RESEARCH COOPERATION FOR LIVESTOCK-BASED SUSTAINABLE FARMING SYSTEMS IN THE LOWER MEKONG BASIN
Minutes of the meeting of the Steering Committee.held in the Royal University of Agriculture, Chamcar Daung, Cambodia, on April 23 and 24, 2001. All committee members attended the meeting.
Dr Brian Ogle
Dr Luu Trong Hieu
Dr Le Viet Ly
Professor Metha Wanapat
Dr Bounthong Bouahom
Dr T R Preston
Dr Chhum Phith Loan
Dr Chhum Phith Loan was appointed Chairman and Dr Preston as the secretary.
Mr. Lor
Rasmey, Vice-Rector of RUA, in charge of International Cooperation, welcomed
the committee members, on behalf of the Rector of RUA.
Dr Loan
presented the agenda of the meeting which was agreed by the members.
April 23, 08.30
|
Evaluation
of MSc applications |
10.30 AM
|
-Coffee
break |
11.00 AM
|
-Continue
on evaluation of applications |
12.00 AM
|
-Lunch |
13.00 PM
|
-Evaluation
of course outlines and their budgets |
19.00 PM
|
-Welcome
dinner |
|
|
|
|
April
24, 2001, 8.00
AM |
Research funding: evaluation of proposals |
10.30 AM
|
-Coffee
break |
11.00 AM
|
Research
funding: evaluation of proposals |
12.00 AM
|
-Lunch |
13.00 PM
|
-Visit
research station UTA |
16.00 PM
|
-Return |
19.00 AM
|
-Dinner |
April 25, 2001,
08.00 AM
|
-Networking
and Communication; equipment needs and budgets -CD-Rom
about using cassava in sustainable livestock production. -Prepare
a draft of the home page (MEKONG ANIRIRES.NET) |
10.00 AM
|
Coffee |
10.30 AM
|
-Draft
of Sub- Contract with the participating institution -
Proposals for short courses |
12.00 AM
|
Lunch |
13.00 PM
|
Any
other business |
15.00 PM
|
Departure |
Selection of MSc applications (Brian Ogle)
Selection guidelines
Aim for at least one candidate from each institution
Balance between countries
Under 35 in age
Balance between sexes
Competence in English
Priority of candidate’s superior
Impressions from interview and the application form
Research background and interests
Chamnawit Promkot (male)
Krailas Kiothong (male)
Ngo Tien Dzung (male)
Hoang Huong Giang (female)
Tran Thi Thu Hong (female )
Dinh The Tung (male)
Vo Lam (male)
Nguyen Thi Thuy (female)
Nguyen Thi Kim Khang (female)
Not recommended due to English not being up to standard
Strongly encouraged to apply for entry for next course in 2003.
English courses will be financed by the SAREC Network
Lao
Phonepaseuth Phengsavanh (male)
Soulivanh Novaha (male)
Phantavong Vongsamphan (male)
Chanpone Keoboualapeth (male)
Sokerya
Seng (female)
Chhay Ty (male)
San Thy (male)
Prak Kia (male)
Kouch Theng (male)
It was agreed to have 18 participants in the course
Strong priority to be given to Lao and to An Giang to provide participants for the next course. Potential participants for next course should also participate in the network esearch activities (research fund) as this is good way to provide them with appropriate initial training. Special opportunity will to be given to RUA staff members to participate in English courses and also to initiate research activities.
The content outlines for the MSc course were discussed. Most of these are already available and will be hosted on the project Home Page.
Dr Xe Van Do from Cantho university will be invited to RUA to discuss the biometrics course with Dr Preston and Dr Loan with the aim of sharing the work load. Professor Wanapat indicated that there was a staff member in Khon Kaen university, who was well qualified in statistics and could be a resource person in future courses.
Professor Wanapat will liaise with Dr Leng on the course content for ruminant digestive physiology. It is proposed that a seminar is presented by Dr Leng and other staff members with participation from other institutions in the network. The suggested date for the seminar is in the first week of October. (2 days duration).
Mini-projects will be executed by the students as part of the course on experimental design and analysis and use of computers. Students will work in pairs to design a simple experiment, record and analyse the data and finally make a presentation of the results using the Power Point software. It is estimated that 2 hours of each day will be devoted to this activity.
It is proposed to move the course on Animal Traction to NIAH ( December 17, 2001) and the course on Renewable Energy (at UAF) to the week beginning March 11, 2002
The revised course timetable is:
Course
programme, Regional MSc course (27 credits)
|
Week |
Date |
Course (credits) |
Suggested course leader(s) |
Location, Country |
|
|
1 |
Jul 30 |
Introduction to the
course, to computers and participatory methodologies (3) |
Brian Ogle/ Reg Preston /
Tran Kim Tinh / Britta Ogle / Man / Khang |
UAF, Vietnam |
|
|
2 |
Aug 6 |
Participatory
methodologies (PRA; Open Space) |
Britta Ogle / Brian Ogle |
UAF, Vietnam |
|
|
3 |
Aug 16 |
Microcomputers for
recording, analysis and presentation of research data, preparing CD-ROMs and
Web pages; (2) Mini-projects, experimental design, biometrics (2) |
Reg Preston/Khieu Borin /
LylianRodriguez / Loan / Xe Van Do |
UTA / RUA, Cambodia |
|
|
9 |
Sep 24 |
Biological basis of biomass production
and utilisation by livestock; analytical methods (4); large ruminant production
systems (1) |
Metha Wanapat / Ron Leng / Chalong / Kritapon /
Boonrue / Suthipong / Suporn |
Khon Kaen, Thailand |
|
|
14 |
Oct 29 |
Farming systems research methodology (2) |
Metha Wanapat / Anan / Vanthong / Pongchan |
Khon Kaen, |
|
|
16 |
Nov 12 |
Upland farming systems (1) |
Choke Mikled |
Khon Kaen |
|
|
17 |
Nov 19 |
Small ruminant systems, livestock
integrated with tree crops (2) |
Inger Ledin / Somkiat Saithano |
PSU, Hatyai |
|
|
19 |
Dec 3 |
Range management (1) |
Inger Ledin / Bounthong |
NAFRI, Laos |
|
|
20 |
Dec 10 |
Agroforestry (1) |
Nguyen Van So / Khamphai |
NAFRI, Laos |
|
|
21 |
Dec
17 |
Animal Traction |
Nguyen Van Thu (Ann Pearson) |
NIAH, Vietnam |
|
|
23 |
Jan
3 |
Biological basis, monogastrics; Pig and
poultry systems (3) |
Brian Ogle/Le Duc Ngoan / Minh /Le Viet Ly |
NIAH |
|
|
26 |
Jan
21 |
Aquaculture (1) |
Le Thanh Hung |
Hue |
|
|
27 |
Jan
28 |
Project preparation |
|
UAF |
|
|
29 |
Feb
25 |
Soil-plant-animal interaction (1) |
Vo Tong Xuan / Stig Ledin |
Angiang |
|
|
30 |
Mar
4 |
Research project preparation: |
Brian Ogle / Reg Preston / Inger Ledin |
UAF |
|
|
31 |
Mar
11 |
Renewable energy (1) |
Reg Preston / Khang / Bui Xuan An |
UAF |
|
|
32 |
Mar
17 |
Course ends |
|
UAF |
|
Course leaders should identify and purchase the reference books needed by the students for individual courses. Reference books for use by course leaders were also approved.
Course leaders should send list of proposed titles to Brian Ogle and Reg Preston (by email) for checking.
For animal nutrition and production the following were approved to be given to each student.
Animal Nutrition (McDonald et al)
Matching livestock systems with available feed resources (Preston and Leng)
The approved candidates to begin in 2001 are:
Momseng, Cambodia
Khieu Borin, Cambodia
Vanthong, Lao
In the next course (2003 onwards) it is suggested that some of the PhD candidates be registered at Universities within the region. Khon Kaen in Thailand is in a position to take PhD candidates. Credits for the SLU PhD can be obtained at Universities in the region through specific courses which may be a network activity, but not necessarily so.
Projects were presented by Cambodia, Lao and Thailand. Several of the proposals were not adequately prepared and it was decided to postpone judgment on these until the next meeting of the Steering Committee which will be on 26-27 July at UAF, immediately prior to the start of the MSc course. The following projects were approved:
Cam1: Evaluation of mulberry leaf meal as replacement for dried fish in rice bran / rubber seed diets for growing Mong Cai pigs (Cheav Phiny). Approved.
The researcher should liaise with Luu Tong Duc and Nguyen Quang Thieu in UAF, Vietnam, who are using rubber seed meal for poultry.
Cam 2: Cassava leaves for poultry (in cooperation with Chiang Mai).
(Chhum Pith Loan). More detailed work plan is needed to be submitted for
July meeting.
Cam
3: Cassava and sweet potato leaves for pigs (in collaboration with Khon Kaen)
Resubmit for July meeting
Lao
Lao1: Testing a pilot scheme for fattening
cattle with rice straw, cassava foliage and an oil drench (in cooperation with
Cambodia). Dr Preston will visit Lao to discuss with NAFRI and farmers the protocol
for this project.
Lao2: Appropriate Production Systems of Indigenous Pigs for Small Holders in Laos and Northeast Thailand: I. Improving Growth Rate of Indigenous Pigs by Improving Nutrition and Parasitic Control, II. Agroecosystem Analysis of Production Systems of Indigenous Pigs in Northeast Thailand . (Vanthong Phengvivhith)Work plan and experimental treatments not clear. Should be resubmitted.
Lao3: Improving goat production (in cooperation with Vietnam). Methodology OK. Approved as soon as a new project document is submitted by Lao.
Lao4: Use of cassava roots in pig diets (in cooperation with Thailand).(Tienne Vannasouk). Work plan not clear. Should be re-submitted for July evaluation meeting. Treatments should be clarified, so that protein and energy are not confounded. Better to have two levels of protein and compare fresh with cooked cassava. Budget must be prepared more accurately.
Thailand
Thai1: Agrosystem analysis of production
systems for indigenous pigs in NE Thailand. Approved, but more detailed project document will be sent by
Dr Pongcham
Thai2: Yield and nutritive value of sweet potato for ruminants. (Metha Wanapat)
Thai3: Cassava hay and roots for ruminants (in cooperation with Cambodia and Lao). Approved.
A workshop on buffaloes will be hosted in Vietnam starting 17 December, 2001. (in Hanoi, Vietnam)
A workshop on Participatory Learning Action using MIGIS (Mobile Interactive Geographical Interface Systems) technology is proposed for early 2002, to be held in RUA-UTA, Cambodia. Details will be prepared by Reg Preston for evaluation at the July meeting.
A workshop on recent developments in utilization of cassava as feed for livestock will be held in Khon Kaen on 23-24 July 2001. About forty persons will attend. The output will be on a CD-ROM to be prepared by Lylian Rodriguez and Reg Preston).
Workshop on improving low cost biodigester technology will be held in UAF, Ho Chi Minh city on March 11-12, 2002. The output will be a CD-ROM. (to be prepared by Lylian Rodriguez and Reg Preston).
Chhum Phith Loan (Cambodia) will make a proposal for a course on use of AI in chickens
A
course on design and analysis of biological experiments including on-farm
animal research (course leader: John Ohrvik). Duration is 2 weeks (40 hours).
Maximum participation is about 12 persons.
Venue would be Chiang Mai from 19 November for 2 weeks. (suggested
participants are Cambodia 2, Lao 2, Vietnam 4, Thailand 4)..
Workshop
on fodder trees for livestock (course
leader Dr Klaus Becker) from 10 to 22 August. In NIAH, Hanoi . Eleven from the Network (2 from Cambodia, 2
from Thailand, 1 from Lao and 5 from Central and South Vietnam) will
participate in the course. Professor
Klaus Becker requested partial support to cover costs which are additional to
the travel costs for the 11
participants. This was approved.
Preparation of CD-ROMs
Approval given to UTA to purchase equipment for preparing CDROM disks.
Dr Ogle will check with graphic artist in Sweden for preparation of project LOGO.
It was agreed to have this hosted on the “Bigpond” (Telstra, Australia) server in Phnom Penh. The URL is:
http://www.bigpond.com.kh/mekarn.
The Home page can now be located at the above URL.
Reg Preston will be responsible for the preparation and maintenance of the Home Page. Scanned photographs that are representative of each country should be sent by email to:
A 2-week course in English for special purposes will be held in RUA-UTA, Cambodia from 16 to 27 July (Course leader is Howard Benson from Sweden). Attendance is limited to about 12 persons from Cambodia and Lao. Participants will be the MSc candidates (2001-2003) from these two countries plus future candidates (2003-2005) from RUA-UTA and An Giang University, Vietnam