Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Development
CARD Project Progress Report
004/04VIE: Improving the safety and quality of
Vietnamese vegetables through research and capacity
building in quality assurance, postharvest management
and high technology protected cropping systems
MS3: SECOND SIX-MONTHLY REPORT
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1. Institute Information
Project Name Improving the safety and quality of Vietnamese vegetables through
research and capacity building in quality assurance, postharvest
management and high technology protected cropping systems.
Vietnamese Institution Research Institute of Fruits and Vegetables (RIFAV)
Trau Quy, Gia Lam, HANOI
VN Project Team Leader Associate Prof. Dr. Tran Khac Thi
Australian Organisation NSW Department of Primary Industries
Gosford Horticultural Institute
Centre of Excellence in Market Access and Greenhouse Horticulture
Incorporating the National Centre for Greenhouse Horticulture
Australian Personnel Dr. Vong Nguyen; Dr Suzie Newman
Dr Sophie Parks; Mr Joseph Ekman
Date commenced 30th September 2005
Completion date (original) 30th September 2007
Completion date (revised) 30th November 2007 (to take into account delay in signing of contracts)
Reporting period 2nd Six monthly report
Contact Officer(s)
In Australia: Team Leader
Name: Dr Vong Nguyen / Dr
Suzie Newman
Telephone: +61 2 4348 1927
+61 2 4348 1934
Position: Special Research
Horticulturist
Fax: +61 2 4348 1910
Organisation NSW Department of
Primary Industries
Email: vong.nguyen@dpi.nsw.gov.au
suzie.newman@dpi.nsw.gov.au
In Australia: Administrative contact
Name: Graham Denney Telephone:
Position: Administrative officer Fax:
Organisation NSW Department of
Primary Industries
Email: graham.denney@dpi.nsw.gov.au
In Vietnam
Name: Associate Prof Dr Tran Khac Thi Telephone: 84-4-8276316
Position: Deputy Director Fax: 84-4-8276148
Organisation Research Institute of Fruits and
Vegetables (RIFAV), Trau Quy, Gia
Lam, HANOI
Email: vrqhn@hn.vnn.vn;
tkthi@vnn.vn
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2. Project Abstract
Chemical residues left by fungicides and insecticides are among the major problems causing
contamination of vegetables in Vietnam. The development of safe food production methods was
fostered by the previous NSW Department of Primary Industries project (CARD-0016; 2001-2003)
but this can only be realised with further research and development. This project addresses the issues
of food safety and food quality from production to market to encourage the economic viability and
sustainability of the Vietnamese vegetable industry. This project seeks to: 1) Facilitate the wider
implementation and adoption of protected cropping systems of low to medium technology that require
fewer chemical inputs through targeted research and extension activities 2) Examine current supply
chain constraints and utilise quality assurance principles to implement targeted system improvements
and 3) Enhance Vietnamese research, development and extension capacity in the areas of protected
cropping systems, postharvest management and quality assurance systems. This project has begun to
address these objectives through: 1) research demonstration trials in Hanoi and Lam Dong to identify
the most suitable media for greenhouse cucumber and tomato production; 2) training workshops in
Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh attracting 150+ researchers, extension officers, growers and supply chain
partners; and 3) providing advice to greenhouse high technology facilities in Hanoi and Hai Phong.
3. Executive Summary
Protected cropping provides vegetable growers with an opportunity to enhance
product quality and improve food safety. The overall objective of this project is to
provide Vietnamese scientists and extension specialists with the training and tools to
implement and foster regionally feasible improvements to current vegetable
production practices and supply chains. The project is led by the Research Institute of
Fruit and Vegetables with Hue University of Agriculture and Forestry and the
Institute of Agricultural Sciences for South Vietnam as the Vietnamese project
partners. NSW Department of Primary Industries is the Australian partner.
Key achievements during this 2nd six monthly period include:
• The successful development and delivery of two training workshops in Ho Chi
Minh and Hanoi in February 2006 attracting 150+ participants including
growers, wholesalers, retailers, researchers and extension officers. The
program included presentations from Vietnamese and Australian project
partners on protected cropping systems, supply chain management and good
agricultural practice (GAP). Proceedings were produced from each workshop.
• Two research demonstration trials investigating the effect of different growing
media on plant growth and development for tomato and cucumber were
completed in March 2006.
• The establishment of a research trial at Gosford Horticultural Institute to
examine the chemical and physical properties of Vietnamese cocopeat and to
determine the water usage of different media (including coir) for greenhouse
cucumber and ornamental production.
• Visits by the Australian team in February and May 2006 facilitated the
planning of up-and-coming workshops, research, training and extension
activities.
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4. Introduction & Background
Protected cropping systems provide vegetable farmers with the opportunity to produce
high yielding, good quality crops with reduced pesticide inputs. Our previous
AusAID-CARD project (0016) focussed on development of a low-tech greenhouse
system to enhance the productivity and sustainability of the Vietnamese vegetable
industry. The nethouse with run-to-waste cocopeat system was shown to be an
effective and cost effective model, however further optimisation and extension of this
technology is required to facilitate successful adoption. This project focuses on
providing the tools for optimising vegetable production in low-medium technology
greenhouses and delivering high quality product to market. This will be achieved
through formal and informal training initiatives including in-country workshops,
intensive Australian based training programs for research and extension staff and a
series of research demonstration trials. This project uses a participatory research approach
to foster uptake by both Vietnamese institutions and key stakeholders (farmers, extension
agents, supply chain partners).
The objectives of this project are to:
1. Facilitate the wider implementation and adoption of protected cropping
systems of low to medium technology (greenhouses/nethouses) that require
fewer chemical inputs through targeted research and extension activities;
2. Examine current supply chain constraints and utilise quality assurance
principles to implement targeted system improvements;
3. Enhance Vietnamese R&D capacity in the areas of protected cropping
systems, postharvest management and quality assurance systems.
4. Fostering links between growers, wholesalers, traders and researchers to
increase the productivity and competitiveness of Vietnamese smallholder
agriculture and related rural enterprises
5. Progress to Date
5.1 Implementation Highlights
Training workshops and visits by Australian project partners
Two visits have been undertaken by Australian staff during this reporting period. The
first visit took place in February 2006 with Drs Nguyen, Newman and Parks and Mr
Ekman visiting project partners in Ho Chi Minh and Hanoi and collaborators in Lam
Dong province and Hai Phong. Highlights from this visit included:
1. Organising and delivering two workshops in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh. These
workshops entitled “Improving the Safety & Quality of Vietnamese
Vegetables’ included presentations on protected cropping systems, postharvest
management, quality assurance and implementing GAP (Good Agricultural
Practice). The workshops featured presentations from Vietnamese and
Australian scientists. The workshops attracted around 100 extension and plant
protection horticulturists and 50 vegetable traders and growers. Workshop
participants came from 35 provinces throughout North and South Vietnam.
One of the highlights of the workshops was the discussion forums and it is
recommended that they be extended in future workshop programs.
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2. Visiting demonstration trials, greenhouse centres and farmer properties in
Hanoi, Hai Phong and Lam Dong.
3. Developing collaborative links with the High Technology Greenhouse Centres
in Hanoi and Hai Phong and supply chain partners such as Metro.
The second visit by Dr Nguyen took place in May 2006 and focused on reviewing the
results from the research demonstration trials and preparing for the up-and-coming
training period for Vietnamese project personnel. This trip also provided the
opportunity for reviewing the project and developing future directions.
Travel reports were produced covering these trips and are available on request from
the Australian project team.
Vietnam Research Demonstration Trials
Research demonstration trials have been completed in Hanoi and Lam Dong province
comparing the effectiveness of different media on cucumber and tomato production.
Hanoi
This trial was carried out at the Research Institute of Fruit and Vegetables (RIFAV).
The trial compared the suitability of 4 different media for tomato (VL2500) and
cucumber (Status) production. The design was a randomized block design with 5
replicates. The 4 media were:
• Media 1 - Sugar cane waste & peanut husk & soybean
• Media 2 - Sugar cane waste & peanut husk & peat
• Media 3 - Sugar cane waste & peat & volcanic rock
• Media 4 - Cocopeat
The trials were sown in November (tomato) and December (cucumber). During the
workshop in Hanoi participants were invited to inspect the trial and this provided an
opportunity for more informal discussion on protected cropping systems.
Ho Chi Minh
This trial was organized on a farmers property in Don Duong, Lam Dong province
where tomato is the major vegetable crop. Tomatoes (ManilLa and 386) and
cucumbers were sown in November 2005 on 4 different media:
• Media 1 – Cocopeat and sand and cow manure
• Media 2 – Cocopeat
• Media 3 – Coffee bean husk and cow manure
• Media 4 – Peat and cow manure and NPK
The trial was set-up as a randomised complete block design with 3 replicates.
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