market
This publication will provide a resource that can be updated as technology and systems
continue to change in Vietnamese horticultural production systems (It is hoped that any
remaining project funding can be used to publish this).

In addition to this IAS has conducted a series of Farmer Field Schools (and developed
materials for) looking at the safe production of vegetables (Appendix 2).


-safe vegetable production
-using plastic mulch
-how to graft tomatoes
-what varieties have pest and disease resistance and how this can improve yield and
reduce pesticide usage
-how to apply IPM
-postharvest management of their crop
They were also asked what technologies they had applied. The most common changes that
had taken place were:
-using plastic mulch
-using improved varieties
They had also reduced their pesticide usage. Previously some growers had been spraying
15-20 times/crop but they had reduced this to 3-5 times/crop.

When asked why they had made these changes, the growers responded that:
-improved their return
-reduced pesticide usage
-improved yield and quality

Ideally we would have undertaken a more extensive survey of the 2006 training
participants, but as no baseline data was collected, the results would be hard to interpret.
Also in the 2006 workshops, the number of farmers participating was relatively small, but
this was rectified with the 2007 program.

Quality Specifications

As greenhouse producers are aiming for the top-end of the market, the best specifications
for them to utilise are those developed by the supermarkets. As part of this project we held
a series of discussions with Metro to discuss quality specifications, quality assurance and
how Metro goes about engaging farmers. At our workshop in Can Tho, a number of the


2.7m in height by net with mesh
2mm, from 2.7m to 4m in height by
polyethylene. The columns of house
are made of steel which fixed stakes
in the ground 0.5m in deep and pour concrete 0.3m in height with 10cm in diameter.
Between the stakes 7m in distance, block house 3m in long.

2. Trellising sytem (ø = 3mm) have designed inside the house 2m in height from ground
and parallel; two lines 0.5m in distance and the same as the tomatoes bed on the ground.

3. Irrigation system: 1 tank 2000 liter, 1 filter and drip irrigation with output about 1.5-1.7
L/ hour/hole.
- The tank of water 3m in height and set up with filter, drip irrigation.
- On the bed set up two lines 0.4m in distance .

4. Muching plastic on the bed before transplanting and make holes to grow.

PROCEDURE OF TOMATOES GROWING TECHNIQUE

1. Seed
Tomato varieties with promising characteristics such as good growing ability, high
productivity good quality, pest tolerance were chosen. Curently, tomato varieties grown
commonly in Lamdong province are Red diamond which yield up to 60-70 tons/ha, Anna

6
with 70-80 tons/ha. Beside these two varieties, Clarance and Labell, imported from
Australia, can be reached high potencial productivity about 300-400 tons per ha.

2. Crop
Because of growing in polyethylene house, tomatoes can be cultivated around the year.

- The land were plough and clean weeds; made bed 1,2m in wide, 15-20cm in heigh, 25-
30cm in gutter.
- Fertilizer: Amount of fertilizer for 1 ha grow tomatoes (to get yield about 150tons/ha)
- Cow dung: 40-50 tons
- Urea (46%N): 900-950kg
- Supper phosphate (16% P
2
O
5
): 850-900kg
- Potassium sulphate (62% K
2
O): 800-820kg
Put down basic fertilizer all cow dung, supper phosphate and ¼ potassium sulphate
on the bed side 10-15cm in deep and mixed. Amount of other fertilizer will be use for
irrigation in next periods.

b/ Transplanting and taking care
Transplants per ha will from 23.000 (40cm x 60cm)
Trellising sytem for tomatoes

7
- Trellis is a steel 20cm length that have 2 hooks. Nylon strings were rewinded into the
trellis with the 8m length.
- The nylon strings were replaced stake that to be hung with two lines 0.5m in distance and
the same as the tomatoes bed on the ground.
- The nylon string were rewinded the main stem of tomatoes. When the stem of tomatoes
reached to 2m in heigh, 20cm of nylon string are took down by rotation of the hooks to
make tomato plant fall down a little. Taking down every 4-5 days .


Early and late blights (Alternaria solani and Phytophtora infestans respectively) have
similar problems as with potato. Both are controlled with fungicides.
Rhizoctonia solani spp: controlled by Anvil, Validacin, Tilt, Monceren
Notice: should be change the pesticide to useful and high effect.
Bacterial wilt: controlled by using grafted seedling

8
b/ IPM
* Cutural: Colection, remnants were destroyed after havest. Plough, applied
additional lime (600-650kg/ha). Crop rotation were best menthod by lettuce, leaf
vegetables,

* Biological: Should be used biology pesticide such as Bt, V-Bt, Pheromone,
Neem, Fungicide: Trichoderma, Validacin,

6. Harvest:
The fruirt apperance were redden colour that can be havest. Using scissor cut between
peduncle of single fruirt or a cluster that arranged in plastic container.

9
GROWING CUCUMBER IN A
GREENHOUSE
- On the bed set up two lines 0.4m in distance .
4. Muching plastic on the bed before transplanting and make holes to grow 10
PROCEDURE OF CUCUMBER GROWING TECHNIQUE

1. Seed
Cucumber varieties with promising characteristics such as good growing ability, high
productivity good quality, pest tolerance were chosen. Curently, cucumber varieties grown
commonly in Lamdong province are TN 140 which yield up to 30-32tons/ha. Beside these
two varieties, Status and Tohoku, which are varieties from Australia, can be reached high
potencial productivity about 100 tons per ha.

2. Crop
Because of growing in polyethylen house, cucumber can be cultivated around the year.

3. Nursery
a/ Prepration of media grow seedlings: Media include: peat (70%), cow dung (25-29%),
coconut coin, lime, NPK fertilizer, Trichoderma fungi (about 1-5%). These ingredients
were mixed well and in cubated 3-6 months, then they were ground and put into holes of
trays with moisture enough for good germination of seeds.
b/ Sowing: Seeds were sowing into holes by hand or special machine (one seed into one
hole), then seeds were covered with a thin layer of media. Trays containing seeds were
aranged into a block, then they were covered with canvas to stimulate germination. After 3
to 5 days, the seeds were germinated totally and trays were arangred on nursary to taking
care them. Seedlings were irrgated 1-2 times per day, depending upon the moisture of the
media. After 10-15 days of sown, seedlings have 4-6 leaves, cucumber can be grown in the
polyethylen house.
The seedlings which grow in the polyethylen house are healthy plants

11
- The nylon were rewinded the main stem of cucumber. When the stem of cucumber
reached to 2m in heigh, 20cm of nylon string are took down by rotation of the hooks to
make tomato plant fall down a little. Taking down every 3-4 days.

c/ Take care
- Cucumber were drop irrigated 1-2 times per day depend on humidity of ground (with
suitable about >80% for cucumber to growing well).
- To prune branch and fruirt: 10 days after grown were pruned only one main stem per
plant and 2-3 fruirts per cluster.
- Fertigation
+ 15 days after transplanting applied additional fertilizer by fertigation: 1time per week, 15
minutes per time. 3kg urea and 2kg postassium sulphate were soaked and filtered that
diluted with concentrate about 0,5% for fertigation.
+ 35 days after transplanting will have increase number of time for fertigation: 5 days per
time, 15 minutes per time.

5. Plant protection
a/ The main of insect and diesease
Nursary: Concerning to damping-off (Pythium or Rhizoctonia) and to used pesticide with
½ concentrate of recommended on label of the product. Both are controlled with Benlat C,
Rovral, Ridomil, Topsin M
Leaf miner (Liriomyza tripholia): controlled by Ofunack, Trigard, Netoxin…
Polyethylene house
Insects: little to occur:
Aphids (Aphis cracivora Koch): controlled by Confidor, Actara,
Thrip (Thrips spp.): controlled by Supracide, Polytrin, Actara, Oshin…
Aphids, white fly (Bemisia sp): controlled by Regent, Confidor, Actara, Mosfilan, Oshin…
Diseases: There are some disease pests of cucumber including bacteria, fungi, and many
viruses

tomato grown on media gave a loss of 23,276,000 VND per 1000m
2
.
- Similarly, cucumber grown on the ground gave a benefit of 25,560,000VND
meanwhile cucumber grown on media make a loss of 5,475,000 VND per
1000m
2
.
The main reasons are that price of media is high and the management of nutrition in
hydroponics was not so good as lacking of experience.
Table1. Benefit of 1000m
2
of tomato grown on ground in Lam Dong province
Vietnam, 2007
No. Item unit Quantity Price (VND) Cost (VND)
A Input
I Material
1
Organic fertilizer m
3
5 300,000 1,500,000
2
Lime kg 150 300 45,000
3
Urea kg 94 7,000 658,000
4
Super Phosphate kg 88 5,000 440,000
5
Kali Sulphate kg 80 7,000 560,000
6

No. Item unit Quantity Price (VND) Cost (VND)
A Input
I Material
1
Media m
3
40 1,000,000 40,000,000
2
Chemicals 10,000,000
3
Insecticide pack 50 20,000 1,000,000
4
Nylon for mulching roll 2 500,000 1,000,000
5
Grafted seedlings seedling 2700 380 1,026,000
8
Other 1,000,000
II
Labour person/day 140 50,000 7,000,000
III Annual input total (1)

61,026,000
IV
Annual depreciation (2)
(plastic house and facilities)

5,000,000
V Total input (3=1+2)
66,026,000
B Products (4)

Labour labour 100 50,000 5,000,000

Annual input total (1) 10,940,000

Annual depreciation (2)
(plastic house and facilities)
3,500,000

Input total (3) = (1)+(2)

14,440,000
II
Out put (4)
tons 8 8,000,000
64,000,000
II
Benefit (5)=(4)-(3)

49,560,000

Table 4. Benefit of 1000m
2
of cucumber grown on media in Lam Dong province
Vietnam, 2007

14
TT Item unit Quantity Price Cost
I Input
1
Media m

-5,475,000
AN INTRODUCTION TO HYDROPONIC SYSTEMS AND THEIR
MANAGEMENT
Sophie Parks

A range of hydroponic systems are used for commercial production of vegetables.
Essentially hydroponic systems supply nutrients to crop roots as a solution with the
irrigation water. Roots are suspended in a still or flowing solution or the solution is fed
through drippers to the plant supported in contained substrate. Soil is not used. Some
different types of hydroponic systems are described below. All hydroponic systems need to
provide plant roots with enough nutrients, water and oxygen for good growth. TYPES OF HYDROPONIC SYSTEMS

Tank culture
Tank culture is the simplest form of hydroponics. Plants are suspended by a cover over a
tank of complete nutrient solution. Some tank systems require aeration of the nutrient
solution (Figure 1).

Figure 1. Aerated tank culture

15In one type of system described by Kratky (2004) the solution is still and plants are
supported by substrate within a small netted or perforated pot (Figure 2). The bottom of the
pot is immersed in the nutrient solution which supplies the plant with nutrients and water
through capillary action. The nutrient solution level drops as it is used by the crop until
10% of the original solution is left. The crop is then harvested or terminated.

nutrient solution. The gullies need to be large enough to support the root system of the

16
crop, and constructed to provide a constant flow rate of solution down each gully. Pooling
of the nutrient solution along the gully also needs to be avoided. To maintain adequate
aeration along the gully, the length ideally should be less than 30 metres and the slope steep
enough to allow a good flow rate of solution. As the gully length increases, a steeper slope
is required. Figure 3. Flowing culture

Substrate culture
In substrate culture plants are grown in a soilless substrate held within a container (Figure
4). The substrate does not have any nutrient value for plant growth. The substrate needs to
have enough water holding capacity to maintain moisture around roots and also must
provide enough aeration to prevent waterlogging. Examples of substrates include gravel,
peat, coir, perlite, vermiculite, rockwool, scoria and sawdust. Mixes of different products
are also used. Water and nutrients are fed through a line supplying plants and the solution is
allowed to drain through the substrate and openings at the base of the container. Enough
nutrient solution is applied so that 10-20% drains from the pot. This prevents build up of
salts in the substrate and maintains the solution around the root zone. The drainage solution
(runoff) can be collected and continuously recycled through the system. This can be done
manually. For example, a bucket could be used to collect runoff from a simple gravity fed
system and returned to the raised solution feed bucket, or in larger systems, pumps can be
used to return water to feed tanks. When this drainage is not recycled the system is known
as a ‘run-to-waste’ system. Figure 4. Substrate culture

plants, and of chemistry, in order to make up and manage hydroponic nutrient solutions.
Plants require large amounts of the macronutrients: nitrogen (N), potassium (K), calcium
(Ca), magnesium (Mg), phosphorus (P) and sulphur (S); in comparison to the
micronutrients: chlorine (Cl), iron (Fe), boron (B), manganese (Mn), zinc (Zn), copper
(Cu), nickel (Ni) and molybdenum (Mo). This is reflected in the concentrations of
macronutrients and micronutrients that are found in typical hydroponic nutrient solutions.

Preparing the nutrient solution
For those new to hydroponics an easy option is to buy and use a prepared hydroponic
fertiliser. Alternatively, a fertiliser mix can be made up with individual chemical
compounds, according to a nutrient recipe. The nutrient solution is made to the
concentration required for immediate use by the crop, or it is made up into two
concentrated stock solutions for convenience.

If buying a prepared hydroponic fertiliser, it is important to ensure that it contains sufficient
calcium and magnesium. The hydroponic solution specialist Rick Donnan recommends that
the content of calcium should be as much as, or up to 30% less than, the amount of nitrogen
present. Magnesium needs to be at a content of about 20-30% of the amount of calcium
present. Additionally he recommends avoiding fertilisers that contain urea, or those that
have over 10% of total nitrogen in the ammonium form.

It is often practical for commercial hydroponic growers to prepare concentrated stock
solutions which can then be stored before being diluted and delivered to the crop. In this
case two different stock solutions (labelled A and B), are needed to avoid precipitation of

18
calcium phosphate, calcium sulphate and iron phosphate in these highly concentrated
solutions. The stock solutions are 100 to 200 times stronger than the solution given to
plants. Stock solutions also need to be kept out of the cold, ideally between 27-30
o


13.2 Fe 5.6 5.6
B
+
(MAP) ammonium
phosphate (NH
4
H
2
PO
4
)

12.2 N
26.9 P
8.7 Nil
Potassium dihydrogen
phosphate (KH
2
PO
4
)

28.7 K
22.8 P
16.3 29.0
Potassium nitrate (KNO
3
)


2
O)

32.9 Mn 0.2 0.2
Copper sulphate
(CuSO
4
.5H
2
O)

25.6 Cu 0.035 0.035
Sodium molybdate
(Na
2
MoO
4
.2H
2
O)
39.7 Mo 0.01 0.01
*
Adjust amount of iron chelate depending on elemental Fe content of chelate.
+
Increase amount in stock solution if pH is drifting upward in recirculating system.
#
If pH of nutrient solution in recirculating system is greater than (>) 6.0.

Managing irrigation and the nutrient solution
Still tank culture, as described by Kratky (2004), is designed to require only simple nutrient

runoff volume

As a system is managed more efficiently the percentage runoff is reduced. Efficient
systems produce less than 5% runoff.

Maintaining pH and EC levels
The acidity or alkalinity (pH) of a feed solution generally needs to be between 5.5 and 6.5.
The requirements may vary depending on the crop being grown. Chemicals can be used to
adjust the pH of the solution being delivered to the crop. To reduce the pH phosphoric acid
or nitric acid is used and to increase the pH potassium hydroxide is used. As plants take up
nutrients and water from the solution the pH may drift around the root zone. Monitoring the
runoff solution over 24 hours, particularly from substrate systems, provides an indication of
the pH in the root zone. The pH of runoff solution should be about 6.0-7.0. If this drifts, the
ratio of ammonium and nitrate nitrogen in the feed solution can be adjusted to correct the
root zone pH.

The target EC of a nutrient solution can vary according to the crop being grown, stage of
growth and climatic conditions. The most common unit of measurement for EC is
milliSiemens per centimetre (mS/cm). First, water quality needs to be assessed before
being used for hydroponic solution. Water can contain dissolved ions such as sodium,
chloride, calcium, magnesium and bicarbonate increasing the EC. Species differ in their
tolerance of higher solution EC (salinity). For example, tomatoes are considered tolerant,
cucumbers moderately tolerant and capsicums sensitive to high solution EC. At an EC of
4.5 mS/cm tomatoes may not experience reduced growth but capsicums may suffer a 25%
reduction in growth. Lettuces are grown at a lower EC range of between 0.5-2.5 mS/cm. In
substrate systems the EC of runoff solution is an indication of the root zone EC. When a
plant is fruiting or experiencing hot and windy conditions more water is taken up by the
plant than nutrients, increasing the EC of the root zone solution. In this situation damaging
levels of EC in the root zone can be avoided by lowering the EC of the feed solution or by
increasing the amount of runoff (i.e. increase volume of feed solution).


Morgan, L. 2003. Hydroponic Lettuce Production, A comprehensive, Practical and
Scientific Guide to Commercial Hydroponic Lettuce Production. Casper Publications,
Sydney, Australia.

21
Appendix 2

HRDP-IV. IAS UPDATE NEWS TRAINING AND ORGANIZING FARMER’ FIELD SCHOOL
AND FARMERS’ EXPERIMENT
(activity of IAS, 1-3 December 2006)

Reported by Dr. Ngo Quang Vinh

From 1 to 3 of December, 2006 a training course titled “ Training and organizing Farmer’
Field School (FFS) and Farmers’ Experiment (FE)” was conducted in Tra Vinh. The
training course gathered 45 farmers from Safe vegetable production group (7 women) and
it is given lectures by 1 Dr., 2 MScs. 2 BScs. specializing on IPM, Plant Protection and
PAR. The course spent 2 days and a haft in class room and a haft day on the field for
practice.

Purpose of the training:
1. Introduce farmers and Local authority the necessary of “ farmers research and solve
their problem themselves” and the new way/approach to help farmers of Agricultural or
Science Institution.
2. Concept of Participatory Action Research (PAR), method to organize group of PAR
farmers and conduct activities.

As the plan, on 10 and 11 December 3 group of FFS will organize the first meeting with
joining of IAS, AEC staff (as facilitators). The meeting will discuss more detail and decide
(by farmers themselves) all things about organization and technical problem that each
group has to do. After the meeting, FFS and FE will be started.

23
Appendix 3 Dalat Training Course and Case Studies

REPORT ON DALAT TRAINING COURSE
1. TITLE OF TRAINING COURSE
Workshop on Quality Assurance, Post harvest and horticultural “Good Agricultural
Practice” Protected cropping systems

2. Introduction
- DATE: 3-4 May, 2007
- PLACE: Dalat city, Lamdong Province, Vietnam
- Orgnizational board:
+ In Vietnam:
Dr. Le Thi Khanh, Head of Horticulture Department
Dr. Tran Van Minh, Director of Hue University of Agriculture and Forestry (HUAF)
Dr. Nguyen Van Ket, Dean of Agronomy Faculty, Dalat University
MSc. Le Thi Nhu Bich, Vice Dean of Agronomy Faculty, Dalat University
Eng. Ho Cong Hung, researcher of Horticulture Department
MSc. Nguyen Dinh Thi, Teacher of Plant Physiology Department
+ In Australia:
Dr.Suzie Newman, Research Horticulturist (Post harvest)
Dr. Nguyen Quoc Vong, Research Horticulturist (Plan breeding)

24
+Good Agricultural Practices (GAP), Port harvest quality management - from farm
to market
+ Vegetable production and to apply of high - technology in vegetable growing in
Vietnam, high - technology Vegetable and flower development in Dalat and Lam Dong
Province
+ Processing technology of vegetable from vegetable Companies
+ To approach new techniques for farmers
+ To exchange and to share experiences and information among participants

4.2. To visit
To visit vegetable hydroponics in Dalat University, processing house from Organik
Companies, Vegetable Farms, Net house and vegetable growing in net house in farmers
Dalat

4.3. To discuss, exchanging and sharing experiences
- Discussion, exchange experiences together in the meeting room thought pictures, to talk
themself

5. RESULTS
The training course opened on 3-4 May, 2007 by Dr. Le Thi Khanh, Head of Horticulture
Department; Dr. Tran Van Minh, Director of HUAF and 68 participants from Lead
farmers, Extensionist, PPD from Provinces of Central Vietnam
Leaders from Companies (Organik Company, Clean soil Company), Farmings,
PPD, Provincial government office in charge of agriculture in Dalat
Time from 3 to 4, May 2007, 9 lectures and 9 special topic have been presented by
9 speakers who are Doctors from RIFAV, HUAF, IAS
Total: 68 trainees are lead farmers, Extensions, lead farmers, PPD, Companies,
leader from local, government
In which Female: 16 trainees occupying 23.5 %

+ Discussion among trainees this topics
* Discussion and evaluation of the training course
Total participants in training course are 68 people who are invited from main from
lead farmer, extensions, PPD, Provincial government office in charge of agriculture,
Companies, seeds sellers, producers product seedlings
Every participant was provided a set document in which all reporters were given.
Basing on the activities of the training course and especially, the evaluation of participants,
it could be said that training course has been successful.
The aims of training course have been obtained.
The documents of work were requested by farmers in Central Vietnam

6. FEEDBACK FROM TRAINEES
- To sum up from evaluation opinion of trainees:
68 evaluation papers have been done (including participants were given certificate)
Table 1. The results of feedback from training course on
3-4 May, 2007 IN Dalat city (unit: %)
No. and item Agree of participants %
Clearly 100 1. Objective of training course
Not very clear 0
Very good 100
Good 0
2. Objective of training course obtained
Fairly 0
Very co responsively and very
well
100
Corresponsive and well 0
Fairly 0
3. Teaching method and level of teachers
and reporters presented (correspond with