Back to contents

Workshop-seminar "Making better  use of local feed resources" SAREC-UAF,  January , 2000.

 

Transfer of livestock technologies to farmers in Bavi and mountainous areas of NorthVietnam

 

Dinh Van Binh, Nguyen Quang Suc, Nguyen Thi Mui 
and Le Viet Ly

Goat and Rabbit Research Centre, Sontay, Hatay

 

Abstract

Research activities carried out for nine years at the Goat and Rabbit Research Centre (GRRC) in Bavi district from 1991 to 1999 have shown the potential values of multi-purpose crops and trees such as Sugar cane, Trichantera gigantea, Flemingia macrophilla, Bananas and Jack fruit which can be used for animal feeding and improving the soil fertility.The productivity of goats and rabbits increased when using protein-rich foliages with basal diets of agricultural by-products. The economic efficiency of livestock production was improved by using feeding techniques and processing the locally available feed resources in integrated sustainable farming systems.

 

The results of transfer technology using the most promising findings from research at the GRRC and applying them in small-scale family households have indicated the benefit of the new feed resources and the introduction of dual purpose goat production for improving animal productivity and farmer’s income. Several integrated farming systems such as -- Crop / cattle / biodigester / fish pond;  Crop / pig / rabbit / fishpond; Crop / goats / earthworm / chickens; Crop / goats / local cow / pig / biodigester / fish pond – have been introduced into farm households under different conditions.

 

The number of participating farmers has increased yearly from 5 in 1991 to 35 in1997 and 186 in 1999. The increase in the number of farmers applying the new technologies in an indicator of the impact in the area.

.

Key words: Technology transfer, livestock, farming system, impact,  assessment, houshold, income

 

Introduction

Bavi district is located in a mountainous area in the west of Hatay province in North Vietnam. The district has an area of 421 km²,  consisting of 80% of sloping land. About 14,900 ha of the land is used for agriculture with 12,100 ha used for planting of crops. There are about 8,000 ha of unused land, which can be used for pasture and forest. The animal population comprises: 82,543 pigs; 11,200 buffaloes; 16,860 cattle; 1,037 goats; and 271,000 poultry. There are 32 villages with about 233,000 inhabitants in the district. The capital income is very low (70 USD/year). Seven villages are among the poorest in Vietnam. Traditional farming is based on a system of cassava, rice, root crops, fruit trees, vegetable, forest tree with eucalyptus and livestock. The livestock production forms 25% of the agricultural output value. In this sector, production is almost entirely in the hands of small-holders and deals mainly with pigs, cattle, buffaloes, fish and poultry.

 

The farmers raise their animals mainly by locally available feed resources such as natural tree leaves or grasses and by-products, residues from vegetables or crops (cassava, sweet potato, bananas, rice , maize, groundnut, bean, etc.). But the productivity of livestock is low because inputs such as labour, feed and other investments are also low. In 1992-1993 a survey was done in Bavi district using RRA methods to find out the problems and constraints faced by farmers in the traditional farming system. The main problems and constraints were follows:

 

·        Insufficient supply of feed for animals and lack of protein for animals, especially in the dry season, resulting in the low rate of productivity.

·        Lack of technologies for using and processing local feed resources for feeding animals.

·        Livestock production was involved with small size of animal herd, an average for each household being 3 pigs, 2 local cows and 10-20 chickens with no extension system and no integration and therefore  low income.

·        Forest was destroyed and cassava was the main crop so the erosion increased and cultivated land degenerated

 

In order to contribute to solving this situation, research activities in GRRC have been focused on:

·        Biomass production and feed quality of multipurpose crops and forage trees such as sugar cane, jackfruit, bananas, Acacia mangium, Flemingia macrophylla, and  Trichanthera gigantea, as the feed resources for feeding animals and to improve soil fertility.

·        Increasing productivity of goats and rabbits using protein-rich foliages with a basal diet of agricultural by-products such as rice bran, molasses, rice straw, sugar cane tops instead of the traditional feeding system of cereal concentrates and grasses.

·        Establishment of demonstrations on the integrated farming systems at household level with  more productive animal breeds and forage varieties,  with biodigesters and fish ponds.

 

This approach is demonstrated in Figure 1 which shows the linkages among the different activities, and how the research at GRRC is integrated with the needs of the farmers and the support received from SAREC for research and development activities.

 

Figure 1: The project  activities and linkages

 

 

 

Results of the  project activities

Extending the role of sugar cane by alternative uses, especially to substitute for cereal grains in feeding of animals and to improve soil fertility.

Research at the GRRC has shown the potential of sugar cane as a feed for pigs, goats and rabbits. Many neighbouring farmers have shown interest in applying this technology which, according to Dinh van Binh et al (1993), can provide them with a higher income than can be obtained from cassava. The results of the on-station research reported by Nguyen Thi Mui et al (1993-1996) showed that narrowing the row distance from 150cm to 100cm increased yield by 20 tonnes/ha (28%) with no changes in the quality (Brix) of the juice. This is a relative increase in benefit to the farmer of  the order of 8 million VND/ha.

 

Return of the dead leaves to the soil increased yield by 11% over 1 year, 12.5% over 2 years and 18.7% over 3 years. Soil fertility increased steadily with increasing ratoons. This also indicated that the new way growing of sugar cane did not exploit soil nutrients but, in contrast, has beneficial effects on the growth of subsequent crops.

 

The potential benefits from feeding the fresh sugar cane juice to pigs depends on the opportunity price of sugar cane. The use of sugar cane for livestock is likely to be most appropriate in remote mountainous areas that are distant from markets and where the alternatives for using the sugar cane are limited. Sugar cane juice has been used as partial “milk replacer” for growing kids and as a feed for pigs to replace cereal concentrates (Nguyen Thi Duyen 1996).  The findings of Dinh Van Binh et al (1993) indicated that milk production of dairy goats fed a diet based on sugar cane tops with Acacia mangium, a molasses-urea block and rice bran was higher than from Guinea grass and cereal concentrate. Peeled fresh sugar cane stalk supplemented with soya bean and protein rich foliage has been used to replace cereal concentrate and grasses for rabbits.

 

Identifying and promoting the nitrogen-fixing multi-purpose trees that improve soil fertility and provide protein source for livestock and fuel

Legumes are able to bind nitrogen from the air and convert it to protein through the action of bacteria of the Rhizobium spp, that grow and multiply in nodules on the roots. Legumes also have a high feed value as they are rich in protein and minerals. Some legumes are well suited to the mixed cultivation system with grasses or fruit trees. Many leguminous trees are useful for shade in pasture and may also serve as a source of nutritious fodder when required. In some areas in Bavi, the introduction of legumes into fruit tree systems has been extremely successful. In the small-scale households, there are many shrub trees and other plants that are not cultivated for fodder, but nevertheless can constitute an important part for animal feeding.

 

In the mid-altitude, acid-soil areas of Bavi district, Hatay province, tropical forage legumes and shrub trees such as Morus alba sp, Leucaena leucocephara K636, Leucaena pallida K748, Flemingia macrophylla, Artocapus heterophyllus and Trichantera gigantea and  tropical grasses P.M. Likoni, P.M. TD58, Pennisetum pupureum, Kingrass, Zuri grass and Pangola grass were found to be adaptable and productive in previous agronomic screening trials (Table 1).

 

 

 

Flemingia macrophylla is a leguminous shrub with high biomass yields that grows well on acid soil. It appears to have potential to improve soil fertility and to give  protection against erosion. It is reasonably tolerant to drought and has given good results when mixed with foliage of Trichanthera gigantea as the protein source for lactating goats (Le Diep Long Bien 1998 )

 

Increasing the economic efficiency of livestock  production  using feeding techniques and processing locally available feed resources in sustainable farming systems

Use of leguminous forage or shrub tree leaves for ruminant feeding is gaining popularity. Research activities are focused on aspects of leguminous forage and shrub trees. One of the most consistent and commendable features of animal nutrition is the practice of feeding leguminous forage to animals. Studies have been done at GRRC concerned with using and processing leaves of jack fruit, bananas and Acacia mangium supplemented with the protein-rich tree leaves such as those from Trichanthera gigantea, Leucaena,  Flemingia macrophylla and cassava leaves. Diets  based on cassava meal, rice bran and molasses for feeding goats have been  successful and have provided new feeding systems for farmers. Using and processing roots, bananas, rice bran and molasses, supplemented with the leaves of protein-rich trees such as Mulberry, Leucaena and Trichanthera gigantea can replace the cereal concentrate and guinea grass in rabbit diets (Nguyen Quang Suc et al 1997).

 

Applying new technologies in the use of residues from crops and animal production for producing  fuel and protecting the environment

Some of the activities carried out at GRRC in relation to renewable energy generation and the environment are:

·        Recycling of fibrous crop residues and by-products for making appropriate supplements  such  as molasses-urea blocks (MUB) for goats and local cattle, Multi-Nutrient Blocks for rabbits as well as using molasses  for feeding pigs.

·        Integration of animal production with the installation of low cost plastic biodigesters at the Centre and on farms, and using the effluents as fertilizer or for feeding the fish

·        Using the crushed sugar cane stems and stems of cassava as fuel materials for gasifiers to generate electrical power

·        Recycling manure from goats and rabbits for producing earthworms as a high protein supplement for poultry production and using the humus as a form of compost for planting vegetables.

 

Impact of project technology transfer to the households of mountain areas in North Vietnam

Establishment of demonstrations for sustainable integrated farming systems at household level.

The crop-livestock farming system is common in many countries. While the importance of the crop component is readly recognized, the role of livestock in the system is often less than emphasized, but livestock provide an important contribution to Asian agricultural production by providing food, as well as supplying draught power and fertilizer.  Incorporation of livestock in the system enables the utilization of marginal lands which are less suited for crops; livestock  also serve as insurance for farm households through additional income generation (Amir and Knipscheer 1989). There are many observed patterns of crop-livestock integration in small-holder systems in Vietnam. Some of the systems developed by GRRC, which respond to different household situations are:

-  Crop-cattle-biodigester-fish pond

-  Crop- pig- rabbit-fish pond

-  Crop-goats-earth worm-chickens

-  Crop- goats- local cow-pig-biodigester-fish pond

Figure 2  shows the typical system that is promoted by GRRC, and which has been found to be the most economical in the Bavi area.

 

 Figure 2: Diagram of  the integrated farming system

 

 

How to transfer technologies to farmers

The following steps have proved to be appropriate in the Bavi area:

·        Establishing the demonstrations at the Centre and in farm households around  the Centre.

·        Organizing visits, seminar workshops on research and extension of new tecnologies

·        Making video-films illustrating new technologies of dairy goat production, crop planting, installation of biodigesters in sustainable farming system.

·        Selection of places and farmers to apply the new technologies and cooperation with the Women’s Union and Extension Divisions in the management of the  project activities.

·        Training courses for extensionists and farmers on new technologies before transferring them to farmers.

·        Support for farmers with improved animal breeds  and planting materials of promising

varieties for  increasing  feed resources for animals

·        Helping farmers to solve problems or finding the market for consumption of

their products

 

Impact of the project in increasing  income of farmers

The results of technology transfer carried out in Bavi district from 1993-1999, using findings from the work at GRRC, has established the potential of the new feed resources for dual purpose goat production as a means of improving animal productivity and farmer income. Demonstrations were established with 5 households in 1993. The numbers of participating farmers increased yearly and from the data an economic comparison was made between the new farming system and the traditional one. The results showed major increases in income as a result of introducing the new system (Dinh Van Binh and Nguyen Thi Mui, 1993 and 1997-1998; Tables 2 and 3.

 

Table 3 shows the economic efficiency between two farming systems in 1995. The increase in the number of farmers applying the new technologies was taken as a measure of the impact in the area, especially the impact at level of the farm.

 

By 1998, in 35 households where new technologies were introduced, there were marked (54%) increases in income of the livestock-based interventions compared to the conventional system (Table 3). There were 186 participating farmers in 1999 and all reported an improved income, especially those farmers in the villages where goat raising under contract was introduced.

 

Table 2: Comparison of economic efficiency between two farming systems (means per household)
Production	Traditional system (million VND)					New system (million VND)
	No.	Exp.	Income	Profit	%	No.	Exp.	Income	Profit	%
Pig	3	2.8	3.3	0.5	15	3	2.4	3.3	0.8	30
Local cow	2	1.4	2.6	1.2	86	2	1.3	2.8	1.5	115
Local goat	4	1.2	1.8	0.6	50	4	1.2	2.4	1.2	100
Dairy goat						5	1.8	6.0	4.2	242
Fish pond (m²)	100	0.1	0.25	0.15	150	200	0.15	0.57	0.42	283
Cassava (m²)	500	0.19	0.40	0.21	110
Sugarcane (m²)						500	0.5	1.6	1.1	220
Garden (m²)	600	0.22	0.45	0.23	104	600	0.24	0.78	0.54	257
Fuelwood (t)	4.9	0.97				1.1	0.24
Biogas						1	0.18	0.73	0.55	305
Total		6.93	8.7	2.84	41		8.0	18.2	10.2	129
Source: Dinh Van Binh et al (1993)

 

The economic efficiency (income, profit and especially the rate of return on capital) of the  new integrated system of production including dairy goat, forage and sugar cane planting, biodigester was higher (31.4 %) than in the traditional system. Dairy goat production was an important component in the higher economic efficiency (Table 4).

 

 

 

Application of project`results to the farmers

Farmers have been supported by an amount of 2,450 dairy goats, 13,000 rabbits and planting materials from high yielding and good quality varieties of sugar cane and some grasses. There were 15 tonnes of planting materials of Trichanthera gigantea, 2.4 tonnes of seed of Flemingia macrophylla and 56 tonnes of Panicum maximum that were contributed to farmers. Two hundred plastic tube biodigesters were installed by farmers in the provinces of Ha Tay, Lang Son, Hoa Binh, Bac Giang, Thai Nguyen and Tuyen Quang.

 

Impact of the project

The number of visitors and trainees increased in the period from 1995 to 1999 (see Table 5). During the project GRRC received 9 students from a broad (Sweden, Scotland, Germany and Switzerland) for studies from 1-6 months for their MSc or other courses.

PRA and RRP activities as part of two SAREC MSc courses have been conducted in the Centre for periods of 10 days in each case.

 

 

 

 

Increasing the scientific knowledge of the technicians in the Goat and Rabbit Research Centre

After 9 years working in the project, through the SAREC Seminar-Workshops as well the  MSc courses at the Centre, the research staff of the Centre have had a good opportunity to improve their understanding and to exchange experiences with national and international scientists. The  achievements are given in Table 6.

 

E-mail and Internet linkages have been established at the Centre. These facilities have helped to reduce the cost of communication, and have facilitated preparation of reports and exchange of information. The number of computers at the Centre have increased from 1 (1993) to 10 (1999) and the number of persons using E.mail and the Internet for their research has  also increased.

 

Conclusion

The research activities carried out for nine years at the Goat and Rabbit Research Centre (GRRC) in Bavi district from 1991 to 1999 have shown the potential values of multi-purpose crops and forage trees such as Sugar cane, Trichantera gigantea, Flemingia macrophilla, and bananas which can be used for animal feeding  and improving the soil fertility.The productivity of goats and rabbits has increased when using protein-rich foliages with diets based on agricultural by-products.  There has been an increase in the economic efficiency of livestock production using the new feeding and processing techniques based on local available feed resources in sustainable farming systems.

Technology transfer of the most promising findings from research at the GRRC in small-scale households has resulted in increased profit through use of the new feed resources and of introducing dual purpose goat production. Integrated farming systems have been strengthened and applied under different farmer conditions.

 

The number of participating farmers has increased yearly from 5 in 1991 to 35 in 1997 and to 186 in 1999. The increase in the number of farmers applying the new technologies is a measure of the impact in the areas.

 

The GRRC has been very successful in using the support from SAREC to promote research and transfer of new technologies to farmers, and in the development of sustainable integrated farming systems in Vietnam. The SAREC project has also had an impact in improving the skills of young scientists in using computer, E-mail and the English language, enabling them to improve their knowledge.

 

Acknowledgement

Thanks are due to the Sarec Programme representatives: Dr T R. Preston, Dr. Brian Ogle, Dr. E R Orskov, Dr Luu Trong Hieu, Dr. Le Viet Ly and other  friends, who helped us to develop our skills and in so doing to help the poor farmers. We  hope this project will be continued and developed more in Vietnam. 

 

References

Amir P and Kippscheer H 1989 Conducting on-farm research: procedures and economic analysis. Singapore National Printers Limited, Singapore.

 

Chamber R 1992a Participatory Rural Appraisals: Past, present and future. Trees and People Newsletter No 15/16 4-9

 

Chamber R 1992b Rural Appraisal:  Rapid, relaxed and participatory.  Institute of Development Studies. University of Sussex, Brighton,  England.

 

Dinh Van Binh and Nguyen Thi Mui 1997 Impact study of livestock-based interventions in villages of Bavi district in North Vietnam. Proceeding of regional seminar-workshop on better use of locally available feed resources in sustainable livestock-based agricultural systems in South-East Asia. SAREC-FAO, pp 5-11.

 

McCracken J, Pretty J and Conway G 1988 An Introduction to Rapid Rural Appraisal for Agricultural Development. Sustanable Agriculture Progrmme. International Institute for Environment and Development ,  London, England.

 

Go to top