Báo cáo Nghiên cứu khoa học Management of Phytophthora diseases in Vietnamese Horticulture: Project Completion Report

Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Development Management of Phytophthora diseases in Vietnamese Horticulture CARD 052/04VIE Project Completion Report June 2007 1 Table of Contents 1. Institute Information ___________________________________________________ 3 2. Project Abstract _______________________________________________________ 4 3. Executive Summary ____________________________________________________ 4 4. Introduction & Background _____________________________________________ 8 5. Progress to Date _______________________________________________________ 9 5.1 Implementation Highlights ______________________________________________ 9 5.2 Smallholder Benefits __________________________________________________ 11 5.3 Capacity Building_____________________________________________________ 12 5.4 Project Management __________________________________________________ 17 6. Report on Cross-Cutting Issues__________________________________________ 18 6.1 Environment_________________________________________________________ 18 6.2 Gender and Social Issues_______________________________________________ 20 7. Implementation & Sustainability Issues ___________________________________ 20 7.1 Issues and Constraints_________________________________________________ 20 7.2 Sustainability ________________________________________________________ 20 8. Next Critical Steps ____________________________________________________ 20 9. Conclusion __________________________________________________________ 21 10. Statutory Declaration_____________________________Error! Bookmark not defined. 11. Appendix I. Project Logframe____________________________________________23 12. Appendix II. Participant Presentations_____________________________________28 13. Appendix III. Farmer case studies________________________________________70 14. Appendix V. Extension Manuals __________________________________________ 15.. Appendix IV. Project survey results_______________________________________78 1 Acknowledgements We would like to express out thanks to the farmers who participated in this project by sharing their thoughts and opinions and listening to ours, by providing their land and crops for participatory trials and demonstration plots, their involvement was crucial to this project. We hope they will reap the rewards. We would like to sincerely thank Mr Nguyen Vinh Truong for his assistance in translation of workshop questionnaires and during many of the farm visits and workshops. We also thank Dr Tran Nguyen Ha for assisting with translations during the scientific workshops at NIPP in Hanoi. 2 1. Institute Information Project Name Management of Phytophthora Diseases in Vietnamese Horticulture Vietnamese Institution National Institute of Plant Protection Vietnamese Project Team Leader Dr Nguyen Van Tuat Australian Organisation The University of Sydney Australian Personnel Professor David Guest Date commenced April 2005 Completion date (original) December 2006 Completion date (revised) June 2007 Reporting period April 2007 (Completion) Contact Officer(s) In Australia: Team Leader Name: Professor David Guest Telephone: (02) 9352.3946 Position: Professor of Plant Pathology Fax: (02) 9351.4172 Organisation The University of Sydney Email: d.guest@usyd.edu.au In Australia: Administrative contact Name: Ms Luda Kuchieva Telephone: (02) 9351 7903 Position: Research Grants Administration Officer Fax: (02) 9351 3256 Organisation The University of Sydney Email: luda.kuchieva@usyd.edu.au In Vietnam Name: Dr Nguyen Van Tuat Telephone: (84) 320 716 395 Position: Director Fax: (84) 320 716 385 Organisation National Institute of Plant Protection Email: tuat@hn.vnn.vn 3 2. Project Abstract Diseases caused by Phytophthora pathogens affect a wide range of horticultural crops in Vietnam, resulting in yield reductions of up to 70% in some seasons. The objective of this project was to improve the management of Phytophthora diseases in Vietnamese horticulture by enhancing the knowledge at the scientific, extension and farmer levels and, in doing so, reduce crop losses and improve smallholder outcomes. Training workshops were run by Australian and Vietnamese scientists to extend effective and sustainable disease management options to institutional scientists, provincial PPSD staff, extension officers and farmers. The project trained 157 scientific and extension staff and over 450 farmers. On farm trials and demonstrations involving smallholder farmers were conducted by extension staff and scientists to develop integrated disease management recommendations, and will continue beyond this project. Three scientists from NIPP, FTRDC and SOFRI travelled to Australia for specialist training. The project has improved capacity for disease diagnosis and development of disease management recommendations for targeted crops and regions amongst scientific and PPSD staff and it has advanced the awareness of disease diagnosis amongst farmers, and promoted more effective sustainable disease control, improved product quality and yield, and ultimately, farmer incomes. 3. Executive Summary The objective of this project was to extend sustainable and effective disease control and management recommendations developed in earlier research projects to a range of horticultural crops in Vietnam, thereby reducing crop losses due to Phytophthora diseases and improving smallholder outcomes. Diseases caused by Phytophthora pathogens affect a wide range of horticultural and agricultural crops in Vietnam including pineapple, citrus, rubber, black pepper, tomato and potato. Phytophthora diseases can result in yield losses of up to 70% in some seasons, with subsequent economic consequences. Prior to this project, knowledge of the occurrence and distribution of Phytophthora species present in Vietnam, disease transmission and progression, and suitable control methods was limited. Expertise in the diagnosis and management of Phytophthora diseases was lacking. The inability to accurately diagnose symptoms often resulted in elevated disease incidence, high yield losses and the inappropriate and unsustainable use of chemicals for disease control. This project promoted a strategic approach to the future study and control of Phytophthora diseases. Local disease problems were identified from prior experiences by Australian project staff, through informal surveys of extension staff and smallholders and from discussions in small-groups at project workshops. Priority crops were identified in each of three regions involved in this project; north, central and south of Vietnam. Disease management options presented throughout the project are applicable to crops other than just those selected for this project. In the south, the priority crops were identified as pineapple, citrus, and black pepper. Citrus, black pepper and rubber were the key focus in the centre, and litchi, tomato, pineapple and potato were targeted in the north. The project aimed to train local staff in disease diagnosis and to promote the implementation of sustainable and effective disease management strategies. This was achieved through two Scientific Training Workshops, field visits by Australian and 4 Vietnamese project members, development of a training manual and assignment of small research projects. Local extension workshops, farmer training and on-farm demonstrations of disease management options extended the disease management options developed in the initial training workshops. The first scientific training workshops were held at the National Institute of Plant Protection – Hanoi (NIPP), Fruit Trees Research and Development Centre – Hue (FTRDC), and Southern Fruit Research Institute – My Tho (SOFRI) between May 31 and June 13, 2005. The workshops were attended by 77 scientists and extension workers from universities, research institutes and extension agencies in the north, centre and south of Vietnam. The three day Scientific Training Workshops started with participants identifying and analysing the major constraints to crop production in their region. Field visits with Australian experts enabled correct identification of disease symptoms. As expected, these analyses identified Phytophthora diseases (whether accurately diagnosed or not) as major problems for extension workers and farmers. Lack of extension information and extension capacity, leading to incorrect diagnosis and inappropriate farm management were consistently identified as major constraints to farmers. The workshops then provided a hands-on approach to collection of samples from the field, diagnosis and management of Phytophthora diseases in Vietnam. Participants were trained in pathogen identification, disease diagnosis, disease control methods and participatory research techniques (PAR). Lecture sessions introduced participants to a variety of Phytophthora species and the diseases they cause on a range of plants, the impact of Phytophthora diseases in Southeast Asia, the concepts of disease diagnosis, pathogen isolation and identification, disease epidemiology and disease cycles (Figure 1). Information was provided in Vietnamese and English, with simultaneous translation provided as necessary. This information was put into practice when participants went out into the field to identify diseased plants and collect material for laboratory analysis. Figure 1. Dr Andre Drenth presenting a seminar during the first workshop in at FTRDC in Hue, June 2005. In the laboratory participants learnt techniques to isolate Phytophthora from soil and plant material that we collected during field visits, and how to identify Phytophthora as the causal organism. Participants were divided into groups to discuss current disease incidence and management strategies and to develop a selection of disease low-, medium- and high- input management options to present to farmers as part the extension recommendations and participatory research (Figure 2). The workshops provided participants with the capacity to conduct extension workshops in the next phase of the project, to establish short research projects based on participatory research (PAR) and to develop integrated disease management recommendations for farmers. Results from these projects were presented at the final workshop in 2007 (Figure 3). 5 Figure 2. Workshop participants discussing disease management options during the second Scientific Training Workshop at FTRDC in Hue, April 2007. Figure 3. Final day of the second Scientific Training Workshop held at NIPP in Hanoi, January 2007. A Vietnamese-language Training Manual was developed and distributed at each workshop. A hardcopy and an electronic copy were submitted with the first 6-monthly progress report. The training manual includes all presentations from the workshops and information about Phytophthora diseases and their management taken from ACIAR Monograph 114 (Drenth and Guest 2004). It was well received and provides a comprehensive future reference point for participants. The training manual was submitted with the first progress report. The key outcome from the scientific training workshops was the improved capacity for hands-on disease diagnosis, isolation of Phytophthora pathogens and identification of the causal organism, the value of field visits, understanding disease aetiology, establishment of on-farm trials and the development and extension of recommendations for disease management for the 77 scientists and extension staff who participated in the workshops held at NIPP, FTRDC and SOFRI. In July 2005 (Mrs Nguyen Thi Ly, Dr Nguyen Van Hoa) and July 2006 (Mr Doan Nhan Ai) Vietnamese scientists from NIPP, SOFRI and FTRDC visited Australia to participate in a scientific study tour of Australian horticulture. This study tour exposed the Vietnamese scientists to best practice techniques used in nursery and horticultural production as well as techniques in pathogen identification and research training. Upon their return to Vietnam, the Vietnamese scientists applied relevant techniques to their own farming situations. The first- hand knowledge gained from this visit was transferred to extension agencies through extension workshops and farmer training programs, adding to the capacity building achievements of the project. The tour also built on existing, and established new, collaborative networks between Vietnamese and Australian scientists. The Vietnamese scientists rated the value of these study tours very highly in their study tour reports submitted 6 with the second and third 6-monthly reports. The Vietnamese Government is funded a tour of Queensland and Northern NSW for a further two Vietnamese scientists in 2007, again indicating impacts beyond the mandate of this project. The key outcome from the scientific study tours was the exposure of the three Vietnamese scientists to best practice techniques for nursery and horticultural production, and the transfer of new ideas to Vietnamese extension staff and farmers. Following the scientific training workshops held in Vietnam and the subsequent scientific study tour of Australian horticulture sites by Vietnamese scientists, scientific staff in Vietnam were well equipped to transfer disease diagnosis skills and knowledge of management strategies to extension agencies and farmers. Extension training workshops were organised by staff at NIPP, FTRDC and SOFRI to transfer management options for sustainable disease control. The workshops, held in late 2005 and in 2006, were attended by 80 staff from extension agencies in 16 Provinces who were trained in integrated disease management strategies. The Extension Training Workshops provided a hands-on approach to diagnosis and management of Phytophthora diseases in Vietnam. The format of the workshops was similar to that of the Scientific Training Workshops, as described above. Extension staff discussed and analysed constraints faced by farmers, and were trained in pathogen identification, disease diagnosis, disease management and PAR. Training Manuals, both hardcopies and CDs, were distributed at each workshop. The training manuals, translated to Vietnamese, were based on the manual developed for the first series of scientific training workshops held in June 2005. Again, the manuals were well received and can be used as a comprehensive future reference point by extension staff. The key outcome of the Extension Training Workshops was the transfer of knowledge and skills for the accurate diagnosis of disease symptoms to over 80 extension personnel, improved capacity to implement targeted, accurate and sustainable disease management recommendations. To promote awareness of improved farming and disease management practices amongst farmers, Vietnamese scientific and extension staff organised farmer training sessions and on- farm participatory research trials. Over 450 farmers were trained through the farmer schools, on-farm demonstrations and research trials across the three regions. The trials were monitored and results discussed at the final project workshop in January (NIPP) and April (FTRC, SOFRI) 2007. Participants presented results from their trials in the final workshops (Submitted on a CD with this report) and indicated that further farmer training is planned beyond this project, based on the skills developed. Australian project staff visited various PAR field sites to monitor and discuss progress in the implementation of disease control strategies. As a result of improved knowledge of pathogens and the diseases they cause, disease diagnosis is now more accurate. Farm management has improved significantly and, in some crops, sustainable yield increases of over 70% have been realised. The key outcome from the farmer training and on-farm trials is the greater knowledge and understanding of pathogens and diseases amongst extension officers and farmers. The transfer of appropriate and sustainable disease management options has improved farm management, reduced the reliance on, and improper use of, pesticides, and subsequently, improved crop quality and yield. The underlying objective of this project was to improve smallholder productivity and alleviate poverty by developing the skills of relevant scientific and extension staff and their capacity to implement appropriate and effective disease management recommendations with smallholders. Institutional scientific staff and extension staff now have a significantly 7 greater capacity to diagnose diseases caused by Phytophthora and to develop and disseminate appropriate disease management recommendations. Accurate diagnosis of disease, improved knowledge of pathogens, and the provision of a range of management options facilitate targeted and effective disease management strategies. Project observations and outcomes indicate a better quality product, an increase in yield, and consequently, an increase in farmer income. The increase in competency of Vietnamese scientific and extension staff in disease diagnosis will enable outcomes to be achieved well beyond the time frame of this project, as the transfer of information and management strategies continues in the coming years. 4. Introduction & Background Vietnam has two distinct climatic regions; the subtropical region north of the Haivan Mountains with four distinct seasons, and the tropical region in the south with two seasons, wet and dry. The geographic and climatic diversity in Vietnam allows a broad range of plant species to be cultivated. Tropical and subtropical fruit trees are concentrated in the northern and southern parts of Vietnam while temperate crops in the northwest mountains in the north of Việt Nam. The broad range of climatic regions also provides ideal conditions for a range of different Phytophthora species to flourish. The genus Phytophthora is responsible for extensive economic damage in a wide range of horticultural crops throughout Vietnam, resulting in large reductions in yield and significant losses in smallholder income. In the tropical regions of Vietnam pineapple heart rot, caused by P. cinnamomi and P. nicotianae, can cause yield losses of up to 60%. In citrus (pummelo) P. citrophthora attacks the stem and fruit resulting in gummosis and fruit rot with yield losses of up to 30%. Phytophthora wilt of pepper can result in yield losses of over 70%. Prior to this project, information on the occurrence and distribution of the various Phytophthora species present in Vietnam, transmission and development of disease, and suitable control methods was limited. Expertise in the diagnosis and management of Phytophthora diseases was also poor. Extension workers and smallholder farmers remained largely ignorant of the impact of Phytophthora. Many Phytophthora diseases were incorrectly attributed to unfavourable weather and, as a consequence, farmers largely accepted the losses as beyond their control and failed to take any remedial measures to reduce disease losses, or abandoned cultivation of some crops altogether. The lack of information also resulted in inappropriate use of pesticides. For example, prior to this project, in Bac Ninh Province, farmers applied pesticides 10-12 times to potato crops during the growing season in an attempt to control disease. The fungicides were not appropriate for the target pathogen, and were not applied at the correct time. In Thuy Bieu- Hue Province we met a farmer who applied insecticides to control fungal diseases because she did not have the knowledge to correctly diagnose the cause of disease in her black pepper crop. In central highland, most growers had formed a 'swimming pool' at the base of a black pepper vine to keep water standing here to avoid drought in the dry season while not avoid waterlogging in the rainy season. Such practices are conducive to the development of Phytophthora diseases. Pressure to produce blemish-free, good quality horticultural produce which commands a good price in the market has resulted in an increase in the use of pesticides. Consequently, high residues in food and environmental pollution have become serious problems. The key objective of this project was to improve smallholder productivity and alleviate poverty by improving the knowledge of Phytophthora diseases and the capacity to implement disease management recommendations at all levels in Vietnamese horticulture. Priority crops were identified in each of the three project regions; north, central and south Vietnam. The Australian and Vietnamese project team ran a series of workshops and supervised short 8 on-farm research projects. Our workshops aimed to fill the gaps in knowledge of Phytophthora diseases at all levels in Vietnamese horticulture. The workshops focused on the biology of Phytophthora, the diseases it causes, and potential management practices. Scientific and extension staff were trained in disease diagnosis at the field and laboratory levels and in the implementation of effective disease management strategies. The first Scientific Training workshops were held at the NIPP – Hanoi, FTRDC – Hue and SOFRI – My Tho in June 2005. The final Scientific Training Workshops organised by the Australian partners were held in January and April 2007. These hands-on training workshops focussed on participation and contributed to capacity building in the research and extension institutes involved. Scientific staff are now well equipped with knowledge and should be able to transfer diagnostic skills and Phytophthora disease management strategies to extension agencies. The second level of training focused on disease symptom recognition, diagnosis and the development and application of integrated management for smallholders. Vietnamese scientific staff ran workshops for Provincial Plant Protection Sub-Division (PPSD) staff in late 2005 and in 2006. The priority crops formed the basis of the on-farm trials and extension activities. Workshop participants presented the results of their participatory research trials at the final Scientific Training Workshops in 2007. The third level of training in Vietnam disseminated diagnostic skills and disease management options to smallholders in each region through Farmer Training Workshops and participatory action research (PAR) methodologies. PPSD staff established and supervised on-farm trials using a range of farm management strategies and other extension activities involving smallholder farmers developed at the training workshops. Participating farmers were the focus for future extension activities conducted in this project. Three Vietnamese scientists also undertook a study tour to Australia where they learnt about nursery best practice and orchard management, as well as advanced techniques in pathogen identification and research training. Two scientists (Mrs Nguyen Thi Ly (NIPP) and Dr Nguyen Van Hoa (SOFRI)) visited Australia in July 2005 and Mr Doan Nhan Ai (FTRDC) in July 2006 to participate the training and study tour to examine nursery best practice and horticultural production in southern Queensland, and for further training in Phytophthora diagnostics. This will build institutional capacity and aims to maximise the long-term benefits to each institution. 5. Progress to Date 5.1 Implementation Highlights The key overall outcome of this project is a significantly improved capability in Vietnam at different levels (ie. scientist, extension, smallholder farmers) to correctly diagnose Phytophthora disease problems and, based on an understanding of relevant aspects of its pathogen biology, to develop and implement sustainable and effective disease management strategies. Smallholder farmers involved in this project have demonstrated significant reductions in yield losses due to Phytophthora giving rise to improved profitability, reduced used of inappropriate chemicals and more sustainable production systems. Details of the project outcomes are provided in the Report Logframe (Appendix I). Briefly, the milestones of the project have been achieved with the following targets being implemented: 1. Signing of the project contract in April 2005 (Logframe reference Milestone 1). 9 2. Signing of an MOU between Australian and Vietnamese project leaders (Logframe reference Milestone 1). 3. Submission of progress reports (Logframe reference Milestones 2, 3, 5) 4. Development and distribution of Scientific Training Manual (Logframe reference Milestone 4). 5. Assessment of the level of competency of Vietnamese institutional staff and effectiveness of scientific training activities by conducting questionnaires in the first and final scientific training workshops held at NIPP, FTRDC and SOFRI (Logframe reference Milestone 4). 6. Completion of first (July 2005) and final scientific training workshops (January and April 2007) at NIPP-Hanoi, FTRDC-Hue and SOFRI-My Tho. 7. Training of 77 Vietnamese scientists and PPSD staff in disease diagnosis and the identification of Phytophthora through a series of Scientific Training workshops. 8. Visit by three Vietnamese scientists (Mrs Nguyen Thi Ly from NIPP, Hanoi, and Dr Nguyen Van Hoa from SOFRI, My Tho and Mr Doan Nhan Ai, FTRDC, Hue) to Australia to participate in the tour of horticultural industries and research facilities in southern Queensland and northern NSW to promote a greater understanding of diagnostic skills, disease management strategies and good nursery and farm management practices. 9. Completion of extension training workshops by Vietnamese institutional staff at NIPP- Hanoi, FTRDC-Hue and SOFRI-My Tho. 10. Training manuals distributed to participants of the Extension Training Workshops (Logframe reference Milestone 6). 11. Preparation of extension materials and tools (Logframe reference Milestone 6) (Figure 4). Figure 4. Extension materials on display at the final Scientific Training workshop at NIPP, January 2007. Extension brochures and posters were developed by the three Vietnamese partner institutes to communicate disease management options to the farming community. 12. Establishment of PAR trials in the north, central and southern regions of Vietnam by scientific and extension staff from NIPP, FTRDC, SOFRI and Plant Protection Division offices (Appendix II). a. Over 450 farmers were involved in the farmer training and PAR. Farmer case studies are presented in Appendix III. 13. Promotion of awareness of pathogens, disease aetiology and disease management strategies amongst extension staff and farmers through establishment of PAR trials and extension activities. 14. Promotion of disease management awareness among farmers. a. Prior to this project the understanding of pathogens and the diseases they cause, and the availability of options for disease control was limited in some areas. b. Farmers who attended the Farmer Training Workshops are adopting new control measures they have learnt. 10 15. Collaborative visit to Hue (FTRDC, Mr Doan Nhan Ai) to visit PAR trials (citrus, rubber, pepper) in the central region by Vietnamese scientists (Mrs Nguyen Thi Ly from NIPP, Hanoi, and Dr Nguyen Minh Chau and Dr Nguyen Van Hoa from SOFRI, My Tho) and the Australian partners (Prof David Guest, Dr Andre Drenth and Dr Rosalie Daniel) in February, 2006; a. Strengthened networks between Vietnamese research institutes, national and provincial extension agencies by bringing scientists from north and south Vietnam to the central provinces. 16. Presentation of seminars by Prof David Guest and Dr Andre Drenth at Hue Agricultural University (HAU) in February 2006. a. Strengthened partnerships between research institutes and university b. Linked the CARD project with the PhD project of Mr Nguyen Vinh Truong c. Linked the CARD project with the PhD project of Ms Tran TT Ha. 5.2 Smallholder Benefits A better understanding of pathogens and factors contributing to disease development among extension staff and farmers has enhanced the capacity of extension staff to identify disease symptoms and to implement a range of disease management options. The result is the availability, promotion and implementation of a range of more effective remedial measures for disease management and more appropriate and targeted, and often reduced, use of pesticides. Ultimately, this culminates in a better quality product, increased yield and a higher income for the smallholder farmers (Appendix III). Farmers were very receptive to the project and eager to learn new methods for disease management in their crops. As a result of this project farmers have learnt to: (a) distinguish between diseases caused by different organisms; (b) develop alternative integrated management methods for disease management (c) apply appropriate and effective fungicides. The benefits to smallholders arising from this project are summarised as follows: a. Increased knowledge of options and methods available for disease management • Based on surveys conducted during the first and final workshops lack of information remains one of the key limitations for disease control (Figure 5). While this project has provided a range of options for the management of Phytophthora diseases, it is important that information continues to be extended to more farmers. 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 Lack of information Staff shortage Weather Money Time Pa rt ic ip an ts (% ) 2005 2007 Figure 5. The main limitations for disease management, as ranked by the Scientific Workshop participants. All limitations were greater in the second survey. The largest limitation continues to be lack of information – it has even grown, perhaps because participants are aware that information is very important for implementing effective and sustainable disease management strategies and that there is information available, if they can find access to it. The data represents the mean of the combined answers from questionnaires conducted at the Scientific Workshops held at NIPP, SOFRI and FTRDC in 2005 and 2007. 11 b. Awareness of where to obtain information for crop disease management c. Safer and more appropriate, targeted use of chemicals • A broader range of a range of cultural practices are now used to manage disease in horticultural crops (Figure 6). The use of chemicals has declined, or become more targeted. 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 Chemical Hygiene Drainage Mulch Cultivar selection Fertiliser None Pa rt ic ip an ts (% ) 2005 2007 Figure 6. The main methods used for disease control in the districts from which the Scientific Workshop participants came, as ranked by the participants. Use of a broader range of cultural practices was more common after the first workshop. Chemical use decreased during the course of the project. The data represents the mean of the combined answers from questionnaires conducted at the Scientific Workshops held at NIPP, SOFRI and FTRDC in 2005 and 2007. d. Reduced disease incidence • Outcomes from farmer trials indicate the new recommendations are effective in reducing disease incidence (Appendix II) e. Superior product quality f. Increased yield (Appendix III) g. Greater income 5.3 Capacity Building This project has advanced the knowledge base, skills and confidence in disease diagnosis amongst the Vietnamese scientists, extension staff and farmers involved. Correct disease diagnosis combined with the knowledge of management options available has resulted in reduced disease incidence and improved product quality and yield. 1. Scientific training workshops at NIPP, FTRDC, SOFRI Held in June 2005(start up) and January and April 2007 (final) The 77 participants of the first Scientific Training Workshops identified the major constraints facing smallholder farmers. Based on these analyses, participants learnt about the biology of Phytophthora, the diseases it causes, a range of management practices available and why they are effective. Participants were trained in symptom diagnosis in the field and in the laboratory, improving institutional capacity for disease symptom diagnosis, pathogen identification, research and recommendations for disease management. Emphasis for both scientists and extension staff was placed on the benefits of working directly with farmers to develop and test appropriate and cost-effective farm management practices. Responses to the surveys conducted during the first and final scientific workshops suggest that participants have become more confident in their understanding, diagnosis and management of 12 Phytophthora diseases (Figure 7). At the final workshop we observed that participants from the first workshop had learnt and put into practice techniques to isolate and identify Phytophthora from diseased plant material and soil. 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 No knowledge Below average Average Good Excellent Pa rti ci pa nt s (% ) 2005 2007 Figure 7. Percentage of participants that described their current understanding of disease management as no knowledge, below average, average, good or excellent. Participants ranked their understanding of disease management higher at the end of the project. The data represents the mean of the combined answers from questionnaires conducted at the Scientific Workshops held at NIPP, SOFRI and FTRDC in 2005 and 2007. During the first workshop, participants were offered a range of options to manage diseases caused by Phytophthora species. At the first workshop, chemical control was identified as the most common method used for disease control. Responses from participants at the final Scientific Workshop suggest that the use of cultural practices, such as hygiene, improved drainage and cultivar selection, have increased as tools for control of Phytophthora diseases (Figure 8). 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 Chemical Hygiene Drainage Mulch Cultivar selection Fertiliser None Pa rt ic ip an ts (% ) 2005 2007 Figure 8. The most effective methods for disease control, as ranked by the participants. While chemical control was still considered the most effective means for controlling disease, chemical use is now more often complimented with other disease management options. The data represents the mean of the combined answers from questionnaires conducted at the Scientific Workshops held at NIPP, SOFRI and FTRDC in 2005 and 2007. 2. Training Manual A comprehensive training manual was developed for the first scientific training workshops where it was distributed to workshop participants as a hard copy and in electronic format (submitted with the first progress report). The manual included copies of all presentations, some of which were translated into Vietnamese and translations of selected relevant chapters of ACIAR Monograph No 114 (Drenth A & Guest DI, 2004. Diversity and Management of Phytophthora in Southeast Asia). The development and distribution of a comprehensive training manual and the ACIAR Monograph No 114 provided participants with a guide to which they can refer to over the long term. 13 3. Extension Training Workshops The Extension Training Workshops in this project aimed to extend the knowledge acquired in the Scientific Training Workshops to all levels in Vietnamese horticulture. Extension Training Workshops were coordinated by NIPP, FTRDC and SOFRI. Participants were taught to recognise disease symptoms and were presented with a range of sustainable and effective integrated management strategies. Following the first Extension workshop, the participants’ ranked their understanding of disease management as high as prior to attending the workshop (Figure 9). As expected, participants in the Extension Workshop organised by FTRDC ranked a range of factors as important causes of crop failure. The awareness of pests and diseases as a cause of crop failure increased following the workshop. Alternatively, the weather could have been more conducive to disease in that season, resulting in a greater increase in disease incidence and consequential increase in crop failure (Figure 10). A comprehensive training manual based on that developed for the first Scientific Training Workshop was provided to extension workshop participants. Participants from these training workshops supervised participatory research and conducted extension activities involving smallholder farmers. Results of some of the participatory research trials were presented at the final workshops in January and April 2007. 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 No knowledge Below average Average Good Excellent Pa rt ic ip an ts (% ) First workshop Second workshop Figure 9. Percentage of participants that described their current understanding of disease management as no knowledge, below average, average, good or excellent. Participants ranked their understanding of disease management higher in the second extension workshop. The data represents the mean of the combined answers from questionnaires conducted at the Extension Workshop organised by FTRDC. 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 Weather Management Diseases & pests Lack of fertiliser Water Pa rt ic ip an ts First workshop Second workshop Figure 10. The most important cause of crop failure according to participants of the Extension Workshop organised by FTRDC. The causes of crop failure varied. The awareness of pests and diseases as a cause of crop failure may have increased following the workshop. The data represents the mean of the combined answers from questionnaires conducted at the Extension Workshop organised by FTRDC. 14 Based on responses from Extension Workshop participants, chemicals remain the most popular method for disease control (Figure 11) and are still ranked as the most effective method for disease control (Figure 12). This differs from responses given by participants in the Scientific Training workshops, suggesting that farmers and extension personnel may be reluctant to try new methods until they are confident that they work, or that accurate diagnosis facilitates selection of appropriate and more effective chemicals than were used previously. This is borne out by the reports of poor effectiveness of chemicals reported in the first workshop. The use of cultural practices increased during the project (Figure 11), indicating that farmers are willing to try new options. Interestingly, despite drainage and mulching being ranked as effective measures for disease control (Figure 12), they were not recorded as a main methods used for disease management. Participants see a lot of potential in the use of resistant cultivars (Figure 11, 12). However, at present, little if any, work is done in Vietnam to obtain germplasm of crops for selection and breeding. 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 Chemical Hygiene Drainage Mulch Cultivar selection Fertiliser None Pa rt ic ip an ts (% ) First workshop Second workshop Figure 11. The main methods used by farmers to manage diseases in their crops as ranked by participants from the Extension Workshops. The data represents the mean of the combined answers from questionnaires conducted at the Extension Workshop organised by FTRDC. 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 Chemical Hygiene Drainage Mulch Cultivar Pa rt ic ip an ts (% ) First workshop Second workshop Figure 12. Disease management methods ranked as the most effective for disease control by participants of the Extension Training Workshops held at NIPP, FTRDC and SOFRI in 2005 and 2007. The use of hygiene and sanitation practices were seen as more effective in managing disease by the end of the project. The data represents the mean of the combined answers from questionnaires conducted at the Extension Workshop organised by FTRDC. 4. Farmer Participatory Action Research Trials Participants at the first scientific workshop were introduced to Participatory Action Research (PAR) as a tool for farmer training and the dissemination of disease control options. This developed the capacity for conducting extension training and the dissemination of management strategies into farming communities. Farmer Participatory Action Research 15 Trials were established by scientific staff, extension staff and workshop participants in each of the three regions and involved over 450 farmers from 16 provinces. Results were presented in the final Scientific Workshops at each institute and presentations are submitted on CD with this report (Appendix II). Results to date are promising with many farmers already observing a decline in disease incidence, and increased yield (Appendix III). Due to the seasonal nature of horticultural production, particularly in tree crops, and the time taken to disseminate and implement management options and obtain results (eg. changes in yield), the true outcomes and benefits of the new management options will become apparent only after this project has finished. The farmers involved in the PAR will provide a valuable contact for future extension activities. 5. Scientific visit to Australia Mrs Nguyen Thi Ly and Dr Nguyen Van Hoa travelled to Australia in July 2005, Mr Doan Nhan Ai travelled to Australia in July 2006. Three Vietnamese scientists were selected by the Vietnamese Project Leaders to participate in a training and study tour of nursery best practice and horticultural production in Australia, and for further training in Phytophthora diagnostics. This built upon institutional capacity, exposed scientists to international horticultural practices and aimed to maximise the long-term benefits to each institution. 6. Visit to Hue by Vietnamese scientists from NIPP and SOFRI and the Australian partners. Dr Nguyen Minh Chau (SOFRI), Dr Nguyen Van Hoa (SOFRI), Mrs Nguyen Thi Ly (NIPP), Mr Nguyen Vinh Truong (HAU) and the Australian Project Partners visited the farmer trials organised through the FTRDC-Hue (Mr Doan Nhan Ai). This provided a unique opportunity for the Vietnamese project partners to meet and establish stronger networks. It also provided the opportunity for the scientists from the north and south to observe diseases and disease management practices of plants that do not grow or occur in their region. 7. Additional activities associated with the project 7.1 Presentation of seminars at Hue Agricultural University Dr Andre Drenth and Professor David Guest presented seminars at Hue Agricultural University in February 2006. 7.2 PhD projects of Pham Ngọc Dung and Nguyen Vinh Truong Ms Dung (NIPP) has commenced her PhD studies on "Research Phytophthora on Black Pepper" in Dak Nong. Professor Guest and Dr Drenth have been advising her on the selection of her topic and on research techniques. Ms Dung participated in the final workshop at FTRDC-Hue in April 2007, and will be visiting Australia for advanced training in July 2007. In Central Vietnam she was able to visit black pepper farms and discuss her project with Nguyen Vinh Truong, who is currently completing his PhD project at The University of Sydney on Phytophthora diseases of black pepper in central Vietnam. 7.3. Mr Doan Nhan Ai (FTRDC) presented " Integrated Management of Phytophthora Diseases on Black Pepper" in 3 Farmer Training Workshops organised by Sub-Division Plant Protection of Quang Tri province in March, 2007, and in a forum on "Improvement of Black Pepper Production in Việt Nam" held by National Agricultural Extension Department in May 2007 in Ba Ria-Vung Tau province. 16 5.4 Publicity - Brochures, posters, leaflets and technique notes were developed by NIPP, FTRDC and SOFRI to expend disease management options to extension workers and farmers. (Appendix IV) - An article of ‘Fourteen ways to control Phytophthora on Pummelo Trees’ compiled by Ms Tran Thị Phuong Chi (SPPD of Dong Nai province) was published in the Vietnamese Agriculture Newspaper on 16 January 2006 (Appendix IV) - An article of Integrated Management of Phytophthora Diseases on Black Pepper (16 pages) compiled by Mr Doan Nhan Ai (FTRDC-Hue) was published in the Vietnamese Extension Magazine on May 11, 2007 (Appendix IV) 5.5 Project Management We have the following comments to make about the project management: 1. An important issue in the internal management of our project was the frequency, or in some cases, infrequency of communication between project leaders at each of the institutes. It is very important that Vietnamese staff communicate with each other and with Australian project staff, to enable discussion of project activities and itineraries. Regular communication about project activities enhances the ease and success of the project. Strengthening communication between the Vietnamese organisations should be taken up by the PMU. 2. More reporting responsibility should be given to the Vietnamese partners. In this project all milestone reports were prepared by the Australian partners. Given the geographic distance between Australia and Vietnam, it would be more logical for the Vietnamese partners to prepare reports on local activities such as extension workshops, extension publications and farmer trials. This in turn would give the Vietnamese more ownership of the outcomes of the project. 3. Project report formats need to be changed to allow for more concise and precise reporting on project outputs and outcomes. The need for an introduction and background with every 6-monthly report is superfluous. 4. We expected better feedback from the PMU following reviews of milestone reports. The limited feedback that was received was desultory, cryptic, and vaguely negative, and was in no way constructive to the management, scientific or extension activities of the project. All enquiries for clarification or explanation of comments raised in the feedback were handled in a defensive manner by the Chief Technical Advisor (CTA) with no evidence of consultation with the PMU, raising doubts as to the effectiveness of the PMU in ensuring Vietnamese “ownership” of the program. 5. A number of reporting conditions, some of which were unrealistic, were added after the project commenced in an ad hoc fashion, adding to the administrative workload of the Australian project staff. For example, Australian Project Leaders were asked to check the accuracy of Vietnamese translations of milestone reports submitted by the Vietnamese Project Leader to the PMU. An attempt by the Australian project leaders to streamline reporting by combining milestone reports was rejected, requiring us to repeat previously submitted information in a separate report. Despite the provision of detailed milestone reports, Australian Project leaders were requested to provide stories for the Hassalls and 17 Associates (HAI)-CARD Newsletter, a promotional activity with no obvious benefit to smallholder farmers. 6. For reasons that were not explained, HAI provided a template with very strict parameters for preparing the project budget. This template was inflexible and inappropriate for this type of project. Attempts to negotiate flexibility in this template with the CARD CTA were rebuffed. 7. The payment of a large proportion of the budget at the end of the project is impractical. Many of the milestones had been met before the final funds were transferred to the Vietnamese partners. For example, NIPP received $12,000 after the completion of the final workshop. Project members from NIPP had to use their own funds to partially cover the cost of the final workshop because funds did not arrive in time. This is not as limiting for the Australian partners, because the University of Sydney guarantees the project funds in advance (but has to accept the risk of non-payment). However, the Vietnamese partners rely on the funds available through the project to conduct their activities. 8. Without the in-depth knowledge from the Australian participants who have over a decade of experience working on various crops in Vietnam and have travelled extensively in rural areas of the world, the project would not have achieved significant outcomes. HAI has limited experience on the ground in Vietnam and were able to provide little assistance. The question needs to be asked why these projects are not run through ACIAR? 9. The project duration is rather short. To be able to have a more long-term impact, projects, particularly those involving seasonal horticultural crops, should be more substantial and have a longer time frame. In depth and on-going training is needed to develop resource teams in Vietnam. 10. Based on contracts which shift all the financial, technical and personnel risk onto the Australian partner organisation and the lack of apparent scientific and administrative support offered in the current CARD program, several research organisations, including the ones involved in this project, do no longer allow their staff to be involved in CARD projects managed by HAI. 6. Report on Cross-Cutting Issues 6.1 Environment Correct disease diagnosis forms the basis for accurate disease control. Combining a range of methods through integrated disease management for disease control targets the whole system. This means that the farming system becomes more sustainable. By training scientific staff, extension staff and farmers to correctly identify the cause of disease, the farmers are then able to use a combination of different disease control methods to reduce their reliance on chemical control methods. They can then apply the correct chemical to their crops to control the pest of pathogen causing the disease, thereby reducing wastage and non-target effects. Offering farmers a range of options for disease management means they are able to select those most suitable to their environment and financial capacity. Based on surveys conducted during the Extension workshops, participants were concerned about the environmental effects of their crop management (Figure 13). The Extension Workshop participants’ concerns about health and the environment decreased over time. 18 010 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 Income Quality Environnment Health Pa rt ic ip an ts (% ) First workshop Second workshop Figure 13. The key incentives for farmers to improve their crops as identified by participants of the Extension Workshop organised by FTRDC-Hue. While income was the highest priority for the farmers, other factors including product quality, environment and health were also important. The data represents the mean of the combined answers from questionnaires conducted at the Extension Workshop organised by FTRDC . Before participating in workshops, many participants and farmers were not aware of Phytophthora as the cause of disease symptoms. They had no knowledge of the causal agent, dissemination, conditions conducive to infection and development of disease. As a result many farmers had not applied management strategies to control the diseases or they were using inappropriate methods for disease control. For example, in central Vietnam farmers had propagated seedlings from mother plants that may be infected with pathogens by cutting or marcotting (black pepper, pummelo), planted seedlings in poor drainage areas (pummelo), not removed infected plant parts (sanitation) or fruit from their orchards and intercropped plants also susceptible to Phytophthora such as taro, tomato, chilli, eggplant, cucumbers, pineapple or used jackfruits or avocado trees as supports for black pepper crops. Some farmers had only applied chemicals including Alliette, Ridomil or Bordeaux fungicides to control diseases but they had not chosen the fungicide to most effectively target and control Phytophthora diseases. In northern Vietnam, crops susceptible to Phytophthora and other pathogens were often grown in rotation, thereby continuously building up pathogen inoculum levels. After the establishment of PAR trials, the extension staff and farmers have been able to distinguish Phytophthora diseases from other diseases. They now understand that pathogens can survive and exist in the soil and plant residues. There is also a greater understanding that drainage is important for plant susceptibility, pathogen spread and disease management. Farmers have now made raised beds or mounds for growing selected crops to improve drainage (Figure 14). By teaching the farmers to recognise disease symptoms implement effective integrated management strategies and to apply fungicides in the appropriate manner the use of fungicides has become less wasteful and disease control more effective. Figure 14. Mounding in a newly established pummelo plantation in Phong Dien-Thua Thien Hue province (left), and drainage in between black pepper vines in Dong Nai Province (right). 19 Farmers were often not aware of alternative methods for control, such as good hygiene practices. Prior to this project, farmers used inorganic fertilisers and rarely (only a very small number of farmers) used organic fertilisers. This training will need to continue in the future to ensure farmers continue to employ good management practices such as good sanitation and hygiene, improving soil organic matter content and applying mulch, which do not have any environmental side effects, improve soil health and limit erosion. 6.2 Gender and Social Issues We did not encounter any gender issues during the project. Farmers, extension staff and scientific staff involved in the project included both males and females. The Scientific Training Workshops were attended by 59% males and 41% females. Female participants made up 33%, at the Extension Training Workshops. Ninety five percent of farmers participating in the farmer trials were male. 7. Implementation & Sustainability Issues 7.1 Issues and Constraints The issue addressed by this project was to choose effective disease management strategies base on disease problems experienced by smallholders and extend these through to a range of horticultural crops throughout Vietnam, thereby improving smallholder outcomes by reducing crop losses due to Phytophthora. Crops identified as a priority for this project included pineapple, citrus, black pepper, rubber, litchi, tomato and potato. By reducing disease incidence and improving the yield and quality of the target crops, the farmers can improve their income capacity. This project was funded for two years. Most of the time horticultural crops require longer than this to adjust to changes in management. From our observations and discussions with farmers and staff involved in this project increases in yield, and consequently, income, have already been realised. One of the constraints to obtaining accurate, representative data about the effect of the new management options on product quality and yield is the seasonality of horticulture. It will be necessary for training and dissemination of information to farmers in Vietnam to continue for the project to have an ongoing and growing benefit. It is expected, that, with continued efforts from the Vietnamese partners and workshop participants, the benefits arising from this project will continue to grow in the future. 7.2 Sustainability The sustainability of the outcomes of this project will rely on the continued efforts of the Vietnamese partners and on the workshop participants to continue to train extension staff and farmers, and to disseminate information. 8. Next Critical Steps This is the final project report. The next critical step will be for the Vietnamese partners to continue working on disease management, building on the new information learnt through this project to ensure continued benefits for smallholders, and Vietnamese horticulture in the 20 future. In particular, more work needs to target the correct, targeted use of fungicides, which are often seen as a ‘quick-fix’ solution. This project has identified new issues that need to be addressed in the future, including: 1. Phytophthora diseases in black pepper and rubber are a big problem in the central provinces. a. A future project needs to identify the causes of quick wilt and slow wilt in pepper. b. The disease cycle of Phytophthora in rubber needs to be addressed. Farmers are currently not interested in disease symptoms in the fruit, because it is of no commercial value. However, the diseased fruit could be an important source of inoculum for stripe canker and leaf blight. Future projects could assess whether removal of the diseased fruit from the orchard reduces disease incidence in the following season. 2. In central Vietnam, we visited Betel nut farms at Khe Tre (Figure 15). Betel nut palms have symptoms of bud rot and nut rot. A future project needs to identify the cause of the symptoms. The presence of an unknown disease may have implications for other horticultural crops. Figure 15. Mr Doan Nhan Ai, Dr Andre Drenth and workshop participants assessing symptoms on betel nut palms in the field at Khe Tre-Nam Dong-Thua Thien Hue in April 2007. Betel nut palms have exhibited symptoms of bud rot and nut rot since 2001. Symptoms have become worse since the typhoon in late 2006. 3. Development of an effective and sustainable seed scheme for the potato industry to ensure farmers receive clean seed. In northern Vietnam we visited farms with significant disease problems, many of which can be prevented by using clean seed. 4. For many crops long-term projects are needed to evaluate more resistant germplasm which is available within Vietnam, or elsewhere. For example for citrus, black pepper, rubber, potato and tomato. Vietnam, to some degree, operates rather independently of other countries in the region and long-term, coordinated commodity based projects are needed to raise levels of resistance in a range of horticultural crops. 9. Conclusion As a result of this project, 77 scientific and extension staff have been trained in Phytophthora biology, disease aetiology and a range of disease management options through a series of Scientific Training Workshops held at NIPP – Hanoi, FTRDC – Hue and SOFRI – My Tho. 21 Based on questionnaires conducted at the first and final Scientific Workshops, participants developed a better understanding of disease diagnosis and management as a result the training program (Figure 7; Appendix V). Awareness and understanding of a range of disease management options increased throughout the course of the project as demonstrated by an increase in the use of a range of cultural practices to manage disease (Figure 6, 8, 11, 12; Appendix V). The project has had a major impact on the ability of scientific and extension staff in Vietnam to correctly diagnose the cause of disease symptoms on crops in their region and to recognise conditions that are favourable to disease occurrence and spread. Project partners and participants were trained in participatory research with farmers, and now have knowledge of a range of disease management options that can be developed and extended to farmers through participatory farmer trials, discussions, workshops and the media. 22 Examples of brochures, posters and technical notes developed by FTRDC-Hue 23 24 25 26