Organized Training for Trainers (TOT) on “Agro Biodiversity Conservation and Utilization and Pesticides Impact to Health and Environment” for 96 governmental staff, from the Plant Protection Department and Department of Continuing Education/Non-formal Education under the Ministry of Education and Training. In addition, training was organized on “Initiatives for Community Empowerment and Rural Development”, from four provinces: Bac Giang, Lao Cai, Ninh Binh and Yen Bai, including the District’s Continuing Education Centre & District Plant Protection Station, extension workers from three provinces (Lao Cai, Ninh Binh, Yen Bai), government staff, and high school teachers.

1.1 Organise Refresh Training of Trainer “R-TOT”)

The Thai Field Alliance in collaboration with the Initiatives for Community Empowerment (ICERD) jointly organised a Training of Trainers Workshop on “Agro Biodiversity Conservation and Utilization and Pesticides Impacts to Health and Environments from Feb 10-14 2012 in Phuc Tho Township, 40 km from Hanoi City.

The two main topics are agro-biodiversity and pesticide impacts to health and environment.

This workshop aims to improve knowledge and skills for selected government officials, officers, teachers and researchers from related line ministries, agencies, training, and research institutions and non-governmental organisations in order to build human capacity for future work, including community education and strategies to further strengthen collaboration among all partners on regional and national levels, thus better support to empower farmers for their  likelihoods and sustainable development.

39 trainees participated in this workshop, of which 24 are female (see list in Annex 2). Those trainees include staff members from Plant Protection Department and Department of Continuing Education/Non-formal Education under Ministry of Education and Training, Provincial  Department of Training and Education of Hanoi City, Phuc Tho District’s Continuing Education Centre & District Plant Protection Station, staff and farmers/members of the community learning centre (CLC), secondary school teachers in each of 3 selected communes: Xuan Phu, Vong Xuyen, Tich Giang within Phuc Tho District. Three persons from Research Centre for the Gender, Family and Environment in Development (CGFED) and four persons from the Centre for Environment and Community Assets Development (CECAD) also attended the TOT.

Through this 5-day workshop, trainees have learnt about importance of agro-biodiversity and have improved skills on (i) how to conduct agro-biodiversity surveys in selected areas including fields, canals, roads, gardens to be able to (ii) draw agro-biodiversity maps, analyse agro-biodiversity status in order to (iii) develop action plant to conserve agro-biodiversity with specific target and commitments (ABD).

During this workshop, trainees have also been equipped with knowledge and skills on pesticide use and impacts to health and environment. Trainees were able to develop pesticide impact assessment plan (PIA).

Annex 2: TOT – list of participants

1.3.2. Training or Trainer for participants from new project site

With assistance and collaboration of The Thai Field Alliance, the Initiatives for Community Empowerment (ICERD) organised a Training of Trainers on “Agro Biodiversity Conservation and Utilization and Pesticides Impacts to Health and Environments from March 7th 2014 to March 11th 2014 at Bac Giang city, 70 km from Hanoi City.

Main topics were: (i) agro-biodiversity conservation, development and use (ii) pesticide impacts to health and environment (iii) impact assessment (iv) guidance on survey of women’s participation in activities (family, community, ABD, pesticide risk reduction).

TOT aims to improve knowledge and skills for selected government officials, officers, teachers and from related line ministries, agencies, training, and non-governmental organisations in order to enhance capacity for work in the future, including community education and strategies to further strengthen collaboration among all partners on regional and national levels, thus better support to empower farmers for their livelihoods and sustainable development.

Facilitator for the TOT were three facilitators who are: Mr.  Marut Jatiket, Director of TFA, Mr. Bandith the expert form REAL Laos, and Mr. Ngo Tien Dung, Coordinator of National IPM Programme, Vietnam.

There were 22 trainees to participate in this TOT, of which 7 are female (see list in Annex). Those trainees include staff members were from Plant Protection Department and Department of Continuing Education/Non-formal Education under Ministry of Education and Training, Initiatives for Community Empowerment and Rural Development (ICERD);from two provinces Bac Giang and Quang Binh, includes District’s Continuing Education Centre & District Plant Protection Station, Commune extension worker / commune plant protection staff, secondary school teachers in each of 4 selected communes from 2 provinces: Vinh Ninh of Quang Ninh Dist. And Loc Thuy of Le Thuy within Quang Binh province, and Xuan Phu and Quynh Son within Yen Dung Dist., Bac Giang province.

Beside of the main topic of training course, the facilitators were introduce to trainees some information on PIA, ABD, REAL program and the statistic collecting form; mapping and surveying habitat; introducing the concept of activities relating to Pesticide; field and household visit, interviewing farmers; survey and interviews results presentation; introducing the concept of Pesticide Risk Reduction; gender issues and how to collect information/data; learners’ comments, distributing certificates and finishing the course.

Through this 5-day TOT, trainees have learnt about importance of agro-biodiversity and understand on pesticide risk, and have improved skills on (i) how to conduct FFS for students and farmers on agro-biodiversity, pesticide risk (ii) how to conduct surveys for impact evaluation of ABD, pesticide risk at the project sites and store data process (iii) encourage woman participation (iv) develop action plan to conserve agro-biodiversity with specific target and commitments (ABD) and plan on pesticide risk reduction. The list of TOT participants is in ANNEX – Table 1.

Table 1. LIST OF TOT PARTICIPANTS 2014

1.3.2. Training or Trainer for participants from new project site

Initiatives on Community Empowerment and Rural Development (ICERD) in collaboration with the province Sub Department of Plant protection (PPSD) – Yen Bai province organized a Training of Trainers on “Agro Biodiversity Conservation and Utilization and Pesticides Impacts to Health and Environments from April 24^th to April 28^th 2015 at Yen Bai city, 180 km from Hanoi City.

Main topics were: (i) agro-biodiversity conservation, development and use (ii) pesticide impacts to health and environment (iii) impact assessment (iv) guidance on survey of women’s participation in activities (family, community, ABD, pesticide risk reduction) (v) market access.

TOT aims to improve knowledge and skills for selected government officials, officers, teachers and from related line ministries, agencies, training, and non-governmental organizations in order to enhance capacity for work in the future, including community education and strategies to further strengthen collaboration among all partners on regional and national levels, thus better support to empower farmers for their livelihoods and sustainable development.

Facilitator for the TOT was three facilitators who are: Mr. Ngo Tien Dung – Coordinator of National IPM Programme, Vietnam, Mr. Le Tien Binh the national IPM trainer, Mr. Do Hong Khanh, Vice Chief of Plant Protection Division of PPD.

There were 26 trainees to participate in this TOT, of which 12 are female (see list in Annex). Those trainees include staff members were from Plant Protection Department and Department of Continuing Education/Non-formal Education under Ministry of Education and Training, Initiatives for Community Empowerment and Rural Development (ICERD);from four provinces Bac Giang, Lao Cai, Ninh Binh and Yen Bai, includes District’s Continuing Education Centre & District Plant Protection Station, Commune extension worker / commune plant protection staff, secondary school teachers in each of 5 selected communes from three provinces: Na Hoi commune and Ta Chai commune from Lao Cai Province, Lien Son Commune from Ninh Binh, Son A Commune from Yen Bai. Among participants  from three provinces (Lao Cai, Ninh Binh, Yen Bai), participant from Ninh Binh is funded by FAO for attending TOT, after TOT they will apply knowledge and skills learned to carry out the project activities in Ninh Binh sponsored by FAO.

Beside of the main topic of training course, the facilitators introduced to trainees some information on PIA, ABD, REAL program and the statistic collecting form; mapping and surveying habitat; introducing the concept of activities relating to Pesticide; field and household visit, interviewing farmers; survey and interviews results presentation; introducing the concept of Pesticide Risk Reduction; gender issues and how to collect information/data; learners’ comments, distributing certificates and finishing the course.

Through this 5-day TOT, trainees have learnt about importance of agro-biodiversity and understand on pesticide risk, and have improved skills on (i) how to conduct FFS for students and farmers on agro-biodiversity, pesticide risk (ii) how to conduct surveys for impact evaluation of ABD, pesticide risk at the project sites and store data process (iii) encourage woman participation (iv) develop action plan to conserve agro-biodiversity with specific target and commitments (ABD) and plan on pesticide risk reduction.