Anne Valle Zárate

Group-based Learning in an Authoritarian Setting? Novel Extension Approaches in Vietnam's Northern Uplands

ASCTRACT This study aims to analyze the potential and constraints of group-based extension approaches as an institutional innovation in the Vietnamese agricultural extension system. Our analysis therefore unfolds around the challenges of how to foster this kind of approach within the hierarchical extension policy setting and how to effectively shape and enable learning groups. The analysis draws on qualitative data from case studies of five newly established extension groups in Son La province, collected between 2007 and 2008. Content analysis was applied as the main analytical tool. The basic principles of group-based learning approaches are still underdeveloped, mainly due to a non-supportive institutional environment and a command-and-follow mentality. Extension groups suffer from an insufficient distinction between social processes and technical procedures. Finding an appropriate balance between enhancing leadership and supporting collective responsibility is identified as key to sustain groups. The research identified room for adjustments in group-organizational issues since the external institutional environment is hard to change. The particular value of this paper lies in addressing how to organize group-extension approaches in the context of reformed extension systems in a transitional socialist setting.

Economic performance of small ruminants in mixed-farming systems of Southern Ethiopia

This study evaluates the household income contribution and the profitability of traditional small ruminant enterprises in two mixed-farming systems of southern Ethiopia (viz. Adilo and Kofele). Small ruminant production is an integral part of mixed systems in the Ethiopian highlands. The assessment of the current economic performance of small ruminants indicates production-related opportunities and constraints and provides baseline data against which the success of future interventions can be measured. Detailed information on economic parameters was gathered through a 1-year period of flock and household monitoring (155 households) between September 2005 and August 2006. Structured surveys were conducted with the participating households to elicit information on income-expense details of small ruminant and other agricultural enterprises. Small ruminants contributed considerably to cash income and to a limited extent to human nutrition especially when other sources were in short supply. The annual profit per animal ranged from 20 to 37 Ethiopian Birr. The return to capital was 17% in Kofele and 29% in Adilo, with both values vastly exceeding the national interest rate. The sale of small ruminants contributed to 39% and 23% of total farm cash income among small ruminant keepers in Adilo and Kofele, respectively. Sale prices are highest before holidays. Researches should target at how to use available feed resources in a timely and cost-effective fashion to make use of the seasonal market opportunities.

Resource use, cattle performance and output patterns on different farm types in a mountainous province of northern Vietnam

This study compares the use of resources, cattle performance and outputs on three different cattle-keeping farm types (mixed small farms, mixed medium farms with a collective use of natural pastures, and specialised large farms). The purpose was to evaluate the potential for beef production on household farms, where cattle keeping is integrated with cropping, compared with specialised large beef cattle farms. Data were collected by using farmer interviews, participatory rural appraisal tools and cattle body measurements, and analysed by linear models using SAS software. Household farms raised cattle at very low input levels. Medium farms had lower costs for cattle keeping than small farms in the lowlands (0.11 Vietnamese Dong × 106/farm.year compared with 1.20 Vietnamese Dong × 106/farm.year). High inputs were observed on all large farms. Only the local Yellow cattle was found in the highlands. Yellow cattle was less fertile in the highlands than in the lowlands (age at first calving of 3.2 years and calving interval of 16.3 months compared with 2.8 years and 12.6 months, respectively). Performances of exotic breeds varied according to feeding and breeding management of large farms. Crossbred Laisind cattle had a better productive adaptability than exotic beef breeds. Cattle were used mainly for working and manure by small farms. The stock value was highest on medium farms. Low outputs on large farms were a result of high feed costs, inappropriate management and the failure of markets. Results from simulations identify the medium mixed farms with access to natural pasture showing a potential for the development of beef production, provided that access to markets and cattle management is improved.

Drinking water sources, availability, quality, access and utilization for goats in the Karak Governorate, Jordan.

Goat production is an important agricultural activity in Jordan. The country is one of the poorest countries in the world in terms of water scarcity. Provision of sufficient quantity of good quality drinking water is important for goats to maintain feed intake and production. This study aimed to evaluate the seasonal availability and quality of goats’ drinking water sources, accessibility, and utilization in different zones in the Karak Governorate in southern Jordan. Data collection methods comprised interviews with purposively selected farmers and quality assessment of water sources. The provision of drinking water was considered as one of the major constraints for goat production, particularly during the dry season (DS). Long travel distances to the water sources, waiting time at watering points, and high fuel and labor costs were the key reasons associated with the problem. All the values of water quality (WQ) parameters were within acceptable limits of the guidelines for livestock drinking WQ with exception of iron, which showed slightly elevated concentration in one borehole source in the DS. These findings show that water shortage is an important problem leading to consequences for goat keepers. To alleviate the water shortage constraint and in view of the depleted groundwater sources, alternative water sources at reasonable distance have to be tapped and monitored for water quality and more efficient use of rainwater harvesting systems in the study area is recommended.

Potential for the development of a marketing option for the specialty local Ban pork of a Thai ethnic smallholder cooperative group in Northwest Vietnam

Based on 12 years of research (SFB 564 “The Uplands Program”), a community-based breeding and marketing cooperative group was transferred to an ethnic farmer group. This study analyses the potential for developing a marketing channel for specialty local Ban pork as an alternative to supplying the local markets to ensure long-term sustainability of the communal local pig breeding and production system. Data on pig-keeping were investigated from 378 farmers who wanted to enroll in the cooperative group in 10 villages (near town, intermediate, and remote zones) in Son La province. The data on Ban pig marketing activities of the cooperative group were investigated for all of its 180 members. Information on the market demand for Ban pigs were collected by interviewing 57 traders in Hanoi city and Son La province. The results show a dominance of local Ban in remote areas, and a preference for crossbreds with exotics in closer-to-town areas. Before farmers joined the cooperative group, the commercialization of pigs in remote villages accounted for only 3.0 pigs/farm/year compared to 9.3 pigs/farm/year in the intermediate zone and 11.2 pigs/farm/year near town. Potential markets have been identified for each product category of the cooperative group. Pure Ban pigs with a weight of 10–15 kg were preferred most by customers in Hanoi city. The regular feedback of information on niche markets for different products has increased the awareness of farmers about the competitiveness of the local pig products, and the power of collective action in the market. Selected pure Ban pigs were increasingly sold to food stores in Hanoi with high prices. Farmers received an average of 9000 VND more compared to the local market price for each kg of live weight. The respective added value for the cooperative group amounted to 11,300 VND/kg live weight. The added value from selling specialty Ban pigs regularly to markets, encouraged farmers toward a market in local pig production and participation in the cooperative group. For the long-term development of the cooperative group, trademark registration is envisaged, along with strict quality control to help protect the brand of the product.

Constraints and challenges of meeting the water requirements of livestock in Ethiopia: cases of Lume and Siraro districts

Compared to the total water use in livestock production systems, water for livestock drinking is small in amount but is an important requirement for health and productivity of animals. This study was carried out to assess constraints and challenges of meeting drinking water requirements of livestock in rural mixed smallholder crop–livestock farming districts in the Ethiopian Rift Valley area. Data was collected by individual interviews with randomly selected respondents and farmer group discussions. Farmers ranked feed and water scarcity as the two most important constraints for livestock husbandry, although the ranking order differed between districts and villages. Poor quality water was a concern for the communities in proximity to urban settlements or industrial establishments. Water provision for livestock was challenging during the dry season, since alternative water sources dried up or were polluted. Though rainwater harvesting by dugout constructions was practiced to cope with water scarcity, farmers indicated that mismanagement of the harvested water was posing health risks on both livestock and people. A sustainable water provision for livestock in the area, thus, depends on use of different water sources (intermittent or perennial) that should be properly managed. Industrial establishments should adopt an environment-friendly production to minimize pollution of water resources used for livestock consumption. Technical support to farmers is required in proper design and use of existing rainwater harvesting systems. Further investigations are recommended on effect of poor quality water (perceived by farmers) on performance of livestock.

Beef cattle keeping by smallholders in a mountainous province of northern Vietnam in relation to poverty status, community remoteness and ethnicity

Vietnam’s national beef demand is continuously increasing, but is not able to be satisfied by domestic supply. Because land scarcity is a major constraint to beef production in many parts of the country, attempts to enhance beef production in Vietnam have focussed on small-scale household farms in remoter areas. The present study aimed to investigate the relation between cattle keeping and poverty status of household farms in Son La province, north-west Vietnam. In addition, altitude, community remoteness and technology adoption of the investigated households were considered for an evaluation of the feasibility of smallholder beef cattle production in the upland areas. Data on livestock production of 299 randomly selected households of different ethnic groups in the lowlands and highlands of Yen Chau district, Son La province, were collected by using structured and standardised questionnaires. The poverty status of the households was defined on basis of daily per-capita expenditures, dividing the investigated households into poor and non-poor farmers with daily per-capita expenditures below and above the rural poverty line, respectively. Cattle keeping farms in Yen Chau district showed advantages in terms of available land and labour resources compared with non-cattle keeping farms. Cattle were kept mainly by non-poor farmers, particularly the Thai, whose farm holdings are most commonly located in the lowlands. The number of cattle raised on farm was related to the poverty status of the households and remoteness. Cattle compete with other livestock in the use of limited farm resources. Cattle keeping farms more frequently applied feeding innovations to reduce feed competition on farm than the non-cattle keeping households. For the very poor, small animals are more appropriate than beef cattle production activities. Only in the identified advantageous regions, smallholder farmers might engage in beef production, if appropriate policies are implemented to support them in raising cattle. Consequently, the development of beef production under those conditions could contribute to poverty reduction by increasing smallholder’s incomes in the remote highland regions.

Suitability of Local and Improved Pig Breeds for Different Smallholder Production Conditions

The commonly developed gradient concept introduced in the presentation of Doppler et al. was again utilised in the present investigation. However, while Doppler et al. followed a three tier system of high mountain zones, sloping areas in the intermediate zone and urban centres in the lowland, this study focused mainly on the intermediate zone and the lowland areas near towns.

Contribution of cattle of different breeds to household food security in southern Mali

Cattle husbandry plays an important role in the livelihoods of many households in southern Mali where the endemic N’Dama and Fulani Zebu breeds and their crosses are raised by farmers. This study examines food security, its determinants and the coping strategies used among 258 households in southern Mali, with particular emphasis on the contributions of cattle keeping and different breed groups, i.e. N’Dama, Zebu, crossbreds and mixed herds, to food security. The main aim was to investigate whether the replacement of the endemic N’Dama breed threatens or improves household food security. A linear mixed model was used to analyze the effects of household characteristics on food security using the household dietary diversity score (HDDS), food consumption score (FCS), and a modified household food insecurity access scale (mHFIAS) as indicators. Results revealed that cattle ownership and breed group were important determinants of all household food security indicators. Households keeping Zebu and mixed herds had the highest FCS. HDDS and FCS were positively correlated with crop diversity and household wealth, while negatively correlated with cotton cultivation. During the period of food shortage, households raising Zebu were better off and had significantly lower mHFIAS than those keeping N’Dama, crossbreds or mixed herds. In times of food shortage, selling livestock was the main coping strategy for households with a cattle herd, while households without cattle relied mostly on borrowing cash. In conclusion, the ongoing displacement of native N’Dama cattle by Zebu cattle and their crosses is contributing to improved household food security in Mali.

Local Livestock Genetic Resources in Northern Vietnam

In spite of being relatively small, Vietnam is one of the 15 richest countries in the world in terms of genetic resources. This wealth is a consequence of its natural and socio-cultural circumstances.