Asian Development Bank

JFPR 9071: Community-Based Agricultural Extension and Training in Mountainous Districts
Socialist Republic of Viet Nam

Project Summary

Name of Counterpart (loan) Project(s)

Proposed loan for the Agriculture Science and Technology Project scheduled for 2006

Grant Type

Project

Task Officer/Department

Masahiro Otsuka
MKAE

Budget

Executing Agency

National Agriculture Extension Center
Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development
Hanoi, Viet Nam

Implementing Agencies

• Canadian Centre for International Studies and Cooperation in Hanoi,
  Block P, La Thanh Hotel, 218 Doi Can, Hanoi,
  Viet Nam.
• Bernard Wyler,
  Field Team Leader

Scope

The JFPR Project is proposed to cover four poor, mountainous districts in two provinces in the northern central region of Viet Nam: Quy Hop and Que Phong districts in Nghe An province, and Nhu Thanh and Thuong Xuan districts in Thanh Hoa province.

The four project districts have been tentatively selected from 21 mountainous districts of the two provinces (11 mountainous districts in Thanh Hoa and 10 mountainous districts in Nghe An) based on criteria discussed and agreed to by key provincial stakeholders.

Objectives

Grant Development Objective (GDO)

1. Contribute to food security and income generation through improved cultivation of food and cash crops, and production of small livestock by increasing dissemination of agricultural science and technology.
2. Establish a grassroots farmer-to-farmer learning network.
3. Increase capacity of local agricultural extension agents and commune-based extension workers in appropriate cultivation techniques and participatory and pro-poor extension.

Expected Outputs/Outcomes

Expected Key Performance Indicators:

1. 35% increase in per capita food supply
2. 100% increase in the number of farmers applying improved production techniques
3. 30% increase in yield of rice crops
4. 100% of households participating in agricultural extension activities
5. 10,000 households organized into farmer groups

Improvement of capacity and knowledge among local agriculture extension agents and workers, and expansion of farmer-to-farmer learning networks will be monitored as well.

Main Project Components and Activities

A. Community-based programs for agriculture and income-generating activities

Community-based programs will improve information access and knowledge on advanced agriculture and technology. Entry-point activities comprising demonstration models for key food and cash crops and small livestock will be supported in a majority (70%) of villages throughout the project districts. Selection criteria for villages for dry season crops include access to irrigation water. Communities will form farmer groups of 20-30 farmers and be trained on improved cultivation techniques and other technical subjects for food and cash crops (e.g., bean, groundnut, mushroom) and livestock for income generation. While not providing direct credit to farmers, the Project will improve linkages between farmer groups and existing credit programs, e.g., Vietnam Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development, Bank for Social Policy, women's unions, farmers unions, and the small livestock credit. Demonstration sites for participatory irrigation management models will be established in each district for the rehabilitation and efficient use of irrigation systems. Using the participatory irrigation management approach, a few micro irrigation management models (<10 hectares) will be developed with farmer groups. As no new construction or land acquisition will be required, no resettlement is involved. Special consideration will be given to the needs of ethnic minorities and women under the Project. Each village in each project commune will be supported with a demonstration model selected by the community from a list of appropriate crops. Farmers from other villages in the commune will be brought to see the demonstration results, and the farmer group with the demonstration model will visit other models to compare their experiences.

B. Capacity building for local agricultural extension staff and workers

Component B will support the primary project activities under component A. Capacity-building support and trainers training programs on participatory approaches, technical knowledge, and extension management will be provided for agricultural extension staff of district and provincial agencies. Additional qualified local staff will be engaged in each project district to expand the outreach of agriculture extension centers (AECs). District AECs will prepare operational plans in line with extension activities, based on community and farmer group plans, to support target groups using improved practices adopted under the Project. The decentralized approach will focus implementation support in communes and villages through district AECs. Decentralized, field-based support to district implementing partners is a key factor for success.

C. Development of farmer-to-farmer extension network

Farmer-to-farmer extension networks (local extension workers and farmer exchanges) will be developed through consultations and training activities for farm households on group process and management, household enterprise development, farm demonstration, crop diversification, and community development. Expansion of farmer-to-farmer extension networks will contribute to wider dissemination of knowledge and information on agricultural science and technology among communities in remote and mountainous districts

D. Participatory planning and evaluation with farmer groups

This component will ensure the participation of project beneficiaries and other key stakeholders in planning, monitoring, and evaluation. Semiannual participatory review and planning (SARP) workshops with farmer groups and partners at village, commune, district, and project levels will be organized in the project provinces. The Project will organize participatory rural appraisal (PRA) surveys at project inception. Through PRAs and SARP workshops in successive years, farmer groups will identify preferences for demonstration models and set production and training targets. These will be combined to become the basis for annual project work plans and enable AECs to provide responsive and targeted support

E. Project Management Support

Implementation and technical assistance (TA) will be provided for the Project. Under the guidance of the National Agriculture Extension Center (NAEC), the Executing Agency, the Canadian Centre for International Studies and Cooperation (CECI) will support province and district AECs to implement project activities.