TOWARDS SUSTAINABILITY ON THE STEEPSLOPE FARMS OF NUI CHUA AND PHUOCBINH NATIONAL PARK, NINH THUAN

PROVINCE

DRAFT

March 2012

Ms. Nguyen Phuong Thi Thao

Ms. Le Thi Hong Tram

Mr. Luong Duc Thien

Dr. Andrew Benedict Wyatt

MSc. Nguyen Xuan Vinh

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The authors would like to thank Mr. Kim, Director of NuiChua National Park, and his technical managers and staff forhelping facilitate this research in Nui Chua National Park.In particular, we would like to thank Mr. … and Mr … fortheir expert advice during our fieldwork in Nui ChuaNational Park.

At Phuc Binh, we would like to tahnk Mr …, Director of PhuocBinh National Park, and his technical managers and staff fortheir expert advice and assistance during the fieldwork inPhuoc Binh.

We also gratefully acknowledge the help and advice of theRaglai and Churu farmers in Nui Chua and Phuoc Binh thathelped with this research by providing their knowledge ontheir farming practice. In particular, we like to thank Mr.Pipur Tinh … …. For their expert advice.

INTRODUCTION

There is not a lot of information available about the steepslope gardens of Nui Chua and Phuoc Binh National Parks toenable an informed decision on how best to assist the ethnicminority communities (Raglai and Chu Ru) that utilize thebuffer zone and core zones of the two national parks.

This pilot research project is the start of a process toexplore and discover how the ethnic minorities farm thesteep slopes and what challenges they face so that theMcKnight project can begin to work with the government andcommunity on solutions for sustainable farming and benefit-sharing.

The project begins by respecting and recognizing the long-term effort that the government has put into helping theethnic minority groups in Nui Chua and Phuoc Binh to improvetheir situation. In particular, the government’s NationalReforestation Program (661) which has introduced selectedspecies of trees that can produce income for the farmersthrough an agro-forestry approach has had positive impactson some farmers income though there are also unintendedconsequences and risks (discussed in findings and analysissection).

The project also acknowledges that there have been NGOprojects that have introduced some new steep slope farmingtechniques such as the project implemented by Oxfam GB inNui Chua. The experiences of these projects serve as usefullessons for the McKnight project to learn from.

The project also acknowledges that there has been a lot ofresearch on steep slope gardens and steep slope farmingtechniques in the mountainous areas of Northern and CentralVietnam (see Tran Duc Vien et al. 2007 for a comprehensive

review). While this project has reviewed the research, it isrecognized that the research is not always applicable to thesituation at Nui Chua and Phuoc Binh because of differencesin soil, weather, elevation, and the ethnic minority whohave different farming practices (eg. Raglai do not tillland unlike the Muong). Researchers with long experience inNorthern Vietnam’s highlands acknowledge the difficultieswith assisting ethnic minority farmers and often face thesituation where the farmers will revert back to their oldways of farming after a project that has introduced a newtechnique, usually more labor intensive, is finished. Thatexperience, for example, can provide lessons for the designof interventions at Nui Chua and Phuoc Binh that avoid laborintensive solutions.

Finally, this project begins by respecting the localknowledge of the ethnic minority groups who have beenfarming the slopes of Nui Chua and Phuoc Binh forgenerations. Their way of farming has developed and adaptedto their specific environmental and cultural situation,however when the National Parks were established, they havebeen required to change some of their traditional practice,for example the practice of rotating and fallowing land.Nevertheless, some farmers may be adapting to the newsituation and they may still have some useful lessons toshare and to help inform on how to help the farms be moresustainable.

The project understands that the practice of rotating landhas not been supported by the government since theestablishment of the National Parks because of risks ofdeforestation and to biodiversity. Population increases alsowould mean that the farms would expand in size and numberwhich similarly will have impacts on the Park’s forest coverand biodiversity.

The McKnight project began and will continue to promotealternative livelihoods within the villages as a strategybecause it wishes to see reduced reliance on the steep slopegardens in the face of population pressures and decliningproductivity from the steep slope gardens. But after threeyears of experience with introducing alternatives, there arestill very limited livelihood opportunities in the difficultenvironmental conditions of Ninh Thuan.

As a result, it is recognised that the ethnic minoritygroups will need to continue to rely on the steep slopegardens for income and sustenance for the foreseeablefuture. Furthermore, the government has similarly recognizedthis situation and recently supported the pilot of theBenefit Sharing Mechanism (BSM) so that the ethnicminorities can legally continue their steep slope gardeningpractice with the limitation that land rotation is notallowed. It is in this context that the McKnight projectseeks to assist with solutions.

OBJECTIVES

The objective of this pilot research project will appear tobe unconventional from an agro-forestry perspective. Inconventional agro-forestry practice, the objective is toidentify and pilot a new cash producing tree or crop speciesand the most effective growing technique and then to passthis on to farmers to grow. There are many experts in DARDand the forestry sector who have already provided advice onmany kinds of suitable trees and crops. Most suitablespecies have already been identified, so there is no needfor the McKnight project to provide this kind of advice. Notall farmers have been introduced to these trees and cropsand there is scope for wider impact through farmer to farmerexchanges (see recommendations).

The approach that this pilot research project takes can bestbe described as human ecology, which tries to understandhow, why and when local farmers use the land, and theecological principles and logic that their practice follows.By taking this approach, the research may be able to providea different perspective on how to develop interventions in abottom-up way that is ecologically sound.

The objective of the pilot research project is to:

Identify and document the various types of steep slopegardening practice in Nui Chua and Phuoc Binh includingtypes of crops and vegetative land cover used indifferent local contexts;

Review the experience of local farmers with recentsteep slope gardening improvements (eg. Oxfam project)and to identify lessons learnt;

Identify ecologically sound farming practice anddocument local knowledge and best practice models;

Identify problems and opportunities in relation to themanagement of the gardens and forest conservationobjectives;

Provide recommendations on suitable interventions tosupport sustainable steep slope farming.

METHODOLOGY

Because little is known about the steep slope farms and theway farmers use the land, an exploratory research method wasused which is effective for discovering new local knowledgeabout farming practice. In this method, there is not a set

questionnaire to survey farmers. Instead, informalinterviews and open discussions were used. Setting questionswithout knowing something about the local farming practicerisks missing the discovery of new farmers’ knowledge by‘blinding’ the researcher to unknown practice andchallenges.

The methodology involved:

Literature review of international and Vietnameseresearch on steep slope farming, sustainableagriculture, ecological agriculture, organicagriculture, etc;

Field observations of a selected number of differenttypes of steep slope farms in different environmentalcontexts in Nui Chua and Phuoc Binh National Parkbetween 21 October and 2 December 2011. See Annex … forthe list of farms and farm types visited;

Informal interviews and discussions with national parktechnical staff and managers during the field visitabout the local farming practice and managementchallenges;

Informal interviews and discussions with farmers ontypes of crops grown, farming practice and challenges.

Background information on the soil, geomorphology, climate,hydrology of Nui Chua and Phuoc Binh was provided by thepark technical departments and summarized as backgroundinformation in Annex …

Socio-economic background information highlighting theeconomic importance of steep slope farm production is alsoprovided in Annex … This socio-economic information of steep

slope farming households was sourced from other surveysfunded by the McKnight Project. For Nui Chua, data was usedfrom the socio-economic survey conducted in 2008. For PhuocBinh, data was used from the socio-economic survey conductedin December 2011.

LIMITATION OF THE RESEARCH

Given the limited time for the field work and difficultfield conditions, this research was only able to visit 10steep slope farms from 4 villages in Nui Chua, and 6 steepslope farms from 3 villages in Phuoc Binh (see Annex …).This is a relatively small sample and the research does notclaim to have comprehensively documented all the differenttypes of farms, best farming practice, or challenges in NuiChua and Phuoc Binh.

As stated in the previous sections, this research is a pilotresearch project and an exploratory step. The projectproposes to address this limitation by uncovering anddocumenting more best practice models through the proposedfarmer to farmer exchanges that is proposed in therecommendations section. During this process, farmers willmake recommendations of other farms to visit that arefollowing sustainable or ecological agriculture models.

FINDING AND ANALYSIS

1. Steep slope garden status (percentage of people involved, gardenarea average, how many gardens/household, the importance of steep slopegarden to local people (ethnic minority)…)

Most of households do steep slope agriculture in 2 NationalPark are ethnic minorities (Raglai in Nui Chua NP, Raglaiand Churu in Phuoc Binh NP). While swidden agriculture – atraditional way of upland agriculture of ethnic minority is

now unsustainable, ill-suited because of growing ofpopulation pressure in upland and its unsustainability ofagriculture; under government project “settle down andpractice sedentary agriculture” and the establishment ofNational Parks; ethnic minority people are practicingsedentary farming and find it difficult to change theirtraditional agriculture ways. Upland farming mostly dependson natural water resources (rain, underground water,springs…). Loss of soil fertilizer along with erosionfactors that rapidly reduces crop productivity but there isless fallow period for soil covering though food security isvery importance to upland ethnic minority and corn has beentheir main food crop. Therefore upland agriculture in 2National Park areas (buffer zones) needs to be improved formore sustainable agriculture also consistent with Nationalprograms.

1.1. Nui Chua National Park

Most upland agriculture farmers in Nui Chua NP areRaglai. Upland agriculture is still important to thematerial and spiritual life of Raglai ethnic minority inNui Chua NP. Steep slope cultivation here is often onland with slope more than 250. Swidden cultivation knownas centuries-old practice and has become an integral partof life for uplands inhabitants, some cases of slash-and-burn cultivation are still exist makes negative impactsto forest protection and management (observation). Toupland ethnic minority people, food security is still abig problem with their main crop is glutinous corn hasbeen grown in most of farms in Nui Chua. Upland foodsecurity finds it difficult issue in dry season whenupland farmers cannot harvest anything or not enough fortheir income to suffer this time (from February to Marchand from September to November). It leads to other issuesas conflicts to forest protection and monitoring when

they go deeper inside forest or core zone to docultivation or harvest forest product (coal, timber,firewood, NTFP). And one reason is low level of farm cropdiversity. Along with corn, some popular crops arecashew, banana, pineapple, papaya, bean, jackfruit,sterculia… grown in upland of Nui Chua NP. Somedifficulties that upland cultivation here meets are plantdiseases, nutrient leaching, erosion, climate, rockysoil, lack of cultivating technique… Somehow, uplandfarming people have still expanded area for cultivationbecause of the increasing of their family. So thepopulation growth is a high pressure to natural resourcesmanagement. When upland farming practicing sedentaryagriculture, forest fires (one reason is exist ofperennial plants in farm) and forest degradation arereduced but crops productivity (corn) decreases too.There are some good local steep slope cultivationtechniques and types of steep slope garden be found inNui Chua NP such as rock contour line, ecological gardenand specialized garden of sterculia (types of steep slopegarden). Upland cultivation now has combined withNational reforestation project which is carried out bythe National Park. The combine and implementation ofNational reforestation project are facing somerestrictions.

1.2. Phuoc Binh National Park

Like Nui Chua NP, most upland farmers are ethnicminorities (Raglai and Churu) and most of them areRaglai. Besides upland farming, farmers (most are ethnicminorities) have cultivated near river banks. The slopeof upland farming here is in range from 250 to about 450.Ethnic minority people mostly depend on agriculture. Cornis their important traditional crop. Upland farmerchanges from glutinous corn (ethnic minorities’ food

crop) to hybrid corn (poultry’s food) by government’sintroduction years ago. Hybrid corn produces higher yieldthan glutinous corn while productivity of glutinous cornwent down. Most farms in Phuoc Binh NP now grow hybridcorn, few grow glutinous corn and it affects their foodsecurity. Upland farming cultivation per year can supportfarmer just about average 3 months (from July toSeptember). In the rest of year, their income come fromforest products exploitation, feed stock, or sell labor,borrow money/food in difficult months and pay back whenfarm harvest time… It is similar to Nui Chua NP aboutforest management problems in difficult time of uplandfarmers. From observation and research, some upland maincrops here are corn (hybrid corn), banana (Agriculturaloffice program), cashew; those are upland agriculturemain products marketed by trade; have brought main incometo upland farmer. Other plants grown in upland farms hereare rambutan, pepper, grapefruit, orange, papaya, bean,lemon, pineapple, jackfruit (Reforestation program),Aquilaria (Reforestation program)… Weed is a big problemin upland farm in Phuoc Binh NP. Most farms observed useherbicide to limit weed growth. According to NP staffsand upland farmer, with wet weather condition in PhuocBinh NP, weed grows very fast and covers their farm,limits crops growth (esp. corn). It took a lot of laborto clean weed esp. on steep slope farms, that reason whythey have found that using herbicide is more convenientand less labor. Another issue is products market access.While the traders (Kinh majority) do almost trading andmarket, and trading products mostly are banana, hybridcorn, cashew; it limits crops upland farmers can plantand lead to less crop diversity. Phuoc Binh NP uplandfarming also meets other difficulties such as plantdisease, land fertilizer, nutrient leaching, erosion,weather, lack of cultivation technique… The community-based forest management by community groups has done well

in forest fire and deforestation limitation. Farm-firessignificantly reduced because of the appearance ofperennial plant (cashew, jackfruit…). There some goodideas of steep slope techniques and types of steep slopegarden such as green belt, biomass contour line… Thecombine between National programs and upland farming hasfaced some restrictions.

2. Types of local steep slope garden through the research

Upland farmers in Nui Chua National Park and Phuoc BinhNational Park have responded to pressure of new policies,regulations on their agricultural systems by changingtheir methods gradually. These efforts have been diversein nature and in their degree of success. It creates arange of steep slope garden options. There are some typesof steep slope gardens found from the research. Thesetypes made from upland farmers’ experience or projects ofNGO also National Parks.

2.1. Contour farming

Contour farming has not been a traditional practice ofthe Raglai and Churu people in the past. It is a new ideathat has been introduced by an NGO (Oxfam GB) in NuiChua, and by the National Park in Phuoc Binh. Steep slopecontour farming found in 2 National Parks utilises largerocks to form contour. Contour farming is used in slopingfields where crops are grown or sloping fields withvegetable beds. Some purposes and benefits when applyingcontour farming method:

Reduces soil erosion Keeps valuable topsoil in place on sloping fields Slows water down and let soak into the soil

Improves water quality by reducing sedimentation andrunoff

Improves irrigation systems and conserve water Improves plant productivity by increasing the amount

of water stored in soil and keeping valuable topsoil Improves the appearance of the farm.

Figure 1: Contour line farm

Rock contour farming in Nui Chua NP was conducted in CPIproject (funded by Oxam GB). Mrs. Chama Le Thi Lay’sgarden is one model of the project. Total area of Mrs.Lay’s garden is 0.8ha. It took many labors (20 – 30people) in 7 days to complete this contour line garden.Some other farmers in Nui Chua NP also applied thismethod for their farms. But most of them are untypicalbecause of high labor requirement, a lot of time tocomplete and maintenance.

Figure 2: Contour farming in Mrs. Lay’s garden

In Phuoc Binh NP, contour farming found in Mr. Kato Minh’garden was supported much from Phuoc Binh NP (a projectof Phuoc Binh NP). It also took a lot of labor and timeto complete. But because of lack of caring and maintain,this model is failed in Mr. Kato Minh’s garden.

Figure … Mr. Kato Minh’s farm where rocks have fallen outof place and no longer form contour because of lack ofmaintenance.

The farmers that participated in the pilots consideredthat rock contour farming takes a lot of labor and timeto complete also needs much care in maintaining; and notsuitable with farms are unavailable or lack of rocks.With rocky soil not suitable for agriculture, rockcontour line can be used to utilize rock in farm andreturn soil for agriculture, esp. in Nui Chua NP wherehas much rocky soil land.

The high labor cost to build and maintain this kind offarm, and the limited availability of rocks, is a majorlesson and limitation of this model and why it is notpopular.

However, there may be possibilities to build contoursusing less labor intensive ways by using materials that

are normally available on the field after harvest, suchas corn stalks. See 3.2 in recommendations section.

2.2. Green belt – contour farming based on naturalvegetative strips

Green belt farming was found in Phuoc Binh NP (Mr. BinhTo Ha Than, Churu minority, Bo Lang village). It is athick row of glutinous corn combined with beans, bamboosin middle of the farm. In Mr. Than’s farm, slope is about450. Up is upland rice field, middle is green belt and thebottom is hybrid corn field:

- Upland rice field is grown at the top of the farm. Incase of slope 450, the top always meets problem ofnutrient leaching, so it is sensible in Mr. Than’ s wayof because upland rice field requires less nutrientsthan corn, also less labor to carry products down.

- The middle of the farm is a thick row of glutinous corncombined with beans. Its function likes a green beltwhich keeps leaching soil from the top, improves soilwith bean. He has one crop per year with glutinouscorn. This corn and rice harvested are his family’smain food. As this high, it is easy for him harvest andcarry product down (when the corn are mature, he canleave them dry on trees and harvest any time he needfor his family).

- Two crops per year of hybrid corn is grown at thebottom which is less steep (about 200 – 300). Mr. Than’smain income comes from hybrid corn field. This croprequires soil contains much nutrient. So it appropriatewhen hybrid corn grown here because of less leachingsoil.

After trying many times, Mr. Than chose this farming waybecause as his sense and experience, it brings him bestfarming results ever.

There are some useful farm design principles that can belearnt from this model:

Low nutrient and water demand plants should be grownon the upper slopes of steep slope farms;

Use a green-belt with legumes at mid-location to helparrest erosion and to provide nutrients for fieldbelow;

High nutrient and water demand crops should be grownon the lower slopes where there is less leaching ofnutrients and accumulation of nutrients and waterfrom the upper slopes.

Figure 3: Mr. Binh To Ha Than’s farm

Rice field

Glutinous corn combined with bean

Hybrid corn

Figure 4: Illustration of Mr. Binh To Ha Than’s farm

2.3. Eco-garden

This kind of steep slope garden found in Nui ChuaNational Park belongs to Mr. Pipur Tinh in Suoi Giengvillage. It formed from Mr. Tinh’s experience of farming.The research found this farm typically as an ecologicalgarden or organic garden. The same land has beensustainably farmed for over 12 years (please check) withno sign of declining productivity according to Mr. Tinh.

There are a number of features to take note of from thiseco-garden.

The garden has a high degree of crop diversity with 26income generating crop species, the highest recorded ofany farm found in Nui Chua or Phuoc Binh (see 3.1). He

can harvest at least 8 different crops all year around(see cropping calendar in 3.1 and Annex 5).

The farm also has some planting and land managementtechniques that are suitable to sloping land:

No till farming is practiced which reduces soilerosion and soil leaching;

Seeding technique involves digging a small hole about5cm to seed and put around by mulching, stabilized byrocks on erosion ways;

Grass and weed cover is left to grow during the wetseason. It is then cut at the beginning of the dryseason and used as mulch cover;

The garden takes advantage of garden spacesefficiently with different crops filling differentecological niches and this provides full ground coverwhich helps reduce soil erosion and nutrientleaching.

Finally, the garden does not use chemical fertilizer,herbicides or pesticides, meaning that it is an organicgarden. Benefits include:

- No chemical runoff which gradually poison water sourcesand soil in the watershed, potentially effecting humanhealth in downstream areas.

- Organic gardening is all about cycles. It’s about thenatural cycles of birth, death, and decompositionwithin the garden ecosystem. Composting is an importantpart of this process. This can feed plants well and canact as a soil conditioner and mulch. It is a benefit

from the simple act of recycling from food and farmingactivities’ waste. Mr. Tinh is now using mulching toimproved soil and feed plant then the composting is apotentially good way for Mr. Tinh to improve his gardenbetter.

- Mulching techniques from organic garden as Mr. Tinh’sgarden can protect and enrich the soil: Mulch is one oforganic gardening techniques. It is like a thickblanket for the garden. This blanket buries weed seedsbut can be spread around larger, established plants.This gives the desired plants a big advantage. Mulchingthe garden is an excellent way to prevent weeds andprotect the soil.

.

Figure 5: Mr. Tinh’s garden: Note the high degree ofground cover and mulch.

2.4. Specialized garden

The specialized garden found from the research is agarden of sterculia and cashew. It is in Xom Bangvillage, Nui Chua NP. The farmer has just grown only 2kinds of plants (sterculia and cashew). Sterculia andcashew have their products with high market price. Mostplants have good health and make good income for farmer.The distance of trees is appropriate for them to growwell. However, note that there is little ground coverbecause of shading effect underneath the trees incomparison to an eco-garden. The slope in this garden isquite low. At the research time, farm owner was absent.

Figure 6: Mr. Sam’s garden

2.5. Agro-forestry system

The goals of agroforestry systems are to produce basicfood, feed, fruit and timber products on a sustainablebasis, while creating permanent, adequate vegetationcover to improve natural conditions at the site. Betterland use limits the impact of adverse climaticconditions, soil loss, and surface runoff. (Tran DucVien 2007). These efforts tend to be effective, however,containing potential impacts that were not predictedearly.

2.5.1. Strips of perennial crops following up the sunmovement

In farm of Mr. Pi Nang Phien (Da E village, Phuoc BinhNational Park) the research has found an interestingmethod of cultivation. Mr. Phien has planted bananas asrows in direction of sun movement. As his report, he didthat way because he considered the negative impacts ofgrowing high plants in corn filed. When high plants growand branch, it will shade on corns and limit corndevelopment. Mr. Phien wants to reduce shady impacts oncorn and came to this way to control shading goes ondirection of strips of banana under sun movement. He alsotreated the same way with other perennial crops supportedfrom National Park (jack fruit). This is a good idea whenfarmers adopt and respond to Reforestation Nationalprogram and program of Agricultural office to limitnegative impacts on food crop fields.

2.5.2. Boundaries of perennial crops around foodcrops field

Some farmers as Mr. Chăma Lé Đơ, Mr. Binh To Ha Than…have planted perennial crops (banana, cashew…) asboundaries of their farms around food crops field (corn,rice) in the middle. Those perennial trees are also

supported by government (National Park, localAgricultural office) to help farmers diversifying cropsin farm, more income and permanent cultivation alsogreening barren hills and reforesting. This way ofcultivation can reduce the impact of high tree shadingmentioned above also can help keep water and soil fromleaching by erosion.

3. Local plant species and crop diversity

A total of 41 different crops species were recorded to begrown in Nui Chua and Phuoc Binh combined. A full list ofcrop species and cropping calendar is provided in Annex3.

While the total number of crop species is reasonably highin both Nui Chua and Phuoc Binh, with a few exceptions,there is very low diversity in the number of crop speciesat the household farm level. This suggests that there isconsiderable opportunity to increase the number of cropspecies grown on low diversity farms by introducing themto farmers that are growing a greater diversity of cropsin similar environmental conditions. This can be done bypromoting farmer to farmer exchanges as proposed insection 4 of recommendations section.

3.1. Nui Chua

Total crops found in Nui Chua National Park are about 29species. The less crop diversity farm is Mr. Sam’s farmwith 2 species of crops (sterculia and cashew), and themost diversity farm is Mr. Tinh’s farm with about 26species - Percentage of main crops of upland farmers in Nui Chua

NP is 12/29 ≈ 41.4%

- Percentage of sub-crops of upland farmer in Nui Chua NPis 17/29 ≈ 58.6%

PROVIDE A TABLE HERE TO SHOW NUMBER OF SPECIES FOR EACHFARM THAT WE VISITED IN NUI CHUA AND NUMBER OF SPECIESTHAT ARE HARVESTED ALL YEAR – ONLY NUMBER NEEDED. NO NEEDTO SHOW SPECIES.

Farmer Number of Crops Number of cropsharvestedthroughout theyear

3.2. Phuoc Binh

Total crops found in Phuoc Binh National Park are about27 species. The least crop diversity farm is Mr. Phien’sfarm with 4 species of crops, and the most diversity farmis Mr. Tinh’s farm with about 18 species - Percentage of main crops of upland farmers in Phuoc

Binh NP is 7/27 ≈ 25.9%- Percentage of sub-crops of upland farmer in Phuoc Binh

NP is 20/27 ≈ 74.1%-PROVIDE A TABLE HERE TO SHOW NUMBER OF SPECIES FOR EACHFARM THAT WE VISITED IN PHUOC BINH AND NUMBER OF SPECIES

THAT ARE HARVESTED ALL YEAR – ONLY NUMBER NEEDED. NONEED TO SHOW SPECIES.

Farmer Number of Crops Number of cropsharvestedthroughout theyear

4. Difficulties of steep slope agriculture and impacts toenvironment in two NPs

4.1. Nui Chua National Park

4.1.1. Natural conditions

Nui Chua NP under tropical monsoon climate with twodistinct seasons are rainy and dry seasons, is thedriest region in Vietnam (annual average rainfall is700-1100mm) with typical tropical monsoon weather withcharacteristic is hot, dry, windy, strong evaporation.There are sub-climate areas in Nui Chua NP with naturalconditions differing sharply from each other due toinclement weather and strongly fragmented terrain. (NuiChua National Park 2008)

o Xom Bang village is the driest area in Nui Chua NPwith low rainfall, low plant cover, highproportion sandy soil and erosion in some places.Although there are streams in village but theyflow fast in rainy season and dry up in dryseason.

o While Suoi Da village has wet weather, highhumidity, foggy, cold in winter…

o In Xom Den village, upland soil has highproportion of rock that is hard for upland famersto do cultivation.

4.1.2. Low crop diversity

The average crop in upland farms is 12 species. Thelowest is 2 species and the highest is 26 species. Withlow level of crop diversity, there is high risk of foodsecurity especially in dry season when upland farmercannot harvest anything from their farm or it is notsufficient to provide family. In fact from the researchinterview, some farmers reported that they have to goinside forest to exploit forest product or sell laborin dry season when they are limited on their farms.Reasons of low plant diversity are restriction of plantvariety suitable for each farm, lack of cultivationinformation and technique or not enough confidence totry new plants

4.1.3. Plant diseases

Some important crops in Nui Chua NP meet diseaseproblem such as cashew, custard apple, sterculia… esp.cashew because it is a high market value brings goodincome to upland farmers. Low crop diversity meetsplant diseases can cause big problem to farmer. Thelower crop diversity, the higher the risk that thefarmer faces for loss of income. When plant diseaseoccurs that leads to low productivity or crop failureresults, along with low crop diversity; upland farmers

do not have alternative or not enough alternative cropsfor their alternative incomes.

4.1.4. Erosion

Many upland farms are in steep slope areas. But itfaces erosion that harms the farms and people. InNovember, 2010 (rainy season in Nui Chua NP); bigerosion happened in Xom Bang village, Nui Chua NP. Itdestroyed hectares of farm. Soil erosion met here ismostly by water (rainfall intensity and runoff). Beloware some impacts of erosion in Nui Chua NP:

o Loss of top soil, low organic mattero Loss of productive farmlando Nutrient leachingo Soil quality, structure, stability and texture

changeo Reduces crop production potentialo More exposure rockso Destroys farmso Landscape can be affected o Damage to human safe and health

Picture 7: Erosion happened in 2011, Nui Chua NP

4.1.5. Soil fertilization

Most of farms in Nui Chua NP face erosion with nutrientleaching. Crop productivity decreases gradually. Thereis no use of fertilizer by upland farmers here. Somepractices applied by upland farmers to reduce erosion’simpacts include rock arranging on way of erosion,mulching, no tilling farm, vacant space minimum bydifferent crop.

Nutrient leaching is general problem in upland. Underimpacts of rainfall, flood, runoff… nutrient along withtopsoil run off and leave soil with low organic matter,bad quality, many exposure rocks. That why traditionalagriculture of many ethnic minorities is swiddenfarming. Swidden farming (or “slash-and-burn” or“shifting cultivation”) was a form of agriculture thathas production phase about 2-3 years and fallow phaseabout 2-5 years. In fallow phase, farmers find other

places to do cultivation then come back old farm butfarming time is shortened. Swidden agriculture is notsustainable anymore so soil fertilization improving isimportant to help farmer can regularly do cultivationon their farms and maintain or improve cropproductivity. (Tran Duc Vien et al 2007)

4.1.6. Rocky soil

Upland soil in Nui Chua NP has high percentage of rockysoil. Growing a successful garden in rocky soil is achallenge. It is logical that plants cannot survive ona bare rock face and whether the rock is on the surfaceor underground the effect is the same. Gardening inrock soil also takes a lot of labor. Rocks can beremoved (with much labor) to form rock contour lines ortrails. Erosion causes more rock exposures and makesgardening more difficult.

4.1.7. Shortage food months

Unproductive and low crop diversity farms causeshortage food time in year that farmers are limited incultivation or harvest in their farms. In that time,they try to do something else to have income: selllabor; most go into forest to exploit natural resources(making coal or collect firewood, harvest NTFPs…) orborrow food, money. Natural resources exploitation isdifficult to control, esp. when people go to core zoneand do illegal exploitation. It causes big problems offorest protection biodiversity conversation, naturalresources management.

4.1.8. The population growth

Through the research, Raglai minority has traditionalcustom to leave agriculturally capable land to nextgeneration. If family size increases, farmer willexpand more land for agriculture. So family planning isessential to upland farmers’ family to control birth.The ranger work and farmer awareness rising are alsoimportant to control forest degradation from farmexpansion

4.2. Phuoc Binh National Park

4.2.1. Low crop diversity

Like Nui Chua NP, upland farms in Phuoc Binh NP havelow crop diversity. Most upland farms there grow hybridcorn, banana, cashew and jackfruit. One reason of lowcrop diversity is market access. Their main crops arealso main market upland products here. Most tradingdepends on traders (Kinh majority). The difficulteconomic status of upland farmers is reason that theyjust grow market valuable products, other crops grownto provide for family’s needs.

4.2.2. Plant diseases

Some crops face disease issue like aquilaria, cashew,corn… Upland farmers will meet difficulty in economywhen crop diseases occur in low crop diversity statusin most of farms in Phuoc Binh NP. Through introductionof Kinh majority, ethnic minority farmers have appliedusing pesticide to control disease, but it has highrisk of environment pollution

4.2.3. Weed issue

From field trip of the research and interviewingNational Park’s staffs and upland farmers, majorproblem in Phuoc Binh NP is weed growth. Weed growsfast and there are many kinds of weed here. Some majorweeds grow here such as pennisetum polystachion (L.) Schult,Ageratum conyzoides (L.), Chromolaena odorata, Centrosemapubescens, Aeschynomene Americane, Torenia fournieri (yellowmoon), Cassia alata (L.), Hibiscus sagitifolius, Mimosa sp., Fabaceas…Many of these weeds are herbal (Ageratum conyzoides,Chromolaena odorata, Cassia alata, Mimosa sp, Hibiscus sagitifolius),good materials for green manure (Ageratum conyzoides,Chromolaena odorata, Mimosa sp.) or improve soil (Centrosemapubescens, Aeschynomene Americane, Mimosa sp., Fabaceas…), butnot utilized. Presently there is widespread use ofherbicides to control weeds.

Weeds are plant whose undesirable qualities outweightheir good points, at least according to humans.Through manipulation, we can control certain weeds,while other more serious weeds may thrives due tofavorable growing conditions. Weeds are naturallystrong competitors, and those weeds can best competealways tend to dominate. There are some followingcharacteristics that allow weeds to survive andstrongly compete in nature: (Lingefelter, D.D 2007)

o Abundant seed productiono Rapid population establishmento Seed dormancyo Long-term survival of buried seedo Adaptation for spreado Presence of vegetative reproductive structureso Ability to occupy sites distributed by human

Picture 8: Weed growth competing with farmers’ crop

Picture … Careless and wasteful application ofherbicide causes damage to young corn crop.

4.2.4. Overuse of agrochemical substances for highyield – high risk of pollution

Herbicide, pesticide and chemical fertilizer are usedby farmers for high yield of crops. Most of farms inPhuoc Binh NP use herbicide to control weed growth. Incorn fields, herbicide is sprayed 2 times in one crop.First is before sowing corn seeds to kill weed seedsand second is when corn trees are about 30cm high.Farmers use 2 types of herbicide: nufarm (glyphosateIPA 480 AS) used before seeding, Gramoxone or “thuốccháy” (paraquat ion) used when corn is about 30cmhigh). Both 2 types of herbicide are nonselectiveherbicide may kill or injure all plants present ifapplied at an adequate rate. High level of weed covercan keep soil from leaching but it competes with maincrops and grows so fast that it is hard to control andtakes a lot of labor to remove. As consideration offarmers, using herbicide requires less labor, is easyto do and has fast observed performance (Lingefelter,D.D 2007). Another concern of herbicide use isherbicide resistance when weeds are no longercontrolled by applications of previously effectiveherbicides. As a result of repeatedly using certaintypes of herbicide on the same land, many differentspecies of weeds have developed resistance to thesechemicals. Resistance can occur within 5 to 20 years(Lingefelter, D.D 2007).

Herbicide along with pesticide and chemical fertilizer;those chemical substances can provide quickly visibleincreasing results of crops yield. However, the use ofagrochemical substance also carries risks that include

environmental, ecological, and human health effects. Itis important to understand both the benefits and thedisadvantages associated with agrochemical substancesbefore selecting the appropriate ways applied toagriculture. These chemicals gradually pollute soil,water and change environment seriously (Duiker, S.W.2006; Isenring, R. 2010; Isherwood, K.F. 2000).Especially in upland cultivation conditions, they canimpact upstream water seriously. Polluted water willimpacts back to agriculture, human health, organismsand natural resources. Declining soil quality dues toimpacts of agrochemical substances and polluted water.If the current situation continues, soon there will beland degradation (soil becomes alkaline, salty,acidic…) and unsuitable for cultivation if notimproved.

4.2.5. Erosion

Happening erosion, leaching of nutrients here but lowerintensity compared to Nui Chua NP. Vegetation cover ishigher (especially high density of weeds) that couldkeep the soil well. Erosion increases risks ofherbicide runoff that effect water sources.

4.2.6. The population growth

In the same situation as Nui Chua NP, upland ethnicminorities have custom to leave the land with foodcultivation capacity for next generation. More areasexpanded and high population growth increase pressureon natural resources, environment and forestmanagement. Raising awareness of forest protection andbirth control for ethnic minorities is necessary.

4.2.7. Market access for products

Market for agricultural products is an importantmotivation for upland farmers to increase production,improve agricultural techniques to increase income,escape poverty. Most trading of products is made bytraders. Upland farmers also depend much on traders topurchase fertilizer, herbicide, pesticide, seeds… Thereal value of products and the interests of farmerscannot be guaranteed. Main upland crops marketed hereare corns, bananas and cashew… limited market leads tolow level of crop diversity in upland farms.

4.2.8. Aquilaria harvest

Aquilaria is a highly prized aromatic resinous wood.It has many common names, e.g., Agarwood, Eaglewood…Aquilaria trees produce a widely used resin which hasa pleasant scent. However, in nature under certainpathological conditions, the Aquilaria tree canproduce resin, but it takes a long time to produce acommercial quantity of resin (Wijitphan P. 2009).Aquilaria is introduced to farmers from ReforestationNational program. With very high value of product, itis applied widely in many farms but the harvest hasnot succeeded. The harvest technique is very difficultand challenging. National Park staffs with farmershave attempted to test various methods, but all failedto stimulate the Aquilaria resin.

4.3. Impacts of programs of National program –reforestation and local Agricultural office to localsteep slope agriculture

Swidden garden is used to be economic activity in manyyears of ethnic minorities in buffer zones of two

National Parks. The establishment of two National Parksleads to the termination of forest degradation for uplandagriculture or swidden garden. Upland farming is now inNational Parks’ areas. Besides traditional crops ofupland farmers, there are orchard trees from Nationalprograms 327 and 661 as cashew, jackfruit, sterculia… Theplantation of these trees also meets its limitationbecause of bad weather in some years or low soilfertility level and leads to low productivity; also thesetrees take several years to provide products.

An unanticipated result of the National Program is thatthe shading process of these trees means farmers cannotintercrop especially food crop such as corn. This issueleads to others impacts such as lack of food crops sopeople go deeper into forest to harvest NTFP or TFP foralternative incomes or expand more land for food cropsparticularly corn; low land cover level easily leads toerosion, nutrient leaching.

The reforestation program of the National Parks andprogram of Agriculture Department need to be adjusted toconsider the shading effect. There is a good model tofollow at Da E village, Phuoc Binh National Park (Mr. PiNang Phien) that is described above at section 2.5.

5. Local experience in steep slope agriculture (success,agriculture technique…)

5.1. Combining beans with corn field

The combining between bean and corn is a traditionalpractice of ethnic minorities in Nui Chua and Phuoc BinhNational Park (Raglai and Churu minorities) long timeago. Even upland farmers do not know its purpose andbenefits; this method is excellent way of cultivating

corn to gain good productivity but maintain upland soil’squality to do cultivating continuously because ofleguminous presence.

Picture 9: The combining between corn and legume

In some upland farms, farmers want to increase the numberof corn crops in their field of corn and beancombination. Normally to the farms only grow corn, thefarmers can grow and harvest 3 crops of corn per year(July to November, November to March, March to July). Butin farms combined corn with bean, farmers only can grow 2crops of corn per year: main corn crop combined with beanfrom July to February (because crop time of the bean),one sub-crop from March to July. Example in Ms. Tho’sfarm, Suoi Da village, Nui Chua NP; she divides cornfield into 2 parts: one combined corn with bean and oneonly grow corn. Each year, she switches place of 2 corncultivation systems. So that every two-year, each ofthese part grow corn combined with bean one time.

But in some areas, people stop this method because of lowproductivity of beans (Suoi Da village, Nui Chua NP). Onerestriction for people to grow corn combined with bean isthat they just can have one crop of corn instead twocrops if not combine in Phuoc Binh NP, and two crops ofcorn instead three crops in Nui Chua NP while corn is animportant crop to ethnic minorities. Because of lack ofknowledge about legume’s benefits and the observation oflow leguminous productivity, farmers stop to grow legumecombining with corn. But this will shorten the timeupland farmers can grow corn in upland farms also reducecorn’s productivity. Leguminous species that uplandfarmers grow in two National Parks are red bean, hyacinthbean and black bean.

5.2. Diversifying crops in farm

Under National Park’s instruction or own will, someupland farmers diversify crops in their farms. Farmer dothis as their will want more incomes from farm or reducethe idle time in year (as Mr. Tinh in Nui Chua NP) whileother farmers diversify crops as National Park’sinstruction and support (as Mr. Minh in Phuoc Binh NP).Crop diversifying helps farmers for more income, alsoreducing leisure time that can lead people to harvestforest products, reducing risks of disease or weed, highsoil covering level that reduces erosion, keeps water andkeeps nutrient in soil…

5.3. Seeding technique

In term of soil and nutrient easily washed away byerosion, upland ethnic minorities have practiced methodsof seeding suitable for upland cultivation. Seeds areplanted in a small hole about 5cm deep, no tiling when

seeding. In Mr. Pipur Tính’s garden (Nui Chua NP), afterseeding in hole, he arranges rocks around against erosiondirection then cover by mulching of grass but seeds stillcan grow. This seeding technique can limit soil erosionthat washes nutrient away and it has been practiced bymany upland farmers for long time.

5.4. Mulching

The research has found farms in two National Parks usemulching:

In Mr. Pipur Tinh’s farm (Nui Chua NP), Mr. Tinh cutsweed, grass, shrubs or dead plants to mulch aroundcrops. Mr. Tinh has considered some of mulchingbenefits and done it well. As he reported, he does notburn cut weed or dead plants but puts them around cropsthat as his though can help prevent soil erosion andprovide nutrient to soil when they decay. His gardenlikely follows conservation agriculture – an ecologicalgarden. It is sustainable and has a good health. Someother Raglai upland farms also do mulching.

In Phuoc Binh National Park. Mulching found is madefrom dead corns after harvesting. It is in Mr. Pe NangDanh’s farm. He cuts dead corns and arranges them inrows between corn rows. His main reasons of doing arethe convenience when clearing dead crops and put itdown on the ground, marking places to spray herbicideand leaving mulches decay and fertilize soil. Whenopening the mulches, there is the presence of manyearthworms in very close to top soil layer which otherplaces not mulched cannot have. The soil under mulchedplace is also more moisture, more porous and betterthan other. Rows of dead corns in Mr. Danh’s farm

likely are the same as contour lines of biomass thatcan prevent erosion and nutrient leaching.

Picture: Mulches from dead corn and earthworm in Mr.Danh’s farm

Mulching is one of the most important ways to maintainhealthy landscape plants. Mulch is any material appliedto the soil surface for protection or improvement of thearea covered. Mulching is really nature’s idea. Natureproduces large quantities of mulch all the time withfallen leaves, needles, twigs, pieces of bark, spentflower blossoms, fallen fruit and other organic material.(Smith, R 2000; Teasdale, J.R. et al. 2007)

When applied correctly, mulch has the followingbeneficial effects on plants and soil:

o Mulches prevent loss of water from the soil byevaporation.

o Mulches reduce the growth of weeds, when the mulchmaterial itself is weed-free and applied deeply enoughto prevent weed germination or to smother existingweeds.

o Mulches keep the soil cooler in the summer and warmerin the winter, thus maintaining a more even soiltemperature.

o Mulches prevent soil splashing, which not only stopserosion but keeps soil-borne diseases from splashing uponto the plants.

o Organic mulches can improve the soil structure. As themulch decays, the material becomes topsoil. Decayingmulch also adds nutrients to the soil.

o Mulches prevent crusting of the soil surface, thusimproving the absorption and movement of water into thesoil.

o Mulches prevent the trunks of trees and shrubs fromdamage by lawn equipment and burning.

o Mulches help prevent soil compaction. o Mulches can add to the beauty of the landscape by

providing a cover of uniform color and interestingtexture to the surface.

o Mulched plants have more roots than plants that are notmulched, because mulched plants will produce additionalroots in the mulch that surrounds them.

o Mulches create favorite conditions for earthwormdevelopment that makes soil more porous and nutritiousand helps roots develop well. (from researchobservation)

RECOMMENDATIONS AND FUTURE DIRECTIONS

1. For programs of National park and Agricultural office

The programs implementation impacts to the issue foodsecurity of upland farmers. While food security is a toppriority issue for ethnic upland farmers as long as theystill keep the old traditional custom along with thelimited education. In order to restrict unwanted effectsand undesirable outcomes of the National programs,property assessment and prediction of the impacts fromproject implementation and plants applied are necessaryso that both objectives of reforestation and farmeralleviating poverty can be done. Following are somerecommendation for the implementation of Nationalprograms:

- Adjust the reforestation and agro-forestry models toavoid negative impacts of displacing corn growing orreducing on farm crop diversity:

-- Farmers must be able to cultivate corn even after

reforestation trees mature and start producing. Thiscan be achieved by:

o Reforestation plants can be planted as boundariesof farm surrounding corn fields

o Or planted in farm but adjusted the spacingbetween plants and align the tree rows to the sundirection so that the shading effect is minimizedso that corn can be cultivated and grow up well.

o Planted in thick density rows of reforestationplants to form green belts. These rows have fardistances from each other so that corn can becultivated and grow well in the middle of theserows. Thick rows of reforestation plants can beplay as green belt or contour lines that can keepsoil and water well. The rows have high plantdiversity with different plant levels; increasing

soil cover, reducing risks of diseases and beinggood for the soil also helping plants grow well.

2. Developing and scaling up good models and practices ofsteep slope agriculture based on local knowledge,experience (pilot…, learning exchange)

Good practices and models of upland farming in twoNational Parks, depending on conditions and contexts ofeach area of two National Parks, provide farmers andthose who work with them ranges of options and should beimproved, applied and scaled up efficiently in farmercommunities.

2.1. Local good practices

2.1.1. Combining beans with corn in corn field: Thisis a good local experience that needs to bemaintained and scaled up in upland farms. Localpeople need to understand the benefits of beans notjust only consider it as a traditional cultivationso that even when bean productivity goes down,farmers may consider continuing bean cultivation forsoil improvement in corn field. Beans can beplanted as food crop for human or livestock. It maybe introduced or applied leguminous plants that canbe adapted well to natural conditions of particularareas and provide good yields, or have good marketvalue, provide food for indigenous people orbreeding cattle.

2.1.2. No tilling farming technique: a farmingtechnique suitable to upland conditions to reducethe effects of erosion and loss of soil nutrient.

2.1.3. Locally adapted agro-forestry systems:

o Planting trees from National programs as rows indirection of sun movement reduce shading effect ofhigh trees on corn fields. This model needed to beadjusted more accurately and considered to bescaled up to other upland farms which followNational programs.

o Growing plants of National programs as boundariesof farms. Food crops or shrub crops are grown inthe middle of the field.

2.1.4. Cover farm land with green manure: isconsidered as mulching international technique ofagriculture. It is a good technique with multiplebenefits which can solve serious problems asreducing the impact of weeds, improving soilnutrient, reducing agricultural emissions toenvironment… This technique should be improved andapplied widely in farmer communities.

2.2. Local good models

2.2.1. Contour farming: Rock contour farming issuitable for rocky soil farms to utilize availablerock in farms to have productive space forcultivation. It needs to consider thoroughly asexperience shows that this model is not popularbecause this type of farming takes a lot of laborand time to complete and also to maintain. However,the idea of contour farming is still a sound modelwhich should be experimented with by finding lesslabor intensive ways of forming the contours usingother types of light organic material such as cornstalks, branches, etc.

2.2.2. Green belt farming: with thick rows of greenbelt plants and logical crop arrangement in steepslope farms. Leguminous plants are planted in greenbelt rows. Green belt with mixed cropping ofdifferent plants has high level of land cover. Thismodel was considered promising alternatives toswidden practices in many places. Green belt stripshave purposes such as: Reduce soil erosion Keep runoff water and let it soaks into the soil Improve farm soil with presence of leguminous

plants Improve plant productivity by increasing the

amount of water stored in soil Green belt plants are also crops of farmers that

can be cultivated and harvested, provide productsto farmers

Can be applied in farm with high level of steepslope

Green belt farming does not need much labor asrock contour farming. It keeps soil and waternaturally.

Farmers can do green belt farming in more than onerow. It depends on the area of farm and conditionsof each farm.

2.2.3. Ecological garden: In all farming models fromthe research, ecological garden is most sustainable,highest level of crop diversity; providesagricultural products almost time in year; mostthoroughly exploits of land potential and landspace; has lowest risk of diseases and best soilmanagement. In other observation way, eco-gardenlooks like a forest but full of crop plants. Theresearch consider this type of farming is the most

suitable for upland farming with followingqualities: High level of crop/plant diversity No need to use any agrochemical substance so that

it will not have chemical runoff or risk ofchemical toxic poisons soil, water or humanhealth.

Use green manure from cut weed or dead crop assoil fertilizer. It is an important process inorganic cycle in ecosystem.

Reduce risk of crop diseases due to effect ofhigh plant diversity

High land cover that protect the soil and keepwater well

Utilize land space well Have good farming techniques such as: land cover,

composting, no tilling farming… Provide cultivation products in most time of year

due to high crop diversity so that resolvesdifficulties as shortage food or lack of income

In term of high crop diversity, depending onconditions and context of each area, differentcrops can be applied appropriately to localconditions. High crop diversity has the majorbenefit of reducing environmental and economicrisks. Besides, the practice of eco-farming can beapplied to upland farms to reduce use ofagrochemicals, manage soil well. These techniquessuch as land cover increasing with plant diversityor biomass cover, green manure using…

3. Recommendations of soil management and improving cropproductivity

The following are comments of upland cultivatingtechniques and models from the research results of steepslope agriculture status in Phuoc Binh National Park andNui Chua National Park, in order to help farmers betterland management, agricultural improvement and betterproduction.

3.1. Leguminous species and green manure for soilimprovement

Leguminous and green manure plants, especially localspecies, have excellent qualities such as: (Tran DucVien 2007)o Cover the soil quickly, right away protecting it

from erosion by runoff.o Take up soil nutrients from deep soil layers,

retaining them in their biomass. Otherwise thesenutrients tend to leach away from the root zone.

o Increase nutrients available to crops, releasingmore phosphates, for instance, which under normalconditions remain fixed in the soil.

o Increase absorption capacity and the basic contentof the absorption solution

o Improve the structure of soils: their porosity,percolation, and water retention

o Positively impact microclimates and theenvironments surrounding their root systems

o Improve the diet and supply of firewood and timberfor upland households.

To help upland farmers have better agriculturalpractices in steep slope area, the use of leguminousand green manure plants is important in terms of easynutrient leaching. By using these plants as greenmanure or compost, it can fertilize soil and returnnutrient, also moisture soil and counter erosion. Some

legumes can be planted as commercial crops or foodcrops of human and animal (red bean, black bean,hyacinth bean…). Intercropping legumes with othercrops can reduce erosion and improve soil properties,prolong cultivating time also maintain main crops’productivity especially in upland area. (Tran Duc Vien2007)There are some wild species of leguminous and greenmanure plant found in Nui Chua and Phuoc Binh NationalParks. These plants can be utilized as green manurefor crops also resolve weed problems in Phuoc BinhNational Park (annex 3)

3.2. Contour farming using light weight organicmaterials

Experiment in a number of garden plots using organicmaterials such as left over corn stalks after harvestor dead tree branches to build contours across theslope for erosion control and nutrient retention.Depending on the types of crops being grown, theselight weight materials could be ‘staked’ by crops suchas pineapples that are grown across the slope toanchor the contouring materials to the slope so thatthey are not washed away during periods of heavy rain.

Figure … Example of the use of discarded corn stalkslaid across the slope to form a contour. Farmbelonging to Mr. Binh Tho Ha Than, Bo Lang village,Phuoc Binh.

3.3. Compost pilot

Compost is a nutrient rich soil-like material createdby the biological decomposition of organic materialssuch as vegetative debris and livestock manures.Compost can improve soil fertility, extend fertilizer,save water, suppress plant diseases, and boost soiltilth. Composting manures can improve manure handlingand help to reduce their environment impacts. (Moon,P. 1997)

Because farming itself involves the efficientmanagement of a variety of natural processes, in manyways, composting is a natural fit for the farmer.Composting is the efficient management of thebiological decomposition of organic matter. Ideally,the basics required for compost are readily availableon the farm: feed-stocks to be composted, such as

livestock manure or crop residues; readily availablebulking materials to thicken feed-stocks, such assawdust; and air, water, space and time.Microorganisms already present in the feedstock breakdown the material to a stable, beneficial product,free of pathogens and plant seeds. (Missa, R.V. 2003)

Benefits of on-farm composting (Moon, P. 1997)

o Soil conditioning: Compost is an excellent soilconditioner. When applied to cropland, compostadds organic matter, improves moisture retention(drought tolerance) and soil structure, reducesfertilizer requirements and reduces the potentialfor soil erosion.

o Improved manure handling: Composting reduces theweight, moisture content, odor, and vector-attracting qualities of manure and other farmgenerated organic waste material. Compost iseasier to handle than manure and store wellwithout odors or fly problems.

o Improved land application: The heat generated by thecomposting process reduces the number of seedscontained in the manure, resulting in asignificant reduction of weeds over several yearsof application.

o Reduced waste disposalo Lower risk of pollution: Recycling manure disposal also

reducing odor problemso Pathogen destruction: Maintaining temperature in

composting pile in high level (excess of 550C) fora period (3 days) will destroy pathogens that canbe problematic for both human and farm animal.

o Disease suppression: Properly prepared compost has beenfound to reduce soil-borne plant diseases withoutthe use of chemical controls

o Saleable product

Composting processComposting is most commonly an aerobic process, thatis, the biological breakdown of the materials takesplace in the presence of oxygen (air). The basicprocess of the composting includes the following fivesteps: (Moon, P. 1997)

o Feedstock preparationo Compostingo Curingo Screeningo Storage

Composting will require time and effort. The compostingprocess takes between 5 and 6 months to complete.Composting is not a labor intensive process, but onethat happens naturally with the assistance of nature.The breakdown process is completed absent of humanintervention.

Pilot of composting for 2 National ParksChoose few farms that are convenient and comfortable todo apply composting technique as pilots in eachNational Park. These farms have available materials andspace (not much) to do composting. Some materials canbe used such as: organic waste, food waste, animalmanure, leaves, grass, straw… It is better if there islocal composting expert to conduct and train farmers.Through proper composting steps in appropriate time,selected farmers can gain compost. Select an area (notmuch) in farm then apply compost as fertilizer incultivation process while the rest with same conditionsand crops but not applied compost so that we can seethe different between two kinds of areas (composted andnon-composted) and make the assessment. In case of farm

Normal fertilized area

Composting area

Unfertilized area

was usually fertilized by inorganic or chemicalfertilizers earlier, the farm can be divided into threesub-areas, out of two types above, there will havenormal fertilizer sub-area in addition. The result ofcrop yield and soil quality, we can evaluate andcompare the effects of composting compared to normalfertilizing and no fertilizing: the sustainability, theeffectiveness of economic - social – environment, thesuitability, the efficiency promoting time to providethe best performance (through how many crop seasons ofcompost application). It can vary more compostingmethods (aerobic, anaerobic) and fertilization on thefield (individual or combined) in order to gain thebest effectiveness of crop yields and soil improvement.In conclusion, through the pilots, we can assess andprove the benefits of composting technique also if ithas good result, there will be local successful pilotsfor farmers to replicate.

Figure: Composting pilot

3.4. Multiple benefits of mulching pilot

In agriculture and gardening, mulch is a protectivecover placed over the soil to retain moisture, reduceerosion, provide nutrients, and suppress weed growthand seed germination. Materials used as mulches vary

and depend on a number of factors: availability, cost,appearance, the effect it has on the soil – includingchemical reaction and pH, durability, combustibility,rate of decomposition…, some can contain weed seeds orplant pathogens. (Teasdale, J.R. et al. 2007)

Types of mulches: There are basically two types ofmulches: organic and inorganic.o Organic mulch is mulch made of natural substances

such as bark, wood chips, leaves, dead plants, cutgreen manure and leguminous plants… They decomposeover time and need to be replaced. When organicmulches break down over time, it adds nutrientsand organic matter to soil by activities of wormsand microbes in soil.

o Inorganic mulches include plastic, rubber mulch,rock and gravel…

Weed control: Mulch blocks light, preventing weedgermination and growth. To be effective, mulch needsto block all light to the weeds, and some mulchmaterials require a thicker application layer thatothers to accomplish this. Organic mulches can begrown in place. Plants used to produce organic mulchesinclude clovers, legumes… These mulches (or livingmulches, as they are sometimes termed) must die or bekilled before or shortly after crop planting in orderto avoid excessive competition with the crop. (Smith,R. 2000)

Application of mulchMulching is a very important practice for establishingnew plantings, because it helps to conserve moisturein the root ball of the new plant until the roots havegrown out into the surrounding soil. The growth rateand health of trees and shrubs increase when there is

no competition for water and nutrients from weeds.Mulch also helps to prevent tree trunk injury bymowers and trimmers. Newly planted trees require acircle of mulch 3 to 4 feet in diameter. Maintain thisfor five years. Mulch is entire beds of shrubs, trees,annuals, herbaceous perennials and ground covers.Mulch can be as small as circle around plants orlarger as pile or rows of mulch in field, depending onamount of available mulch materials in place.

The best time to mulch new plantings is right afterplanting. Put around established plants by mulch. Thisis when plants are beginning to grow and before weedseeds start to germinate. How often mulch needs to bereplenished depends on the mulching material. Grassclippings and leaves decompose very fast and need tobe replenished frequently. Inorganic mulches such asgravel and pebbles rarely need replenishing. As theplants grow and fill in the bed areas, less and lessmulch is needed.

Before applying any type of mulch to an area, it isbest to weed the area. Spread a layer of mulchingmaterials over the entire plant bed. Newly plantedtrees require a circle of mulch 3 to 4 feet indiameter. Maintain this for at least three years. Donot pile mulch against the trunk. The amount of mulchto apply depends on the texture and density of themulch material.

Cautions: Though mulch benefits plants, “sour” mulchcan quickly damage plant tissue and lower the soil pHcausing injury or death. To prevent mulch from turningsour or to cure sour mulch, it needs to turn mulchpile once or twice a month, more frequently if the

pile is very wet. Some other damages include fungi ormolds.

Pilots in Nui Chua and Phuoc Binh National Parkso In Nui Chua National Park, some farmers have

already used mulches from grass and/or dead cropsas circles around plants to keep plants healthy.This method should be replicated widely in farmercommunities. Materials for mulching in Nui ChuaNational Park include: grass, leaves, dead corn,corn pulp, bark, green manure plants or livingmulches as legumes.

o In Phuoc Binh National Park, while weed growth isbig problem, most farmers use herbicide to controlweed and mulch is not popular here. It needs toconduct mulching pilots in Phuoc Binh NationalPark to introduce farmer new method that is moreeconomical and conserve agriculture. Availablematerials of mulch in Phuoc Binh National Parkinclude: green manure plants, weed, legumes, deadcorn, corn pulp, bark or living mulches aslegumes.

As composting pilot, choose appropriate farm to domulching pilot so that the comparison and evaluationare viable to see the effect of mulch on farm and cropproductivities.

Non-mulched area

Mulched area

Non pilot area

Composted area only

Mulched area only

Combination area: Layer 1:

planted soilLayer 2: compost

Layer 3: mulches

Figure: Illustration of mulching testing

Combination of two methods of soil management –composting and mulchingTo find the most effective models also learnexperience, we can do extra pilots of combination ofcomposting and mulching.

Figure: Test of the combination of composting andmulching

4. Local farmer expert group - Farmer to farmer exchange

Figure: Farmer to farmer exchange between Mr. Pipur Tinhand Pinăng Danh at Mr. Pinăng Danh’s garden in Bo Langvillage, Phuoc Binh NP. Through this process, Mr. PipurTinh learnt about growing pepper plant and was given

cuttings by Mr. Pinang Danh to take back to his farm togrow.

With available local good farmers that have good farmingmodels, crop diversity, practices, innovation, open mind andeligible conditions; it can establish group of local expertfarmers to promote the farmer to farmer exchange, learningof agricultural knowledge, new crops, and advancedtechnique. Their open mind and good experiment in uplandagriculture help them more easily learn new things andimprove their farm based on their experiment throughtraining. These “local farmer experts” will learn from each

other and also be trained by agricultural experts on newideas such as composting, then applying what they learn fromtraining into reality in their farms. After that, theybecome trainers to train upland farmers in theircommunities. With same ethnic and language, these localexperts have advantage to communicate and exchange withother same ethnic upland farmers in communities. Theexchange of learning can be happened in form of actual filedtrip to local experts’ farms or farms doing goodagricultural models or practices. The local experts cansupport other upland farmers to apply and developcultivation in their farms.

Some suggested farms having good agricultural models orpractices such as:

a) Nui Chua National Park:o Pipur Tinh farm, Suoi Gieng village: ecological

garden – high crop diversityo Chama Le Nhanh, Head of Xom Den village: rock

contour line farmo Chama Le Thi Lay, Xom Den village: rock contour

line farm supported by Oxfam GBb) Phuoc Binh National Park

o Pinang Danh, Bo Lang village: Mulching – cropcovering

o Binh Tho Ha Than, Bo Lang village: Green belt –contour line based on vegetation strips

o Pi nang Phien, Da E village: creative agroforestrysystem

Suggested farmers for local farmer experts group:a) Nui Chua NP

o Pipur Tinho Chama Le Nhanh

b) Phuoc Binh NP

o Pinang Danho Binh Tho Ha Thano Pinang Phien

Nominations for one expert farmer should be sought from theother Raglay villages at Nui Chua including Cau Gay, DaHang, Suoi Da, Xom Bang, …Xom Den

At Phuoc Binh, nominations for two expert farmers from HanhRac 1 should be sought.

The expert farmer group will also be invited to participatein the pilot experiments recommended in Section 3.

The farmer to farmer exchange should be conducted in twophases.

The first phase focuses on exchanges between the farmers inthis small expert group to build their knowledge andcapacity, and to have them participate in the pilot projectsrecommended in Section 3 above.

Phase two will start after the pilots are completed and thenew knowledge within the expert farmer group is then up-scaled to other farmers in their villages.

5. Proposed Work Plan for Phase 1 of Farmer to Farmerexchange for Nui Chua

Activity When Where Objective

Composting pilots (Steep slope gardens)

April - July Mr. Pipur Tinh farm, Suoi Gieng

Another 1 or 2 farms?

Recommendation 3.3

For application around fruit trees and general soil improvement

Composting pilots (Village gardens)

April - July Sam Nam householdin Xom Den

River bank gardenin Xom Bang

Homestay household in Cau Gay

Recommendation 3.3

For following applications:

Household vegetable plot in Xom Den and Cau Gay

River bank garden in Xom Bang

Public land plot for cow grazing area and village greening/beautification for tourism attraction in Cau Gay

Visit eco-garden model

During month after burningand clearing land for wet season corn crop – May orJune?

This month ischosen for making maximum impact from comparison between farms

Mr. Pipur Tinh farm, Suoi Gieng

1. Learn about financial benefit of crop diversity and year round income

2. Learn about use of grass and mulch cover for erosion control

3. Learn about green manure and use of legumes for soil fertility

4. Learn about unfamiliar

that burn andclear land and Mr. Tinh farm which isgreen and hasfull ground cover.

crops and discuss if they can be grown in their own gardens

5. Learn about no till farming benefits and no-till planting techniques

6. Learn about composting pilot

7. Learn about organic farming and benefit of earthworms

Visit rock contour farm model

May (before wet season starts so that pilot can begin during wet season)

Mr. Chama Le Nhanh and Ms. Chama Le Thi Lay farms, Xom Den

1. Learn about positive and negative of rock contour model

2. Farmer group brainstorming about labor minimizing way and alternative materials to use to make contouring and where to pilot new ideas (Recommendation 3.2)

Make contouring pilot

June - Dec Farmer recommendation

Recommendation 3.2

Using low labor way andalternative materials torock.

Visit contouring pilot to learnabout result

Near time when contouring pilot is being completed

Farmer recommendation

Study effectiveness and make evaluation of potential for wider application

Visit Green Belt Farm model in PhuocBinh

November (when all 3 crops are being grown)

Mr. Binh To Ha Than farm, Bo Lang, Phuoc Binh

1. Study how to use green belt to control erosion

2. Study farm design with low nutrient and water demand crop in upper slope, and high demand crop on lower slope – farmer will learn whichis best slope location for which crop

Visit agro-ecology modelin Phuoc Binhthat canminimizeshading effect

November Mr. Pi Nang Thienfarm, Da E village, Phuoc Binh

Learn about the way to arrange tree crops to minimize shading effect oncorn crop

6. Proposed Work Plan for Phase 1 of Farmer to Farmerexchange for Phuoc Binh

Activity When Where Objective

Compostingpilots (steepslope garden)

April - July Mr. Pe Nang Danhfarm, Bo Lang,Phuoc Binh

Another 1 or 2farms?

Recommendation 3.3

For application aroundfruit trees and generalsoil improvement

Compostingpilots(Villagegardens)

April - July 1 household fromBo Lang

1 household fromHang Rac 1

Mr. Pi nangPhien, Da E

Recommendation 3.3

For application onhousehold vegetable plot

Visit eco-garden model in Nui Chua

During month after burningand clearing land for wet season corn crop – May orJune?

This month ischosen for making maximum impact from comparison between farmsthat burn andclear land and Mr. Tinh farm which isgreen and hasfull ground cover.

Mr. Pipur Tinh farm, Suoi Gieng,Nui Chua

1. Learn about financial benefit of crop diversity and year round income

2. Learn about use of grass and mulch cover for erosion control

3. Learn about green manure and use of legumes for soil fertility

4. Learn about unfamiliar crops and discuss if they can be grown in their own gardens

5. Learn about no till farming benefits and no-till planting techniques

6. Learn about composting pilot

7. Learn about organic farming and benefit of earthworms

Visit rockcontour farmmodel

May (beforewet seasonstarts sothat pilotcan beginduring wetseason)

Mr. Kato Minh farm, Hang Rac 1

3. Learn about positive and negative of rock contour model

4. Farmer group brainstorming about labor minimizing way and alternative materials to use to make contouring and where to pilot new ideas (Recommendation 3.2)

Visit agro-ecology modelthat canminimizeshading effect

May Mr. Pi Nang Thienfarm, Da Evillage

Learn about the way toarrange tree crops tominimize shading effect oncorn crop

Make contouring pilot

June - Dec Farmerrecommendation

Recommendation 3.2

Using low labor way andalternative materials torock.

Visitcontouringpilot to learnabout result

Near timewhencontouringpilot isbeingcompleted

Farmerrecommendation

Study effectiveness andmake evaluation ofpotential for widerapplication

Visit GreenBelt Farmmodel

November(when all 3crops arebeing grown)

Mr. Binh To HaThan farm, BoLang, Phuoc Binh

3. Study how to use green belt to control erosion

4. Study farm design with low nutrient and water

demand crop in upper slope, and high demand crop on lower slope – farmer will learn whichis best slope location for which crop

Make mulchingand weedcontrol pilot

Start justafter corncrop isharvested andland can beprepared withmulch cover

Pilot ends atharvest ofnew corn crop

Mr. Pe Nang Danhfarm, Bo Lang

Recommendation 3.4