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Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Development
Completion Report
Improving the safety and quality of Vietnamese
vegetables through research and capacity building
in quality assurance, postharvest management and
high technology protected cropping systems
Project 004/04VI
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Table of Contents
1. Institute Information ___________________________________________________ 1
2. Project Abstract _______________________________________________________ 3
3. Executive Summary ____________________________________________________ 3
4. Introduction & Background _____________________________________________ 4
5. Progress to Date _______________________________________________________ 5
5.1 Implementation Highlights ________________________________________________ 5
5.1.1 Protected cropping trials ________________________________________________________ 5
5.1.2 Evaluation of Vietnamese cocopeat _______________________________________________ 5
5.1.3 Capacity building of research and extension personnel ________________________________ 7
5.1.4 Fostering practice-change in farmers and other supply chain partners ____________________ 10
5.1.5 Supply chains mapped ________________________________________________________ 12
5.2 Smallholder Benefits_____________________________________________________ 13
5.3 Capacity Building _______________________________________________________ 13
5.4 Publicity _______________________________________________________________ 14
5.5 Project Management ____________________________________________________ 14
6. Report on Cross-Cutting Issues__________________________________________ 14
6.1 Environment ___________________________________________________________ 14
6.2 Gender and Social Issues _________________________________________________ 14
7. Implementation & Sustainability Issues ___________________________________ 14
7.1 Issues and Constraints ___________________________________________________ 14
7.2 Options________________________________________________________________ 14
7.3 Sustainability___________________________________________________________ 15
8. Next Critical Steps ____________________________________________________ 15
9. Conclusion __________________________________________________________ 15
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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 Fruit and Vegetable Research Institute
(FAVRI)
Trau Quy, Gia Lam, Hanoi
Vietnamese Project Team Leader Associate Prof. Dr. Tran Khac Thi
Australian Organisation Industry and Investment, NSW (formerly
NSW DPI)
Gosford Primary Industries Institute
Centre of Excellence in Market Access
and Greenhouse Horticulture
Incorporating the National Centre for
Greenhouse Horticulture
Australian Personnel Dr Suzie Newman (Australian Project
Leader)
Dr Sophie Parks
Mr Joseph Ekman
Dr Vong Nguyen (retired, former Project
Leader)
Date commenced 30th September 2005
Completion date (original) 30th September 2007
Completion date (revised) 31st May 2008
Reporting period Final Report
Contact Officer(s)
In Australia: Team Leader
Name: Dr Suzie Newman Telephone: +61 2 4348 1934
Position: Project Leader,
Research Horticulturist
Fax: +61 2 4348 1910
Organisation Industry and
Investment, NSW
(formerly NSW
Email: suzie.newman@industry.nsw.gov.au
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Department of Primary
Industries)
In Australia: Administrative contact
Name: Mr Graham Denney Telephone:
Position: Manager External
Funding
Fax:
Organisation Industry and
Investment, NSW
Email: graham.denney@industry.nsw.gov.au
In Vietnam
Name: Associate Prof. Dr. Tran Khac Thi Telephone: 84-4-8276316
Position: Project Leader, Deputy Director,
Head of Vegetable and Spice
Department
Fax: 84-4-8276148
Organisation Fruit and Vegetable Research
Institute (FAVRI)
Email: vrqhn@hn.vnn.vn;
tkthi@vnn.vn
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2. Project Abstract
3. Executive Summary
Vietnamese consumer demands for safe and high quality vegetables, have led to a re-
examination of current production methods. Protected cropping including rain shelters, net
houses and greenhouse structures, provides one alternative system that can not only improve
quality out-turn, facilitate counter-seasonal production but also lead to reduced pesticide
usage and associated food safety concerns. This project was designed to build capacity in the
design and utilisation of such systems and the components of such systems eg. hydroponic
systems in a Vietnamese context. The overall objective of this project was 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 was led by the Fruit and Vegetables Research Institute (FAVRI) with
Hue University of Agriculture and Forestry (HUAF) and the Institute of Agricultural
Sciences for South Vietnam (IAS) as the Vietnamese project partners. NSW Department of
Primary Industries (now Industry and Investment, NSW) was the Australian partner.
Key achievements of the project have included:
• A series of trials (10 replicated and 4 on-farm demonstration trials) were undertaken
looking at a number of production aspects (including variety, growing media, method
of nutrient application and irrigation) and comparing field and greenhouse production
of tomatoes and cucumbers in Hanoi, Lam Dong and Hue. This has enabled
recommendations to be made regarding appropriate varieties and growing media for
protected cropping systems.
• Vietnamese cocopeat quality was characterised (pH, salinity, colour, water holding
capacity etc.), the water usage of different greenhouse media including coir was
compared and recommendations were made for the improvement of QA procedures at
a Vietnamese cocopeat supplier.
• Seven scientific and conference papers were published in Vietnamese and
International journals
• Supply chains were mapped for 1) tomatoes and tomato seedling production and 2)
Metro vegetable supply chains from Dalat
Protected cropping provides vegetable growers with an opportunity to enhance product
quality and improve food safety. The overall objective of this project was 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. This was achieved through: 1) greenhouse replicated experiments and
demonstration trials in Northern, Central and Southern Vietnam; 2) four in-country
workshops and 3) two Australian study tours for research and extension personnel. Key
highlights of the project have included: 1) Adaptation of technologies by both farmers and
researchers to Vietnamese conditions; 2) Utilisation of hydroponic systems in both a
research and demonstration trial context; 3) Enhanced capacity of Vietnamese research
and extension personnel and 4) Economic analysis of protected cropping systems for
tomatoes and cucumbers.