Support to SRI-LMB FPAR Women’s Groups to enhance efficient application and appreciation of SRI for the improvement of livelihoods and the environment

Support to SRI-LMB FPAR Women’s Groups

to enhance efficient application and appreciation

of SRI for the improvement of livelihoods

and the environment

Background information

“Sustaining and Enhancing the Momentum for Innovation and Learning around the System of Rice Intensification (SRI) in the Lower Mekong River Basin” (SRI-LMB) is an AIT-led and EU-funded regional project addressing the food security involving smallholder farmers. SRI-LMB was formulated in 2012 and is being implemented in rain-fed areas of the for lower Mekong River Basin countries: Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam and Thailand. It involves smallholder rice farmers (including women and landless), researchers, extension personnel, and development professionals along with staff of government ministries

The project is led by the Asian Center of Innovation for Sustainable Agriculture Intensification (ACISAI), Asian Institute of Technology (AIT), Thailand in partnership with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Oxfam America, SRI-Rice Cornell University in USA, the University of Queensland in Australia together with key ministries.

The main objective of the project is to focus on farmer participation by educating farmers about System of Rice Intensification (SRI) practices and building strong farmer’s network at community level. In contrast with the traditional method of rice cultivation, SRI techniques require less water, seed, manure and labor and promises higher yield returns. Some major activities include exchanging ideas on new or alternative agro-ecological farming techniques, developing low cost location-specific technologies with profitable harvesting and increasing economic opportunities with better market needs for rain fed farmers. Documenting the results and sharing them with the immediate farming community and communities at large through an inclusive participatory process from local to national and regional level represents the core modus operandi of the project. Evidence-based policy options for a better set of policies has been generated through a participatory consultation process working closely with all relevant stakeholders, including policy-makers in the country.

Vietnam has implement SRI-LMB since 2012 by the Plant Protection Department (PPD) – MARD, the FAO’s local partner. Project has conducted in two provinces Bac Giang and Ha Tinh. Number of farmers participated directly in the farmer-led field trials, the results showed that in comparison with the pre-project baseline performance, SRI practices helped to improve livelihoods across the LMB region by increasing rice yield by 52%, farmers’ net economic return per hectare by 70%, labor use efficiency by 64%, water productivity by 59%, and fertilizer use efficiency by 75%. The total energy input required for farming operations decreased by 34%, along with significant reductions in per-hectare greenhouse gas emission, respectively by 14% with irrigated rice production and by 17% with rain fed cropping. Hand-to hand research was conducted to ‘visualize’ the SRI adaptation response by farmers, and policy.

“Support to System of Rice Intensification (SRI) in the Lower Mekong River Basin” (SRI-LMB) Farmer Participatory Action Research (FPAR) Women’s Groups to enhance efficient application and appreciation of SRI for the improvement of livelihoods and the environment” is an component within the Vietnam SRI – LMB has implemented in Vietnam by ICERD under the LETTER OF AGREEMENT (LOA-FAVIE   /2017 – GCP/RAS/288/AIT) between the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (“FAO”) and ICERD in 2017 with 2 year duration.

The objective is to support FPAR women’s groups develop techniques to achieve more efficient SRI application as well as improve production of other crops in rice-based systems, develop non-chemical measures to manage pests in “home gardens”, and enhance the cooperation and the role of women in improving livelihoods and the environment.

Major achievements

There were total of three communes in Bac Giang province for implementing LOA’s activities including Dong Phu Commune – Luc Nam District, Tan Thinh Commune – Lang Giang District and Tan Hiep Commune – Yen The District which have participated in the (SRI-LMB FPAR) since 2015. The main activities have been implemented, they were:

Organize Pilot Model “Sustainable rice intensification response to climate change based on SRI principles”;  farmer groups study on minimum tillage in potato production; farmer groups study on applying bio-mats and making compost; training farmers on production of alternatives to chemical pesticides; training farmers on pesticide risk reduction. The workshops including planning workshop, community workshop to establish baseline and analyse gender roles in crop production.

Planning workshop (FPAR) woman farmers discuss about the difficulties and constraints they faced when applying SRI, about topics for studies and plans for implementation

There were three planning workshops organized by FPAR women farmers, they are:

In Dong Phu commune – Luc Nam District, workshop was organized for one day (4 July), participants were 25 in which 23 women and two man, they are all have participated in FPAR since 2015.

In Tan Thinh commune – Luc Nam District, workshop was organized for one day (11 July), participants were 25 of which 20 women and five man, they are all have participated in FPAR since 2015.

Tan Hiep – Yen The, workshop was organized for one day (04 August 2017), participants were 25 of which 25 women, they are all have participated in FPAR since 2015.

During the workshops participants were formed into interest groups to assess the application of SRI after FPAR, identified constraints/difficulties and proposed the topics that farmers want to study after FPAR, and suggested for follow up activities to enhance the application of SRI in their communities.

Below is the summary of the outputs of three workshops:

Summary evaluates the applicability of SRI principles, shortcomings, causes

Suggested follow-up activity to enhance SRI application

– Maintain the linkage between FPAR farmers to continue field study on possible solutions to shortcomings, difficulties and problems in order to increase SRI efficiency and disseminate to the community. Eg:

> make use of waste to produce compost to apply crops

> improvement of soil ecology / soil nutrition,

> measures to limit burning the straw (bio agent to speed up decompose of straw and biomass)

> introduce rice varieties that contained high nutrition

> market access for Farmer’s product

– Develop the “farmer to farmer training”, dissemination, information to get more and more farmers in the community apply SRI.

– Create links between farmers in the same field block to apply SRI; organize all community members to apply SRI.

– Improvement of in-field irrigation systems and participation of irrigation staff to increase water use efficiency under the SRI principle.

– Linkages between program such as IPM / PRR, SRI, animal husbandry, etc., mainstreaming them into the commune’s strategy on sustainable agricultural development.

Other proposed field studies for FPAR women’s groups for more efficient application of SRI practices:

– Farmers study on intercropping rice with other crops that have the effect of improving soil such as soybean and peanut, and applying no till method with these crops to reduce labor costs.

– Develop a food safety and market linkage.

– Study on the application of bio-agents to improve soil nutrition.

Farmer study on minimum tillage and mulching with rice straw in potato production

Location: villages Thanh Son and Tan Tien, Dong Phu Commune, Luc Nam Dist. Bac Giang province.

Potato production could bring incomes twice higher than rice production. However it requires more investment in land preparation and harvesting. With men migrating to cities to work in the service sector, women and the elderly are left with the primary responsibility for agricultural production in Bac Giang. Although many farmers – especially women and the elderly –want to continue growing potatoes, the lack of labor makes it difficult for them.

The application of minimum tillage practices combined with mulching using rice straw is simple but highly effective. According to the data indicated in the report of National IPM Program, the application of this method can increase productivity: 8-25%, increase income: 19-31%; reduce labor: 28-47%; reduce use of water for irrigation: 25 – 67%, and reduce pesticide: 75%.

The application of minimum tillage potato production will allow the women in Bac Giang to grow potato again on paddy land so that they can harvest three crops per (Rice – Rice – Potato) instead of only two mono cropping of rice per year as currently practiced. This will increase income and contribute to improving the livelihood of the family. Furthermore, the use of rice straw for mulching will address the government’s restrictions on burning of straw that causes environmental pollution. In addition, the biomass of rice straw used for mulching will rehabilitate the paddy soil ecosystem. This is foreseen to contribute to increasing the efficient application of SRI.

In 2017, SRI-LMB FPAR women’s groups of two villages Thanh Son and Tan Tien of Dong Phu Commune – Luc Nam Dist., Bac Giang province conducted field studies on minimum tillage in crop production and mulching with straw to evaluate the reduction in the use of fertilizers and pesticides and labor (i.e., land preparation, planting, irrigation, agrochemical application and harvesting) as well as increase in income.

Location of study: villages Thanh Son and Tan Tien of Dong Phu Commune – Luc Nam Dist., Bac Giang province.

Variety: Atlantic used for both No-till and conventional practice.

Farmers involved in study: 20 persons (all woman), who participated in FPAR since 2015.

Topics to study: Comparison of the characteristics of: growth, production, natural enemies and pests between the fields apply minimum tillage and the conventional practice fields

Study method: Large-scale experimental design including 2 plot (treatment)/experiment, including:

> Treatment 1: cultivated according to minimum tillage, area: 1,000 m²

> Treatment 2: cultivated according to conventional practic, area: 1,000 m²

The innovative process of no-tillage potato production entailed that the summer-autumn rice straw is cut close to the ground and the residues piled up in a corner of the field. Rice straw collected from about 3-4 ha is used for mulching 1 ha of potato field. The field is drained 7-10 days before the rice harvest but the field is not ploughed after harvesting. Instead, furrows are created at 100-120 cm intervals measuring 25-30 cm wide and 20-25 cm deep. The furrows serve as drainage for excess water and create elevated ridges that become the beds. The beds are ideal for growing potatoes without the usual need for labor-intensive ploughing, or tilling that is difficult and tedious, especially for elderly women.

Picture. Place the tuber seed on the surface of the soil and apply fertilizer	Picture. Cover tuber seed with a layer of straw about 10 – 15 cm thick

No-tillage potato production requires about 1,200-1,600 kg/ha of seed tubers, depending on the size and planting density. Farmers buy non-certified but uniform-sized healthy tubers from the market, selecting those that are about 30-45 mm in diameter (i.e., 25-35 tubers/kg), each tuber with 2-3 sprouts measuring about 2-20 mm in length. If the tubers are bigger than 50 mm in diameter with many sprouts, these are sliced with clean (usually sterilized) cutting tools or knives at 5-7 days before planting. Based on expert recommendations, each slice – with at least 2 sprouts – are split further but not totally severed or remain attached by 2-3 mm to reduce entry points of disease pathogens. Farmers, however, have recently been applying a new method of fully severing the slices and sprinkling powdered cement on the surface to prevent rotting or disease infection.

Fully composted manure made of poultry or animal manure, peat and other organic materials, either purchased or coming from farmers’ own resources, is used as basal fertilizer and applied at the point where the tuber is placed. If the organic fertilizer is not fully composted, it is applied as basal fertilizer between rows of seed tubers. If the soil is wet, fertilizers are applied around newly planted seed tubers. Nitrogenous fertilizers are not applied as basal fertilizer if tuber seed slices are planted because farmers have observed that it causes rotting. Seed tubers – sprouts upwards – are placed 30-35 cm from both edges of the ridge forming two horizontal rows with about 35-40 cm between them. The distance between seed tubers in a row is 30 cm. Direct-contact with chemical fertilizers and not fully composted manure is avoided by covering the seed tubers with a thin layer of powdered soil, humus or peat, rice husk or mature compost. A layer of straw about 7-10 cm thick is added to cover the surface of the whole bed.

No watering is needed if the soil humidity is high but the rows are watered, if needed, and the straw sprinkled with soil to prevent from being blown away by strong wind. Furrow irrigation is applied 2-3 days after planting, if needed. However, usually the remaining water in the top soil from the recent rice cropping season provides sufficient moisture for crop establishment and growth at the start of the potato cropping season. Additional layers of straw about 10- 12 cm thick are added (i.e., around the plants to avoid breaking sprouts and stems) after the first and second additional application of fertilizers at 15-20 days and 35-40 days after planting, respectively. During the same time, where facilities are available, furrow irrigation is applied with the water reaching up to 1/3 or 2/3 the height of the bed. However, irrigating the surface of the bed using a watering can is still practiced by most farmers. Soil from the furrows is dredged to improve drainage and added on top to keep the straw from being displaced.

Harvesting the potatoes does not require any digging implements and is done simply by pulling the straw away from the bed to expose the clean tubers, an operation that women of all ages and children can easily perform. The straw residues are incorporated into the soil for ecological recycling to improve soil fertility and general soil health.

Observation

Growth, yield, pests, disease, and quality of tubers are basically assessed according to CIP’s point scale (1993).

Observation of plant development

Uniformity and growth are evaluated on a scale of 1-5 (4 weeks after planting) in which: 1 = very poor; 3 = average; 5 = very good.

Bed coverage of plants was estimated by percentage at the stage of 45 and 60 days after planting.

Observation of pest and diseases

– Virus disease and Bacterial wilting disease, evaluation of disease incidence, it is the percentage of diseased plants in the population of plants.

Evaluation methods

> In each plot/treatment of No-till and Conventional Practic, select  3 sites evenly distribution within the plot for evaluation.

> Each selected site rundomely observe 10 hills. So that, total 30 hills (clusters) were observed in no-tillage plot, and also 30 hills (cluster) were observed in conventional practice plot.

> Counting the number of plants with disease infected, and count the number of all the plant including (diseased plants and healthy one) within 30 hills.

– Late blight disease Phytophthora infestans, evaluation of disease severity, it is the percentage of leaf and stems covered by damaged by the disease. Evaluation at the period of 45 and 75 days after planting.

Evaluation methods:

> In each plot/treatment of No-till and Conventional practic, select  3 sites evenly distribution within the plot for evaluation.

> Each selected site rundomely observe 10 hills. So that, total 30 hills (clusters) were observed in no-tillage plot, and also 30 hills (cluster) were observed in conventional practice plot.

> Each hill rundomely select one stem

> Counting the number of diseased leaves, stem and couting the nuber of all leaves, and stems

Severity scale

0: No disease

3: <20% of infected stem and leaf area

5: 20-50% of infected the stems, and leaf area

7:> 50-75% of infected stem and leaf area

9:> 75-100% of infected stem and leaf area

Yield and yield’s components

Harvest random 10 clusters x 3 times according to the bio statistical method then count: total tubers / 10 clusters; weight average weight (gram) / cluster; Sorting by bulb size and yielding capacity by harvesting plot (kg) and inferring productivity (ton / ha).

Quality evaluation

By the method of sensory evaluation (bulb, the rate of bulb with infested pests at harvest, tubers were turning blue;

Evaluation and classification of bulbs in proportion to tuber diameter

Results and Discussion

Growth and development, major pests, diseases

Table 1a. Comparison of Growth and development, major pests, diseases between minimum tillage and conventional practice. Thanh Son of Dong Phu Commune – Luc Nam Dist., Bac Giang province, 2017

Yield and yield’s components between minimum tillage and conventional practice (Table 2a, 2b)

Data on yield components from two fields shows that the application of minimum-tillage practices resulted in more clusters of potato tubers ranging from (4.67 and 4.1) compared with (3.87 and 3.6)  using conventional farmer’s practices. The weight of tubers/cluster was higher (476.3 gram/cluster and 430.5 gram/cluster ) compared with (375.4 gram/cluster and 342 gam/cluster )from using conventional farmer’s practices. This translated into higher yields in minimum tillage with (21.17 tone/ha and 19.1 ton/ha) compared with (16.68 tons/ha and 15.2 ton/ha) from using conventional farmer’s practices. The results could possibly be attributed to environmental conditions (Wurr, 2001) and more specifically the amount of incident radiation during tuber initiation (Firman, 2008). The conventional practice of covering the tubers with thick soil could have hampered incident radiation that was available to the developing tubers grown under straw mulching.

* Evaluation of Yield and yield components

Evaluation method:

– Harvest 10 random clusters (hills)  x 3 replications by biological statistical method then count: total number of bulbs (tubers) / 10 clusters (hills); weight average weight (grams) / cluster; Sorting by bulb size and bulb yield by harvesting plot (kg) and inferring productivity (ton / ha).

Evaluation of economic efficiency between Minimum tillage and Conventional practice

The net-income was higher (3,350,000 VND and 2,234,000 VND) in minimum-tillage compared with (1,615,000 VND and  1,221,000 VND) from using conventional farmer’s practices (Table 3a, 3b).

Notes: Potato harvested from the study was not been sold to the market, instead, farmers sharing themselves for home consumption. The FPAR team used the market price of potato at the time of harvesting of the study to calculate the economic efficiency of the study.

Notes: Potato harvested from the study was not been sold to the market, instead, farmers sharing themselves for home consumption. The FPAR team used the market price of potato at the time of harvesting of the study to calculate the economic efficiency of the study.

Potato productivity and profitability

The practices employed under minimum-tillage potato production addressed concerns about low potato productivity and decreasing areas planted to the crop from the use of conventional growing methods that required intensive labor – including weeding that was reduced by mulching. More importantly, because the method did not require ploughing during land preparation and digging at harvest, and is done simply by pulling the straw away from the bed to expose the clean tubers, an operation that women of all ages and children can easily perform. The straw residues are incorporated into the soil for ecological recycling to improve soil fertility and general soil health.

it made growing potatoes possible again for women – especially the elderly – who are left to carry out farming activities due to urbanization and the migration of rural youth in search of better- paid employment opportunities.

Climate change mitigation and enhancement of ecosystem services

Climate change mitigation

Burning rice straw residues in open fields after harvest is a serious health and environmental problem in rice-growing areas in Vietnam. Such practices likely reduce organic carbon inputs into the soil as well as depleting soil organic matter levels, eventually leading to low yields. Moreover, the practice causes air pollution and contributes to global warming through emissions of greenhouse gases (GHGs)

Enhancement of ecosystem services

During the observation of the field experiment, FPAR woman farmers observed and come to realize that in the minimum tillage field much more organisms and natural enemies, because the rice straw mulch creates an important habitat for the them to develop. Farmers also discovered that organisms as the foods for natural enemies at early season when the pest population is very low or not yet develop. Recognizing the effectiveness of the minimum tillage, at the evaluation workshop, FPAR women’s groups discussed the results of the study, and proposed the action plan of promotion of this model in the community. Specifically, such as introducing for other members of the Women’s Union on the effectiveness of no-tillage, and assigning members of the FPAR team to guide other members to apply  no-tillage,  covering about over 30% of total area cultivation of potato in the next season.

Farmer study on apply bio-mats in raising poultry, pig, and making compost

There were 5 studies on applying bio-mats in raising poultry, pig, and making compost conducted by FPAR woman, of which Tan thinh: 2 studies, Tan Hiep: 01 study and Dong Phu commune conducted 2 studies.

Total farmers attending training were 100, in which man 18 and woman 82. Detail: Dong Phu: 40 (man 7, woman 33), Tan Thinh: 40 (man 6, woman 34), Tân Hiệp: 20 (man 5, woman 15).

Issues and challenges

In Dong Phu, Thanh Son and Tan Hiep commune, over 70% of farms are raising pigs and chickens to serve the nutritional needs of the family and to generate income. However, livestock is usually kept nearby the house and cause pollution. Almost of farms in Thanh Son livestock by-products and manure is not used to apply the crop, instead they are discharged into the environment.

Bio-mats are formed by a mixture of fermented biological agents with biomass and mulch from the floor of the livestock’s stables. This accelerates manure decomposition, and deodorize foul-smelling and poisonous gas from the shed. The residues of bio-mats is ultimately used to make compost as alternative to chemical fertilizer. Women’s Union had a crucial role in this process by attending and then organizing additional trainings on bio-mats and composting, and methods of application of composting in crop cultivation as alternatives to chemical fertilizers.

Purpose of study was woman farmers to improve knowledge and skills on pollutions from livestock by-products affects the local environment and human health, and the role of nutritional diversity in meals, especially for women and children.

Duration of study

Studies were conducted in August 2017

Contents of training

– Pollutions from livestock by-products affects the local environment and human health

– Role of nutritional diversity in meals, especially for women and children

– Technique of making bio-mats and composting

– Facilitation of “farmer to farmer training”

– At the end of training famers develop plan to train other farmers in their commune in 2018.

Results:

With newly application of bio-mats, the FPAR farmers have just recognized that raise chicken on bio-mats, there was no more foul-smelling, and the common disease of chicken such as asthma was much reduced comprise with conventional practice. FPAR farmers also used residues of bio-mats to make compost and applied the vegetables, however the study still continued to evaluate the impact of compost on the vegetable production compare with chemical fertilizers.

Understanding of nutrient for health, nutritious contain of vegetables, as well as impact of chemical (pesticide/fertilizer) on health have encouraged FPAR women become more interested in growing of vegetables in their “home gardens” to provide safe/clean meals for the family as well as saving the money from buying vegetables.

FPAR woman study on application of Bio-mats/ “Integration of vegetables-livestock production” through bio mats and composting, the residues of bio-mats and animal manure is ultimately used to make compost as alternative to chemical fertilizer in “home gardens”.

Training farmers on preparing alternatives to chemical pesticides

There were 4 studies/trainings on preparing alternatives to chemical pesticides organized for farmers, of which Dong Phu: 2,  Tan thinh: 1, and  Tan Hiep: 01 training.

Total farmer attended training were 100, in which man 26 and woman 74. Detail: Dong Phu: 40 (man 7, woman 33), Tan Thinh: 20 (man 7, woman 13), Tân Hiệp: 40 (man 12, woman 28).

Table 6. below indicated the number of training and time organized, and farmer attended training on alternatives to chemical pesticides.

Attending training farmers were able to learn about effectiveness of biopesticides, such as safety of ecosystems, natural enemies, humans; differences compared to chemical pesticides; preservation methods, mixing methods as well as spraying techniques in the field; The best time to spray is when BPH are hatching to young stage. Farmer also learnt about how to apply protein bait to control fruit fly, and how to produce and apply herbal pesticides to control pests.

Bio agents that farmers have been practiced to apply: Protein bait Ento protein 150 DD to control fruit fly (bitter melon, pumpkin,…), Metharizume anisopliae (entomo-pathogen) to control brown plant hopper (BPH).

One day after training, farmer organized spraying of Metharizum for their rice fields with BPH occuring.

Due to understand of bio-control and applied Metharizume anisopliae, during the season the farmers did not use any chemical to control BPH and other pests, while the farmer’s field around had to spray four times the chemical.

The Chairman of Commune People’s Committee has issued the Direction on enhancing the application of alternatives to chemical pesticide: The training will be conducted for over 70% of households in the commune to apply bio agents and other products as alternatives to chemical products in the commune, such as Protein bait Ento protein 150 DD to control fruit fly (bitter melon, pumpkin,…), Metharizume anisopliae (entomo-pathogen) to control brown plant hopper (BPH). The training will be mobilized from a variety of sources, for example, from the Commune People’s Committee’s production development fund. In addition, organizations such as the Women’s Union, the Youth Union … will volunteer to train their members. At the same time, the Women’s Union and the Youth Union also sent helpers to poor households and families facing difficulties in accessing this new technology.

FFS on Pesticide risk reduction and community planning

There were 4 trainings on Pesticide risk reduction organized for farmers, of which Dong Phu: 1,  Tan thinh: 2, and  Tan Hiep: 01 training.

Total farmer attended training were 80, in which man 23 and woman 57. Detail: Dong Phu: 20 (man 3, woman 17), Tan Thinh: 40 (man 17, woman 23), Tân Hiệp: 20 (man 3, woman 17).

During training, farmers conducted the survey to collected and analyzed data about the use of pesticides in their communities and recorded signs and symptoms of poisoning. The results are helping farmers to make healthier decisions, and report to policy makers about current situation of pesticide management in the commune and recommend the solution on strengthening the management of pesticide and reduction of pesticide risks.

Finding from survey

Men and youth are forced to look for off-farm jobs outside the villages leaving the agricultural work load on the shoulders of 40-60 years old women. Farmers complain about different health problems such as high blood pressure, gynaecological diseases and premature birth has increased probably as a result of the large application of agrochemicals and the limited use of personal protective equipment (PPE). Children are also at risk as schools are surrounded by crop fields where insecticides and pesticides are sprayed and carried by the wind to the residential areas. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) are rarely adopted by farmers while storage and particularly disposal of pesticides was not carried out safely. Pollutions from livestock by-products and manure mismanagement also affects the local environment and human health due to the gas emissions and odours rising from the backyard. There is pesticide containers threw away in the field. The abuse of pesticides on vegetables is also common

Proposing to local authorities

Activities on pesticide risk reduction and ecological agriculture should be absorbed into the mainstream of the Commune People’s Committee strategic Plan on agricultural production and rural development.

Attend FFS, Farmers were trained to raise awareness about pesticides and their harmful effects on the environment and humans. During the study, farmers also conducted a survey on the current status of pesticide hazards in the high risk areas, where it is need to have  an action plan to reduce risks, and a proposed action to be undertaken in the commune.

Community workshop to establish the baseline and analyze gender roles in crop production, and look in to the overall challenging and issue that women face in their farming and applying SRI

Location conducted: Dong Phu – Luc Nam Dist., Tan Tinh – Lang Giang Dist., Tan Hiep – Yen The Dist., Luc Nam Dist. Bac Giang province.

Workshop is to establish the baseline and analyze gender roles in crop production, and look in to the overall challenging, issue that women facing in their farming, and clarify the effectiveness of SRI in reduction of issues/difficulties in rice production that women are shouldering and propose for enhancement of SRI application. Three workshops were organized in three project communities of Bac Giang provinces (Dong Phu, Tan Thinh and Tan Hiep). Total 90 participants attend the workshop, they are: farmers, women Union, Farmer Union, local authorities. Amongst 90 participants, 733 (81%) was woman.

In the workshop an exercise was conducted where man and woman discussed and analyzed the roles and responsibilities of man and woman in crop production, take care of children and household jobs. Process consisted of three steps, they were:

1^st step: discussion in small groups, the questions for group to discuss was “Who is doing more work? Male? Female?”

2^nd step: a whole class discussion. Question to discuss was “what percentage of women do (%), what percentage of men do among the crop production, take care of children and household jobs. Trainer facilitated the whole class to discuss and agree on how much (percentage of work) done by women and men.

Calculation: The total workload of each activity is 100%, calculated by the volume of work done by women, men, and men and women working together. For example, in commune A, the take care of children, the wife made 60%, the husband made 25%, the husband and wife made 15%. Specifically (60 + 25 + 15 = 100).

Results of discussion/analyzing was indicated in the large paper and hang it on the wall for every one can see.

3^rd step: following question was raised for whole class to discuss and answer was “What do you think, suggest anything through this result? Need to change something?”

Data in the table shown that in all three communes, women are doing more than men in all the main jobs, such as Crop production, take care of children and household jobs. Even women have to spray pesticides and do more than men. For example of crop production:

In Dong Phu commune, 55% of the workload of crop production undertaken by women, meanwhile, man do less than woman, it is only 39% of workload undertaken by man, man and woman do together accounted for about 6%. Even woman do spraying pesticides, take up to 60% of workload, while men do less, only 30%.

Similarly, the remaining 2 communes Tan Thinh and Tan Hiep have the same trend that woman do crop production more than men, such as (Tan Thinh: woman do 62% , man do 31%, woman and man do together 7% of crop production workload, regarding spray pesticide 55 by woman, 35 by man, together 10%); (Tan Hiep: 45% of crop production workload done by woman , 31% by man, together 25%, spray 55% by woman, and 45% by man).

Suggestion/recommendation of woman and man after conducted the Gender exercise:

Need to share the work between men and women accordingly, reduce the pressure of work with women.

Men go to find work elsewhere to earn money, family works and agricultural production are shouldered by the woman. SRI is an important solution to reduce labor and production costs as well as reduce the pesticide risk to woman

Women proposed local and central government to promote the adoption of SRI.

Women are willing to work together/linkage to study to improve and promotion SRI application in the community.

Piloting the Model “Sustainable rice intensification, response to climate change based on SRI principles”

In the Model, FPAR woman farmers leading role in organizing communities to pilot the Model “Sustainable rice intensification response to climate change” on a large field in size about 10 Ha. There were various options applied for reduction of chemical (pesticide and fertilizer)  such as  SRI, IPM, apply biological agent fungus Metarhizium to control rice Brown Plant Hopper (BPH).

The goal was to demonstrate community collaboration in apply SRI in the large area of over 10 ha, under the facilitation, assistance of FPAR woman farmers. Options was improving irrigation scheme and community collaboration on water use to meet SRI technique; create the drainage system within the field (drainage system can prevent the occuring of snail); improve technical skills in order to improve soil ecology, reduce labor cost; apply alternatives to chemicals (fertilizers, pesticides).

The Model was conducted in the 2nd  rice crop season 2017 (started date on 4 July 2017, lasted until end of February 2018). After harvested rice from the model, the study on ”no-tillage potato production”  was carried out by the same farmer groups who are involved in the SRI Model.

Location: Thanh Son village, Dong Phu Commune, Luc Nam Dist. Bac Giang province

Crop season: Summer crop season (from 4 July to 25 October 2017, lasted until end of February 2018)

Area of the Model field: SRI Model was organized in an area with adjacent fields with total of about 10 ha

Farmer participation: Total of 30 farmers involved, in which 24 woman, 06 man. Among 30 participated farmers, 13 was FPAR including 12 woman and 01 man. (Picture. SRI Model map bellow)

Implement of the model

– A core group was formed, including 5 members who are all FPAR farmers with Chairman of commune Women Union was group leader, other group members indclude irrigation staff, village leader and other FPAR women farmers. This core group is to help commune to organize the Model. Each member of the core group is assigned to take care of a Team of farmers.

– All of 30 farmers who have fields within the Model area to be invited to attend trainings on IPM/SRI/Pesticide risk reduction, farmers after training they applied the knowledge and skills that they has learnt in their fields. All 30 farmers were divided into 5 Teams. Each group self-organizes group’s activities that they have been assigned, and they directly monitor and care the fields.

– In the model there are various options applied for reduction of chemical (pesticide and fertilizer)  such as  SRI, IPM, apply biological agent fungus Metarhizium to control rice Brown Plant Hopper (BPH).

The main activities have been implemented in the SRI Model, including

– Planning workshop to set up the SRI Pilot Model: one activity

– Training farmers on apply biological agent fungus Metharizume anisopliae to control rice Brown Plant Hopper (BPH): 2 activities

– FFS on Pesticide risk reduction and community planning

– Technical training on  SRI/IPM

– Summing up and evaluation workshop

– Exchange visit by farmer groups.

Planning workshop

Planning workshop: The workshop was organized by FPAR woman farmers Thanh Son village, Dong Phu Commune, Luc Nam Dist. Bac Giang province to discuss about the plan on setting up the model Piloting the Model “Sustainable rice intensification, response to climate change based on SRI principles” in Thanh Son.

Workshop was organized for one day (4 July), participants were 25 in wich 22 women and 3 man, they are all have participated in FPAR since 2015.

During the wokhops participants were formed into 5 groups to disscuss and and proposed the plan activities.

Planning workshop agreed some points as follow

Technical issues

Farmers in the model and conventional practice fields use the same variety, namely is Khang Dan (in bred variety)

– Planting in the same day

– The whole rice area of the model is applied SRI

– Pest management according to IPM

– If BPH is high population, use bio agent name Metharizum

– Village head and the irrigation staff responsible for water supply and drainage under the SRI requirement. Everyone in the community and applied water management under facilitation of irrigation staff.

– Every week, each farmers are responsible for observing their own field about current status of pests and inform the “Team Leader”.

– Some farmers whose fields have been selected to assess the productivity of the model will agree on harvesting time and time for yield assessment.

Technical training on SRI/IPM

Training  was organized for 30 farmers in wich 24 woman and 6 man. Trainers were 2 person from Crop Production and Plant Protection Sub Department (CP&PPSD) – DARD. Contents and time organize training were:

Training (before land preparation)

– Technical guidelines for soil preparation, fertilizing for base application and 1st top application  (12-15 days after planting).

– Seed incubation technique

– Calculate the amount of seed used

– Water management (irrigate and keep dry soil condition alternating)

– Management of pests and diseases at tillering stage

Training at full tillering stage (18 – 25 days after planting):

– Water management

– Apply fertilizer 2nd top application

– Recommend farmers do not use chemical pesticides during the tillering stage.

Training at booting stage (technical application from booting stage to maturity):

– Water management

– Apply fertilizer – 3rd top application.

– Management of plant hoppers, stem borers, rat, rice blast.

Technical Training farmers on apply biological agent fungus Metharizume anisopliae to control rice Brown Plant Hopper (BPH)

There were 2 FFS on application of the Bio-agent Metharizume anisopliae (entomo-pathogen) to control brown plant hopper (BPH) organized with participation of 40 farmers, in wich 33 woman and 7 man. One FFS was organized on 18 Oct 2017, and one other FFS was organized on 2nd Nov 2017 during the time BPH occuring in the field.

Contents of FFS were: Effectiveness of biopesticides, such as safety of ecosystems, natural enemies, humans; differences compared to chemical pesticides; preservation methods, mixing methods as well as spraying techniques in the field; The best time to spray is when BPH are hatching to young stage.

One day after training, farmer organized spraying of Metharizum for their rice fields with BPH occuring.

Due to understand of bio-control and applied Metharizume anisopliae, during the season the farmers did not use any chemical to control BPH and other pests, while the farmer’s field around had to spray four times the chemical.

Summing up and evaluation workshop

Workshop was organized by the FPAR woman farmers who conducted the Model. In the workshop, village officials, policy makers, development workers and others – are invited for a reporting of the results of the field studies.

Workshop was organized in the end of rice crop season, on 19 October 2017 with 35 person participated in which 28 woman and 7 man.

Workshop was divided in to two parts, they were:

Part one: FPAR woman farmers discuss by themselves about the process, progress of the Model, the difficulties and the solution to overcome, summarized the results and prepare the proposal for extension of SRI in the community.

The Results of discussion

– The Model has been successfully conducted.

– Selection of suitable participants (total of 30 farmers involved, in which 24 woman, 06 man. Among 30 participated farmers, 13 was FPAR including 12 woman and 01 man).

– Commune People’s Committee has created many favorable conditions to implement the model;

– The model has shown clear effects on the reduction of seed, water, pesticide and labor, while increasing productivity, economic efficiency and social, environment. The model has been praised by farmers in the community and they have proposed extending this model to all people in the community.

– During training participants were with a good participation, learning and sharing.

– Knowledge and skills on SRI, IPM, and on alternatives to chemical inputs have been improved.

– Some difficulties in the implementation process model, that is drought after planting, however this is also an opportunity to assess the SRI increases drought tolerance of rice plant.

– Some farmers did not attend all training sections due to busy. To ensure that students are not absent during the lessons, the FPAR team needs to plan ahead of schedule and choose a more suitable day for training.

Part 2: Participants included other farmers, village officials, policy makers, development workers and others – are invited During part 2 section FPAR woman farmers presented the achievement of the model, the proposal of sustainable development of SRI. Farmers take the opportunity to lobby local officials to support their activities and share the results and process to other interested farmers.

Information and dissemination activities

The Women’s Union and Farmers’ Association actively shared to members the effectiveness of application of SRI and encourages members to participate in the field study for sustainable production.

Women’s groups shared the information of effective of application of new techniques such as bio-mats, composting, SRI, bio control, IPM… through the commune and village loudspeaker system as well as meeting activities so that many farmers know and come to learn from FPAR woman farmers of how to apply.

Commune’s future plan

– Disseminate and training for all farmers in the commune to improve the cultivation practices into environmentally friendly, reduce the production cost, increasing the economic efficiency of farmers.

– In 2018, the People’s Committee of Dong Phu Commune will carry out the program of land consolidation, new rural development, improve irrigation system for better SRI application, roads to the fields to help farmers cultivate more convenient and better products.

Evaluation of changes in farming practice, and economic efficiency of the model implementation

How to evaluate the SRI Model

Responsible for the evaluation: Core farmer group

How to select the field for evaluation

– Randomly selected from the beginning of the 5 fields (within the SRI Model), that representative of the farming conditions of the model, and 5 fields selected from the conventional practice area with similar farming practices as the fields within SRI Model, sush as soil type, seed, time of planting, etc.) to collect data and information on farmer’s practices to compare the effectiveness of the model with Conventional practice

Crop cut for measure actual yield

In selected 5 SRI fields and 5 control fields selected, each field cut  3 plots of 10 m2 / plot, that was distributed equally in the field. The threshing was done, dried and weighed to calculate the yields.

Practicing of SRI

Information/data on the SRI application within the Model and the farmer’s practices fields are included in the Table 3 below.

Comments:  In the SRI Model, fields were making the beds, while the farmer’s practice fields were not. The amount of seed was reduced by almost half compared to the farmer’s practice fields.

In SRI model fields, the amount of fertilizer decreased, especially the amount of nitrogen reduced by 1 kg / sao. In SRI model fields farmers applied compost, while conventional practice fields farmers did not use compost.

Pesticides used in the SRI model only one application (herbicide), while conventional practice farmer applied about 4 – 5 times (herbicide and insecticide) . Regarding the method of applying fertilizer, in the Model fertilizers were applied according the need of growing stages, while conventional practice, farmers applied fertilizer with several times.

Analysis of economic efficiency 

Table 4 below indicated the analysis of economic efficiency, comparison between SRI Model and Conventional practice fields.

Note: Price of Nitrogen is 8000 VND / kg, Kaly 9,000 VND / kg, Phosphas 4,000 / kg, seed  20,000 VND/ kg; In fact, the paddy rice harvested from the SRI Model was not been sold to the market, instead, farmers are involved in the model used it for home consumption. The FPAR team used the market price of paddy rice at the time of harvesting of the model to calculate the economic efficiency of the model.

Comments: In SRI model the volume of seed was lower than the conventional practice (SRI: 0.8 kg / sao; Conventional: 1.54 kg/Sao) (reduced 52% compared to conventional practice), however, in SRI model, the Yield was higher than the conventional practice (SRI: 215 kg / sao, Conventional practice: 193 kg / sao) (increased 10 % compared to conventional practice);

In SRI model Production costs were lower than conventional practice (SRI: 854,400; Conventional: 1,077,500 VND/Sao) (reduced 21% compared to conventional practice);

In SRI Model, the revenue is higher than Conventional practice (SRI: 1,720,000/Sao; Conventional: 1,544,000 VND/Sao). As a result, economic efficiency in SRI is higher than conventional practice (SRI Model: 856,600 VND/Sao; Conventional: 466,500 VND/Sao) (increased 46% compared to conventional practice).

Situation of pests and diseases

Table 5 below indicated the occurancy of Pests and Diseases comparison between SRI application fields within the Model and the farmer’s practices fields.  SRI Model “, Thanh Son – Dong Phu – Bac Giang, 2017

Note: “-” The pest does not appear

                 “+” Appears little, “++” Moderate occurrence, “+++” High occurrence

Comments: Fields under the SRI model, insect pests and diseases were occurring less than the fields under conventional practice, therefore pesticide use much less in SRI fields in comparison to conventional practice fields, for example (spray only one application in SRI field, but 4-5 times in Conventional fields).

Water management

Comments: Irrigation by SRI method irigating the field and drainage water intermittently stimitated the roots to grow long, spread and stick deep into the soil so that the rice can absorb water in depth, increase the ability to absorb nutrients, increase the ability resistant to pests, less fall, especially save water for irrigation 30-50%.