VIETNAM National IPM Programme

Facts and figures Operational since: 1992 Implementing agency: Plant Protection Department, MARD Partners: ADDA, JIVC, FADO, ACIAR, CGFED, CRP, CIDSE, SEARICE, SCF-UK, Norwegian Development Fund, Oxfam America, Oxfam Quebec, Center for Sustainable Rural Development, CARE, Action Aid Vietnam, Canadian Centre of International Studies and Cooperation, Plan International, NAV, Helvetas, World Vision, Bread for the World, SNV, PVFC, NIPP, CIP, NIAER, Hanoi Agriculture University, An Giang University, Nong Lam University, FAVRI, Provincial Governments, Women’s Unions, Farmers’ Union Donors: Denmark, Norway, Australia, Netherlands, European Union (EU), Sweden FFS conducted: 37,752 Farmers trained: 1,132,654 (40% female) Trainers active: 2,546 government; (43% female)3,585 farmers (41% female) Main crops: Rice, Vegetables, Cotton, Maize, Sweet potato, Potato, Tea, Citrus, Soy bean

Achievements:
The Vietnam National IPM Programme has established a strong nation-wide cadre of IPM Government and Farmer Trainers in 58 provinces to strengthen and enhance the capacity of farming communities in addressing heavy reliance on chemical inputs in crop production and protection.

IPM has become the standard crop protection policy and provinces have increasingly implemented and funded Farmer Field Schools as an integral capacity building strategy in their local GAP/Safe Vegetable programmes, shifting the source of funding from external donor to own government sources.

In response to concerns over domestic food safety and export trade barriers resulting from pesticide residues exceeding MRLs, the Government of Vietnam prioritizes agricultural production quality and food safety. IPM farmer education and Farmers Field Schools are seen as pivotal elements of such food quality and safety promotion programmes in Vietnam.

Impact studies carried out by the Hanoi Agriculture University and the Nong Lam Agriculture University from 2002 to 2006 in collaboration with other institutions and organizations, revealed the following results on the effectiveness of IPM training for rice farmers:
• reduction of pesticide sprays on an average by 38%. The percentage reduction is even higher by an average of 60% if only insecticide sprayings are considered. Overall, highest reductions have been achieved in insecticides, less in fungicides and no significant change in herbicides;
• reduction in application of nitrogen on an average by 15%. In the south (Mekong River Delta) overuse of nitrogen has generally been significantly reduced;
• reduction in seed rates by an average of 16%, and field studies (System of Rice Intensification) indicate that there is still potential for further reductions;
• reduction in total input costs on an average by 8% whilst yields have increased on average by 8%. Apart from the impact on agricultural practices and income, participation in FFS:
• improves farmers' analytical skills and critical thinking capacity, both of which have long-term effects;
• prepares IPM farmers to tackle local agricultural problems and devise practical solutions based on
farmer designed and implemented field experiments;
• develops leadership skills so that many farmers (including female farmers) after having served as IPM trainers in their own communities for a certain period are then selected for local leadership positions.

Farmers gain a better understanding about pesticides’ impact on human health and pay more attention to safety precautions when handling agro-chemicals. Compared to non FFS trained farmers, IPM-FFS trained farmers reported less pesticides poisoning (exposure) related health symptoms (e.g. headache, respiratory problems or vomiting) after spraying pesticides.

The biggest impact of IPM on the environment is the significant reduction of # of sprays and use of less toxic pesticides by IPM farmers, as confirmed by Environmental Impact Assessment (EIQ) studies. Farmers report that populations of fish and shrimps in the fields have increased and natural enemy populations such as those of spiders, lady beetles, etc. are conserved and are providing higher levels of natural biological control. The environment of hamlets and fields is also cleaner resulting from less pesticide containers disposed of in fields, canals and rivers.

Sustainability:

Favourable changes in Vietnam's agricultural policy have improved the implementation environment for the National IPM Programme. This includes the establishment of the Pesticide Registration Council (PRC), signing of the International Code of Conduct on the Distribution and Use of Pesticides (1989) and the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent (PIC) Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade (2007). Several local Instructions and Government Decisions relative to strengthening the control on the use of pesticides have been issued.

Recently, the Government issued Decision No107/2008/QD-TTg dated 30 July 2008 on policies for development of production,
processing, distribution of safe vegetable, fruit and tea to the year 2015.

MARD also has improved instructions documents facilitating and strengthening local sustainable crop production and food safety
programmes. IPM principles and FFS are promoted as key tools for farmer training.

MARD’s Decision No 84/2008/QĐ-BNN dated 28 July 2008 issued the Statutes for the certification of (VietGAP) for safe vegetables, fruits, and tea. MARD’s Decision 99/2008/QD-BNN dated 15 October 2008 issued the Statutes for management on production, trading of safe vegetables, fruits, and tea.

Many groups of IPM FFS graduate farmers decide to organize themselves into IPM clubs or farmer groups with varying degrees of structure and organization, and with a wide range of activities (such as animal husbandry, credit, marketing, etc.) depending on the needs and ambitions of the respective groups. There are currently 3,318 active IPM Clubs.

Innovations:
Biodiversity Use and Conservation Asia Programme (BUCAP) adapted the IPM FFS approach as a research and extension methodology to promote Plant Genetic Resource Management. IPM farmers conserve and make sustainable use of local agrobiodiversity and develop new rice varieties as part of participatory community breeding programmes. BUCAP has been implemented in 200 communes of 13 provinces throughout Vietnam with 5,150 rice farmers involved.

The System of Rice Intensification (SRI) training, introduced as a follow up to IPM FFS, is integral in overcoming existing rice production problems, namely, the overuse of chemical fertilizers (especially nitrogen) and lack of good quality seeds. High application of nitrogen and high transplanting densities are two of the major reasons for the rice crop’s vulnerability to pests and diseases, resulting in lower yields and profits. SRI helps farmers to save on seeds and fertilizer inputs without yield penalties. In 2008, SRI was applied on 33,306 ha in 22 northern provinces, participated in by 96,544 farmers.

Model on “Community Education on Pesticide Risk Reduction and Development of Local Safe Vegetable Programme (in compliance with VietGAP/GAP) and Market Access”. The model aims to demonstrate the partnership between and amongst GOs, NGOs as well as local groups and networks of small holder IPM farmers to address pesticide risks and related issues together, develop their local safe vegetable production (in compliance with GAP) and facilitate market access for farmer’s products as a community.

IPM alumni study alternatives to chemical pesticides, e.g., biological control such as predators and parasitoids, with assistance from IPM Trainers and researchers. The aim of the activity is to develop capacities of farmer groups as to be able to rear and mass produce alternatives to pesticides at community level for sustainable crop production.

Through an Aus-Aid funded Project a Pomelo IPM-GAP FFS was organized for farmers in My Hoa Commune, Binh Minh District, Vinh Long province in 2007. The FFS alumni formed “My Hoa 5 Roi Co-operative” with 26 member households and covering 23,488 ha planted to Nam roi Pomelo. The Cooperative was recognized by Metro Cash and Carry Supermarket and was issued a Global GAP Certificate in 2008. In 2008, over 320 tons of pomelo was exported to the Netherlands, Russia and Belgium through the Huyen Thoai Toan Cau Company and 37 tons through Metro while 234 tons were sold to the domestic market.

For further information:
http://www.vegetableipmasia.org/Countries/vietnam.htm