Tran Thi Ngoc Huan, Cuu Long Rice Research Institute

1. EFFICIENCY AND LESSONS LEARNED FROM CBA PROJECT
IN VINH CHAU- SOC TRANG
Developing a community-based model of onion-based
cultivation crops to adapt to droughts and saline
intrusion in Vinh Chau, Soc Trang Province
(6/2010 - 9/2012)
Funded by GEF- SGP/UNDP/CBA
*******
Ms. Tr n Th Ng c Huân
Vice Head of Agronomy – Mekong Delta Rice Research Institute
Consultant team leader for project

2. Vinh Chau Commune, Vĩnh Châu district, Soc
Trang
Ecosystem: coastal delta, coastal soil with sand
Crop: Commercial red shallots
Salinization, drought, exploitation of water sources
Methods of rotational and integrated farming with red
shallots and other crops, sustainable use of land and water

3. PROJECT SITE (VINH CHAU - SOC TRANG)
• Coastal length 43 km, most of the
land from sea transgress each
year from 50 - 80 m the
benefits development of
aquaculture, fisheries
• Agriculture is difficult due to
saline intrusion, lack of
freshwater for crops.
• Farmer’s attention to the
development of growing farm
produce, such as radishes,
peanuts, mung beans, red pepper,
etc. on soil mixed with sand, and
purple onions are the main
produce.
• Purple onions (shallots) grown
mainly in 3 coastal communes of
Vĩnh Châu, Vĩnh H i and L c
Hòa with over 5,000 hectares per
year.
Fig 1:
Vinh Chau
commune
(Ward 2)

4. Project issues
(1)Land degradation is
severe due to drought
and saline intrusion
impacting the
productivity of main
plants and income of
farmers.
(2) Do not implement
to improve soil
fertility in case of
drought and salinity
intrusion:
Farmers are Khmer ethnic minority
and poor.
Cropping by farmers in the area:
exploiting the land/ not trying to
improve and recover the land.
Using chemicals for planting and
inorganic fertilizer. Few use organic
fertilizer so the land fertility is
weakened.
Profit sharing strategy no joining of
communities.
Scientific and technical application
combined with traditional experience
has not been promoted. This is also true
with application of the integrated crop
management (ICM) for soil
degradation.

5. Exploiting exhaustion the
underground water
Underground water has been
decreased seriously, impacting to
irrigation requirements for onions
and vegetables

6. Climate Change Impacts in Soc Trang Province
Soc Trang has characterized by a tropical monsoon climate near equatorial and divided
into two distinct seasons
Drought:
- Dry season in Soc Trang begins in late Oct/mid-Nov each year, ends in late April/mid-
May
- From 2006 - 2010 the dry seasons have extended, with an increased prevalence of
drought. Eg. In 2007, there were 3 incidence of drought (from 5/6 - 9/6, from 17/7-27/ 7
and from 5/9 - 10/9
In some localities: the wet and dry seasons alternated in the same season (dry season has
caused flooding and heavy rain in the rainy season there are droughts)
Saline intrusion:
-The slight slope of the river bed and the low-lying topology are favorable conditions for
salt water to intrude into the farming land. In dry season, the river flow is weaker. Plus
the strong northeast winds exacerbates saltwater intrusion to more than forecasted.
-The inlet water in the whole Mekong river system, which is now 10 - 20cm less than
historical average level, has a weak river flow into to sea, which causes saltwater
intruding up to 40km inland. When the northeast wind blows during high tide the saline
intrusion can be found as far as 80km inland.

7. UNPREDICTABILITY OF WEATHER IN VINH CHAU IN
FIVE DEMONSTRATION CROPS WHICH APPLIED ICM
(1) Spring – Summer Crop in 2011: salinity and drought
appeared later, longer and more intensified, with unseasonal
rains & storms early in June, making it difficult for
producers.
(2) Summer – Autumn crop in 2011: More frequent heat waves
in the rainy season.
(3) Main onion crop in 2011-2012: The later out-of-season rains
in 11-12/2011 impacted development, disease control and
productivity of shallots
(4) Spring –summer crop in 2012: Rainy season came earlier,
from the end of April with heavy rain, above annual
average Affecting productivity of green beans.

8. Table 1: Economic efficiency of demonstration plots which applied ICM at Vinh
Chau in the Main Onion crop of 2010-2011
Items
Model
farming (1)
Local
farming (2)
Difference
(1 vs 2)
Yield (tonne/ha) 20.83 19.53 1.30
Total income (1,000 VND /ha) 1
374873,0 351552,0 23321,0
Seeds (1,000 VND/ha) 12303,0 12303,0 0,0
Soil preparation (1,000 VND/ha) 4881,0 4881,0 0,0
Making beds (1,000 VND/ha) 6550,0 6550,0 0,0
Sowing (1,000 VND/ha) 5393,0 5393,0 0,0
Mulching by rice straw (1,000 VND/ha) 2677,0 1041,0 1636,0
Watering (1,000 VND/ha) 22610,0 24971,0 -2361,0
Weeding (1,000 VND/ha) 4101,0 4465,0 -364,0
Fertilizer (1,000 VND/ha) 13290,0 13920,0 -630,0
Pesticides (1,000 VND/ha) 4518,0 5181,0 -663,0
Harvesting (1,000 VND/ha) 8882,0 8882,0 0,0
Drying and transport (1,000 VND/ha) 4991,0 4991,0 0,0
Total costs (1,000 VND/ha) 90195,0 92579,0 -2384,0
Profit (1,000 VND/ha) 284677,0 258973,0 25704,0
1
Onions were sold from 17,000 VND/kg to 20,000 VND/kg depending on selling time, average price is
18,000 VND/kg.

9. Demonstration plots which applied ICM in the Spring- Summer
crop 2011 (Mung bean, radish, chili)

10. Table 2: Economic efficiency of demonstration plots which applied ICM at
Vinhchau in Mung bean Spring-Summer crop of 2011 .
Items
Model
farming (1)
Local
farming (2)
Difference
(1 vs 2)
Yield (tonne/ha) 2.09 1.79 0.30
Total income (1,000 VND /ha) 1
55871,0 47842,0 8,029
Seeds (1,000 VND/ha) 1563,0 1563,0 0,000
Soil preparation (1,000 VND/ha) 2496,0 2496,0 0,000
Making beds (1,000 VND/ha) 4124,0 4124,0 0,000
Sowing (1,000 VND/ha) 1518,0 1518,0 0,000
Mulching by rice straw (1,000 VND/ha) 1908,0 1542,0 0,366
Watering (1,000 VND/ha) 4465,0 5386,0 -0,922
Weeding (1,000 VND/ha) 1582,0 2374,0 -0,792
Fertilizer (1,000 VND/ha) 4012,0 3351,0 0,662
Pesticides (1,000 VND/ha) 1564,0 2136,0 -0,572
Harvesting (1,000 VND/ha) 4434,0 4434,0 0,000
Drying and transport (1,000 VND/ha) 3053,0 3053,0 0,000
Total costs (1,000 VND/ha) 30720,0 31979,0 -1,259
Profit (1,000 VND/ha) 25150,0 15862,0 9,288
1
Mung beans were sold from 21,000 VND/kg to 37,000 VND/kg depending on selling time.

11. Demonstration plots which applied ICM at Vinhchau
in the Summer – Fall rice crop 2011

12. Table 3: Economic efficiency of demonstration plots which applied ICM
at Vinhchau in the Summer – Autumn/season of 2011.
Items
Model
farming (1)
Local
farming (2)
Difference
(1 vs 2)
Yield (tonne/ha) 5.75 5.53 0.22
Total income (1,000 VND /ha) 1
39586,6 38045,9 1540,7
Seeds (1,000 VND/ha) 1604,0 1537,7 66,3
Soil preparation (1,000 VND/ha) 1500,0 1500,0 0,0
Sowing/transplanting (1,000 VND/ha) 2465,2 2465,2 0,0
Re-transplanting (1,000 VND/ha) 858,2 789,7 68,6
Watering (1,000 VND/ha) 500,8 628,3 -127,6
Weeding (1,000 VND/ha) 475,6 492,0 -16,4
Fertilizer (1,000 VND/ha) 4993,2 4816,2 177,0
Pesticides (1,000 VND/ha) 1135,9 1308,6 -172,6
Harvesting (Cutting & Threshing) (1,000
VND/ha) 5565,2 5565,2 0,0
Drying and transport (1,000 VND/ha) 1607,5 1607,5 0,0
Total costs (1,000 VND/ha) 20705,7 20710,4 -4,7
Profit (1,000 VND/ha) 18880,9 17335,5 1545,4
1
Rice was sold from 6,500 VND/kg to 7,500 VND/kg depending on varieties and selling time.

13. Crop rotation/ intercropping (radish - chili, mung bean,
onions) for seeds in the Spring-Summer crop 2012

14. Table 5: Economic efficiency of demonstration plots which applied
ICM at Vinhchau in Radish Spring-Summer crop of 2012 .
5,14997,338102,487Profit (Benefit) (1,000 VND/ha)
-1,29249,51348,222Total costs (1,000 VND/ha)
02,5002,500Drying and transporting (1,000 VND/ha)
08,0008,000Harvesting (1,000 VND/ha)
-453,2502,800Pesticides (1,000 VND/ha)
-6425,9135,272Fertilizer (1,000 VND/ha)
-2002,6002,400Weeding (1,000 VND/ha)
-1,00011,00010,000Watering (1,000 VND/ha)
1,0002,0003,000Mulching by rice straw (1,000 VND/ha)
02,0002,000Sowing (1,000 VND/ha)
02,0002,000Making beds (1,000 VND/ha)
01,2501,250Soil preparation (1,000 VND/ha)
090009,000Seeds (1,000 VND/ha)
3,8500146,850150,708Total income (1,000 VND /ha) 1
1.0238.6539.66Yield (tonne/ha)
Difference
(1 vs 2)
Local farming
(2)
Model farming
(1)Items
1Radish was sold from 3,500 VND/kg to 4,000 VND/kg, average price is 3,800 VND/kg

15. Table 6: The Efficiency of the farming model which applied adaptive
management practices/ICM in onion-based cropping system
(Mean of 2 years)
-12.5236Radish in Spring-Summer cropiv
-9.1393Onion for Seeds in Spring-Summer cropiii
- 10.2336Mung bean in Spring-Summer cropii
-7.9481Onion in Main crop (Winter-Spring)i
Water input saving ( m3 water/ha/crop)3
14.410.604Increased Profit (million VND/ha)2
+4.05.75Rice in Summer-Autumn crop/Mua cropv
+4.337.73Radish in Spring-Summer cropiv
+6.812.35Onion for Seeds in Spring-Summer cropiii
+12.91.93Mung bean in Spring-Summer cropii
+5.419.20Onion in Main crop (Winter-Spring)i
Yield (tons/ha)1
Difference vs Local
farming (%)
Model
Farming
ItemsNo
.

16. 2. LEARNED LESSONS
2.1. Management and operation
a.The organization and implementation of climate adaptation models of the
project is the result of the close link between the stakeholders: GEF,
Executive Committee (Women Union of Vinh Chau town) and the Group of
Experts Consultants (Cuu Long Rice Research Institute ).
b.Focus on location choice to deploy models: Choosing the right venue.
Achieving consensus of local governments and households participating in
the project.
c.Ensure selection criteria for households participating in the CBA project.
d.Responsibilities and specific plans should be made clear at the beginning
of each quarter, before implementation of project activities.
e.The deployment of models is carried out properly based on the methods,
technical and specialized requirements of project.

17. 2.2. LESSONS LEARNED FROM TECHNICAL SOLUTIONS
2.2.1. Selecting and successful application of the adaptive management
practices/ICM in the model farming
(1) Select the plant type of upland crops with low water requirement and short growth
time, such as mung beans instead of radishes which were the main crop in Spring-
Summer season in previous years.
(2) The proper increase of mulching by rice straw for upland crops (purple onions,
radishes, mung beans, etc.)
(3) Supplementary use of organic fertilizer and lime, reduced use of chemical fertilizers,
especially nitrogen fertilizer, helping crops to stand unusual heat in early and mid
growth and increase capacity to resist pests and diseases.
(4) Use of specific pesticides, bio - pesticides, alternative use of chemical pesticides for
main diseases that are highly pesticide-resistant on each crops, quick response to
situations when the growth and productivity of farm produce was affected.
(5) Application of strict measures in disease prevention before sowing, namely,
cleaning the field, drying the soil, lime treatment, applying chemicals to prevent
fungus disease and other harmful diseases developing quickly in high humidity and
heavy rain, such as (Spodoptera litura, Spodoptera exigua , purple blotch/spot-
Alternaria porri, Sclerotium cepivorum )
(6) Adoption of rice varieties that can stand droughts, salinity and have short growth
duration such as OM5451,OM6377,...

18. 2.2. LESSONS LEARNED FROM TECHNICAL SOLUTIONS
2.2.2. Harmonious Combination between the Indigenous Knowledge
of Vinhchau Farmers with the new technologies and between
economic efficiency with environmental benefit.
• Increase use of rice straw mulching to save input water in onion-based cropping
systems (mung bean, radish, onion for seeds, chili, etc.)
• Application of irrigating techniques using underground water for upland crops in
drought and high salinity conditions of Vinhchau.
• Mixing of loamy soil with sandy soil: After 2-3 years of cultivation of onion and
other upland crops (radish, mung bean, chili, manioc, etc. ), farmers of Vinhchau
bought loamy soil from other places to mix with sandy soil (about 10 m3 /1000m2
# the added layer is 20-30cm) in order to supply nutrients for the degraded soil
due to continuous upland crops, especially onion and radish without applying
organic fertilizers.

19. Strengthening planting beds with straw
Underground tank with barrel/ pipe
irrigation by Vinh Chau

20. 2.2. LESSONS LEARNED: TECHNICAL
2.2.2. Harmonious Combination between the Indigenous Knowledge of Vinhchau
Farmers with the New technologies and between economic efficiency with
environmental benefit.
(4) Improved fields: To limit the impact of rainy season, lower quantity of rotten onions
and radishes by elevating ground about 10-20 cm more.
(5) Onion Preservation: frequency/time of watering and fertilizing affect the shelf life.
- Reduce watering in the afternoon at 50-55 days of age
- Limit excess chemical fertilizers
- Use a nylon tarpaulin to shield onion plants during the Northeast monsoon
(6) Diversifying crop rotations / intercropping of crops such as radish, green beans,
chilli, ... in Spring –Summer crop to increase profits and contribute to addressing
sustainable livelihoods.
(7) Proactive measures to support timely response to erratic weather changes

21. CONCLUSION
1. Efficiency of the project:
The project brings many benefits to community
a. In an area of 165.5 ha of 5 Demonstration plots which applied ICM to prevent soil
degradation due to drought and salinity, crop rotation approach of purple onions
has met and exceeded adaptation indicators for the project- 6 solutions adapted
successfully.
b. The adaptive management practices which applied ICM helped minimize the
adverse effects of climate change on agricultural production of the community
despite the evolution of climate change and erratic weather trend worsening.
c. Contribute to solving the problem of water-saving irrigation for onions and other
crops in drought conditions. Water savings from 6.2% to 18.4% depending on the
crop and crop cultivation.
d. Contribute to the protection and improvement of environment farming, preventing
land degradation, drought and salinity.

22. e. Economic efficiency is improved: Increasing profit by ICM
in 5 crops at 1,755 billion on 165.5 hectares. Average is
10,604 VND / ha (14.4%).
f. The project contributed to the adaptativ capacity of the local
community
CONCLUSION

23. 2. The results of the technical demonstration project is
concluded - transfer and replication of model
There have been many lessons useful to the community in
the management, operation and application of technical
solutions to adapt to climate change and replication is
applicable to areas with similar conditions Vinh Hai , Hoa
Lac (Vinh Chau, Soc Trang) and other coastal provinces
in the Mekong Delta.
3. There were four policy recommendations proposed to local
government, which contribute to poverty reduction and
sustainable livelihoods of the Khmer community in Vinh
Chau in response to the worsening effects of climate
change.
CONCLUSION

24. UNDP GEF SGP Viet Nam
CBA Viet Nam
Nguy n Th Kim Anh, UNDP Viet Nam
24

25. 25
1. CBA Viet Nam portfolio
• Objective: to enhance local adaptive capacity to address
CC adverse impact to promote sustainable agriculture.
• a diversified project portfolio of 12 projects - to
experiment adaptation models which strengthen resilience
of ecosystems and vulnerable communities in the face of
CC.
• rural poor farmers, 2 projects - indigenous peoples
(Muong and Khmer).

26. Upland ecosystem
(2)
Coastal
ecosystems
(10)
Central Coast (8)
North East (2)
Land degradation
and desertification
Biodiversity
Conservation
GEF
Focal
Areas
Mekong delta
(2)
12
projects
12 projects
16.7%
83.3%
16.7%
16.7%
66.6%
International waters

27. 27
CBA projects
• Demonstration projects, adopting integrated
approaches - 3 key components, including awareness
raising, capacity building and model building.
• Key characteristics: natural resource management,
disaster risk reduction, community development,
poverty reduction/ sustainable livelihoods, in the face of
climate change.

28. 28
Adaptation methods:
• Testing salinity and drought tolerant varieties of rice and other
crops;
• Integrated and sustainable use of natural resources, including
biodiversity, land and water;
• Rainwater harvesting;
• Micro watershed management in
upland areas (building contour
ditches and planting forest to
reduce impact of flash flood);

29. 29
• Integrated farming techniques (sustainable
land and water management, fertilizing,
shifting crop calendar, …);
• Documentation and utilization of traditional
knowledge;
• Protecting and planting mangroves;
• Diversification of income/livelihood activities
(off farm income).

30. 30
2. Lessons Learned
• Common community definition of CC adaptation: to be proactive in
developing readiness for coping with extreme weather events
• Local expectations on CBA projects:
What kind of CC impacts for their localities?
What are the appropriate and
short term adaptation measures
to promote sustainable livelihoods
in the context of CC?
• Local communities and people have
already taken adaptive measures,
but this has been passive and the
measures adopted have been limited
to those available with their indigenous
knowledge, skills and resources.

31. 31
Effective adaptation requires:
• giving the development of capacity for local
communities the highest priority.
• address simultaneously:
• the short-term impacts on livelihoods and
the longer-term impacts on ecosystems and
natural resources
• the impacts of development (non climatic
reasons) and of climate change (climatic
reasons)

32. 32
• Combining traditional knowledge with
advanced technologies in adaptation
measures - to proactively responding to CC
impacts in a flexible manner.
• the adoption of flexible adaptation measures.
• appropriateness for the specific community –
taking into account the local cultural,
environment and natural resources.

33. 33
Conservation and sustainable use of natural resources is an
effective adaptation strategy as:
•Those poor communities facing environmental degradation and
living in a prone disaster area are the most vulnerable to CC,
heavily depending on natural resources for livelihoods.
•CC adaptation measures need to be
based on the use of more environment
-ally friendly technologies and methods
promoting conservation and
sustainable use of biodiversity, water
and land resources.
•Hard measures (community
infrastructure) are needed for
effective adaptation.

34. 34
• All CBA project areas suffered from unfavorable weather
during the project implementation. In the context of CC,
there is a real need for the experimentation of the
adaptation measures in a number of years/crops so as to
confirm its adaptability to
CC impact.
• Diversification of income,
promoting off farm-income
generation to reduce the
Climatic risks in agriculture
Development and overexploit-
ation of natural resources
.

35. 35
The effectiveness of SPG for Vietnam
At the programme level:
•CBA project implementation benefits from the existing
mechanism of SGP and its lessons learned.
•The technical assistance from the NSC members, especially
the ones who have CC expertise, is very helpful to the CBA
implementation.
•CBA provides a very good learning opportunity for SGP
Viet Nam to experience in a new area of CC adaptation
which highly meets its stakeholders.
•There is a critical need for advocacy on CBA to maximise
CBA impact and influence policy at the national level.

36. 36
3. Conclusion
• CC is real and there is a critical need for adaptation - high
on the government agenda of Viet Nam, at the national and
local levels – promoting CBA.
• Effective implementation and management of CBA
programme requires:
• CBA strategy - a clear strategic focus (thematic and
geographic), adaptation measures (short term and long
term, cost effective, socio – economic and
environmental benefits, development/additional
impact of CC)
• existing SGP mechanism to deliver funding on CBA

37. 37
• CBA - a strategic niche for SGP - target both
CC adaptation - mainstream CC adaptation
in SGP programme and projects
(urban and rural poor, the Central Coast and
Mekong delta, mainstreaming in local and
national programmes/ policy influence and
synergy with big projects for sustainability,
replication and up-scaling, knowledge
management and advocacy on CBA).

38. THANK YOU!