Facilitating farmer uptake of ACIAR project results: World Vision collaborative program

• World Vision of Vietnam, Vietnam
• Laos World Vision Foundation, Laos
• World Vision Foundation of Thailand, Thailand
• Queensland Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries, Australia

The impact of ACIAR project results has been advanced through a partnership with World Vision (WV), where provision of technologies arising from ACIAR projects for WVs projects can 'lift agricultural productivity. ACIAR entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with World Vision for this purpose in February 2000, and this project comprised some of the major collaborative activities in Southeast Asia under this MoU.
The project consisted of a set of six collaborative sub-projects between ACIAR and WV in Thailand, Laos and Vietnam. Results arising from a mature or completed ACIAR project activity, which are suitable for farmer-level extension, are integrated into an active WV project in particular provinces in the three countries.
In Thailand three subprojects are addressing agricultural productivity and impacts; firstly the use of chemicals in vegetable production and specifically preventing chemical runoff and pollution. A second sub-project is improving fish feeds for aquaculture using locally available ingredients. Finally the third sub-project is introducing improvements applicable to growing low-chill temperate stone fruits.
The single Laos sub-project is seeking to introduce improved crop options by boosting wet season rice production and utilising other crops in the dry season.
Two Vietnamese components - Rodent Control in rice crops using IPM techniques and Improvement of soil fertility in Bac Binh District, Binh Thuan Province, Vietnam - utilise technologies developed in several current or completed ACIAR projects to assist in the 'technical underpinning' of a larger WV rural development project in Binh Thuan province of southern Vietnam.

This report covers the work in central Laos (Phalanxai, Atsaphangthong and Outhomphone districts). The goal of the WV Improving Crop Yields (ICY) project Phase 2 was to improve food crop yields, thus contributing to improved household food security and economic security. The project's purpose was to improve local skills for extending and applying research outputs, to achieve increases in wet season food crop production (particularly rice), using proven, low-input, sustainable technologies. At the same time farmers were assisted to develop their dry season cropping skills through training in crop production and soil management. The goal of Phase 3 was to extend the gains made by the ICY Phases 1 and 2 to three more districts in Savannakhet province, namely Atsaphone, Xonnabouly and Phine.
Phases 2 and 3 of the project recorded achievements leading to improved farmer knowledge and capacity:
Eight training events were held, actively engaging 815 farmers from 52 villages in six districts. The training covered: improved rice and cash crop farming techniques including sowing, transplanting, harvesting and seasonal cultivation; composting; judicious use of biological and compost fertiliser; pest control; and accessing agricultural extension from government departments. Farmers observed demonstrations of improved rice varieties, and participated in study tours of agricultural research facilities.
20 tonnes of improved rice seed were provided to 11,659 farmers in 318 villages in six districts during the wet seasons of 2006 and 2007.
One training event on rice and cash crop planting technology was held for seven counterparts (six district agriculture and forestry staff members and one provincial agriculture staff member) in the National Agriculture Research Centre.
A baseline rice production survey was completed in the Phase 3 districts.
60 farmers from the Phase 3 districts visited farmers in Outhomphone district (targeted in Phase 2) to learn about their experience in cultivating improved rice varieties.
49 farmers from three new districts learned soil management techniques, and how to grow peanuts and cash crops such as sweet corn, cucumber, eggplant, chillies, long beans and watermelon.
Consultant to the project, Dr John Schiller, facilitated four review meetings, each attended by 16 representatives of the district and provincial Agriculture Departments, National Agriculture and Forestry Research Institute (NAFRI) and the ICY project.
Although no formal evaluation has been conducted as yet, it is likely that most farmers who participated in the cultivation of improved varieties of rice in the target areas will continue to use these improved rice varieties. As a result, the local varieties will remain but in reduced quantities. It is predicted that the wellbeing of households in the target villages will improve. It is likely that they will have sufficient rice for consumption and a surplus for selling.
Farmers are more aware of the agricultural extension resources available to them and post-project, the District Agriculture Extension workers can continue to deliver improved rice production technology to farmers remains. However it is predicted that more remote communities will miss out because of the limited district government budget. World Vision Laos (WVL) has initiated a long-term (13-15 years) Area Development Program (ADP) in four districts targeted by the project. It is predicted these will allow the gains made by the ICY project to be built upon and extended to more farmers, which should lead to higher yields of rice and other crops and an overall improvement in food security for these farmers.