Timing and colour charts

The example of the support to a provincial farmers’ organisation in Vietnam (VFA Cantho) illustrates how capacity building of the farmers’ organisation, has improved the outreach towards minority groups and has contributed to a more demand driven approach of the extension services. The support has increased marketing, profitability and at the same time natural resource management of the involved farmers. Operating in Vietnam, of course one deals with an attribution problem, certainly the interventions are not solely responsible for the improvements. Also, the successes on local level have been difficult to institutionalise on higher levels of VFA.

“VFA Cantho (Vietnam Farmers Association) has received support for many years with a focus on improving its service capacity for members to increase crop yields, crop diversification and better natural resource management. Important effects have been found in an external quantitative survey. The average rice yield among project members in 2007 was 1.22 times higher than in 2003 (from 5.8 tons/ha to 7 tons/ha in 2007). The cost of production reduced by 19% in 5 years time in two project areas and 25% in two other project areas. The application of in line seeding, ‘Leaf Colour Chart’ for nitrogen management and Integrated Pest Management (‘3 reductions, 3 gains’) contributed to lower cost because of reduced use of seed, pesticides and nitrogen fertilizer. Outreach was better than estimated: 59% of the poor in these communities were included (against 50% as planned). Group formation at hamlet level contributed to the wider outreach amongst minority groups. In VFA Cantho, Vietnam, the farm sales prices increased by 21% for agricultural products and with 16% for non-agricultural products. This was thanks to higher quality products, better organised transportation and better timing of sales. A generally higher market demand, which was not controlled by the project, contributed to the results. The average income of the target group increased from 185,263 VND/person/month in 2003 to 311,315 VND/person/month in 2007 (times 1.7) The study showed that this improved income resulted in improved well-being and increased investments. The successes on local level have been difficult to institutionalise on higher levels of VFA.”