1 Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Development CARD Project Progress Report 027/06/VIE IMPROVEMENT OF OPERATOR SKILLS AND TECHNOLOGY IN SMALL RURAL SAWMILLS IN VIETNAM MS2: First Six-Monthly Report 30/8/2008 1 Table of Contents 1. Institute Information 2 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 Inception meeting 5 5.1.2 Survey 5 5.1.3 Australian Study Program 5 5.1.4 Advisory Group Meeting 6 5.1.5 Training course (North) 6 5.1.6 Training of trainers 6 5.1.7 Training course (Central) 6 5.1.8 Sawmill and Furniture Industry site visits 7 5.2 Capacity Building 7 5.3 Project Management 7 6. Report on Cross-Cutting Issues 7 6.1 Gender and Social Issues 7 7. Implementation & Sustainability Issues 7 7.1 Issues and Constraints 7 8. Next Critical Steps 8 9. Conclusion 8 2 1. Institute Information Project Name Improvement of operator skills and technology in small rural sawmills in Vietnam. Vietnamese Institution Forest Science Institute of Vietnam Vietnamese Project Team Leader Dr Doan Van Thu Australian Organisation The University of Melbourne, Australian Centre for Advanced Wood Processing. Australian Personnel Professor Peter Vinden Date commenced 23/5/2007 Completion date (original) March 2009 Completion date (revised) March 2009 Reporting period Contact Officer(s) In Australia: Team Leader Name: Professor Peter Vinden Telephone: 03 8344 5238 03 5321 4113 Mobile: 0407 554 11 Position: Chair Forest Industries and Director of Research CRC Wood Innovations Fax: +61 (3) 9349 4172 Organisation The University of Melbourne, Australian Centre for Advanced Wood Processing. Email: pvinden@unimelb.edu.au In Australia: Administrative contact Name: Philip Blackwell Telephone: +61 (3) 53451021 0429487886 Position: Research Fellow Fax: +61 (3) 53451021 Organisation The University of Melbourne, Australian Centre for Advanced Wood Processing. Email: philipab@unimelb.edu.au In Vietnam Name: Dr Doan Van Thu Telephone: 84-4-8 362 232 Position: Deputy Director General Fax: 84-4-8 389 722 Organisation Forest Science Institute of Vietnam Email: nqtrung-icd@fsiv.org.vn 3 2. Project Abstract 3. Executive Summary The goal of the project is to improve the efficiency and profitability of rural sawmills in Vietnam and their contribution to rural development and poverty alleviation. A wide range of stakeholders and interest groups were consulted at the start of the project at an inception meeting to inform attendees of the project and seek input on industry problems and needs that can be used in detailed design and implementation. This first step has established a network of stakeholders who are consulted in relation to the project objectives. The challenge for the project is to transfer skills and knowledge from the academic and researcher level in Vietnam and Australia to, and in a form suitable for rural saw millers. Australian researchers have visited Vietnam three times over the reporting period. The first visit in May 2007, culminated in an inception meeting that has been reported. The second visit focused on development and initial testing of the sawmill survey questionnaire. The third visit was to undertake the training of the trainers and conduct two of the sawmiller courses. The inception meeting of 23 stakeholders from industry, education and research institutes, government, bilateral and multi-lateral aid agencies has agreed on the objectives of the program and identified in detail the key requirements to be included in the survey of small community sawmills. Questionnaires for each key stakeholder were completed, reviewed, finalised and tested to ensure that the information gathered was relevant unbiased and useful to the objectives of the project. Fieldwork for the survey could not commence until the University of Melbourne approval was obtained (February 2008). The Survey was completed prior to the third visit in July 2008. Analysis of data obtained from the survey is underway and will be completed by October 2008. An intensive study course for 7 Vietnamese researchers was held in Australia between 28 th August and 3 rd October 2007. All of the objectives set out for the training program have been achieved. Two of the three required training courses for sawmillers’ have been completed plus a training course for the trainers. The establishment of fast growing plantations of mostly Australian species has largely substituted for a substantial reduction in logging of native forests in Vietnam. Concurrently there has been a proliferation of small rural sawmills sourcing their logs from the new plantation estate to meet the growing demand for forest products for the construction and furniture industries. However, these small sawmills are unsuitable for the species and small log sizes now coming from plantations. They are inefficient, use untrained ex-farmer labour, produce poor quality outputs and have very unsafe workplaces. There are currently few means of training sawmill owners or operators, or of introducing or testing more appropriate technologies. Despite these problems small rural sawmills are very important contributors to rural economies in many regions. The goal of the project is to improve the efficiency and profitability of rural sawmills in Vietnam and their contribution to rural development and poverty alleviation. A wide range of stakeholders and interest groups have been consulted in the development of a rural sawmill survey, the field work of which has identified the need for an on going sawmill improvement program. 4 4. Introduction & Background The project aims to address two major gaps in capacity in the Vietnamese industry, the lack of skills and experience of sawmill operators in most aspects of timber processing and mill management, and the inadequacy of current technology to meet reasonable market standards and requirements. The Australian participants have been selected for their long experience in development of rural sawmilling in Australia and other countries. As a relatively small, short term project there is a need for precise focus and well-defined project boundaries. This project will limit itself to small rural sawmills that process mostly acacias from plantations, a resource in which Australia has special expertise. This is a substantial and growing sub-sector of the sawmilling industry that will not be covered by other projects, which are more concerned with processing timber from native forests. Implementation methodologies The goal of this project is to improve the efficiency and profitability of small rural sawmills in Vietnam and their contribution to rural development and poverty alleviation. The starting point was to hold an inception meeting with stakeholders in Vietnam and to establish an advisory committee to overview, monitor and regularly evaluate progress throughout the life of the program. This committee includes representatives of the wood processing industries, the plantation growers, other related projects, and appropriate government agencies. The meeting also developed an operational plan and assigned specific responsibilities to Vietnamese and Australian collaborators. Project objectives The project objectives are to: 1 Identify and define industry problems, needs and opportunities through a comprehensive survey and review the rural saw-milling industry. 2 Establish a facility for training and technology development. 3 Develop and conduct training programs to improve operator saw-milling and business skills for trainers and for mill operators. 4 Investigate, demonstrate and recommend more appropriate or alternative technologies to improve industry performance. 5 Develop long-term strategies for industry development. To achieve the stated objectives: An industry survey and review has been undertaken by a joint Vietnam/Australian team in representative provinces, in cooperation with provincial Departments of Agriculture and Rural Development. The survey was conducted in the form of a participatory rural appraisal (PRA). Individual mills were visited and the following types of information sought from owners: log volume input, sawn wood output and grades, price and cost data, market, equipment used, employee statistics, problems identified by owners, and owners views on development needs of industry. A complementary survey has been undertaken to include plantation growers to assess their views on markets and prices, and sawn timber buyers, to assess their views on sawn wood products purchased. The results are now being collated and interpreted with the input of economists, published and used to develop and target training and to refine project objectives and detail further methodology. 5 5. Progress to Date 5.1 Implementation Highlights 5.1.1 Inception meeting The minutes of this meeting are included in Appendix 10.3.1. The inception meeting was held at FSIV on the 17 th May 2007. The twenty one participants were very excited by this project and useful feedback was obtained. Some discussion was centered on the scope of the project and a desire to expand it from concentrating on the small rural sawmilling sector. Most participants felt that the proposal was sufficient and comprehensive enough to cover the initial needs of this sector of the Vietnamese industry. During this initial visit to Vietnam, Professor Peter Vinden, Philip Blackwell and John Fryer visited Bin Dinh and inspected a number of sawmilling companies and a larger furniture manufacturer. A meeting was also held with the vocational training centre in Quy Nhon where arrangements were made for the Centre to host the training session later in the project. 5.1.2 Survey During July 2007 Philip Blackwell again visited Vietnam and worked with the team from FSIV to prepare the survey for initial trialling while he was in Vietnam. Three survey documents were prepared (one for each of the following sectors - sawmillers, log suppliers and furniture manufacturers). These surveys were tested in a number of enterprises in the Phu Tho and Vinh Phuc provinces, by the team of Mr Chien, Mr Ngoc and Mr Blackwell. Some modifications and clarifications were then made to the survey questions prior to the final questionnaires production. Peter Vinden then arranged for the survey to be submitted to the University of Melbourne’s ethics committee for approval which is a requirement for all surveys undertaken as part of a University of Melbourne project. Ethics committee approval for the survey was finally granted on the 21 st February 2008. While in Vietnam, Philip Blackwell visited a number of sawmills in Phu Tho and Vinh Phuc provinces and the new FSIV training centre in Ngoc Thanh looking at the future training opportunities and sawmilling equipment. Extensive work was undertaking in preparation for the Australian Training Program which was planned for August 2007. This included visits to the Australian Embassy in Hanoi to prepare for the visa applications of the participants. 5.1.3 Australian Study Program Seven participants attended the study course in Australia from 22 nd August to 3 rd October 2007. One participant left the program after four weeks due to work commitments. Doan Van Thu Deputy Director, Forest Science Institute of Vietnam Nguyen Van Dinh Forest Industry Research & Technology Transfer Centre, Forest Science Institute of Vietnam Nguyen Thi Phuc Forest Industry Research & Technology Transfer Centre, Forest Science Institute of Vietnam Bui Duy Ngoc 6 Forest Products Research Division, Forest Science Institute of Vietnam Tran Huu Thanh Department of Agriculture & Forestry Products Processing and Salt Production, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Tran Van Hoan Vocational School for Agriculture and Rural Development in Central Vietnam Nguyen Thanh Tung Component Processing, Trade and Marketing, Germany- Vietnam Forestry Program. The course was held over six weeks and based at the University of Melbourne’s, Creswick Campus. The participants were exposed to a large range of capacity building activities including Anti sap stain and Preservation, Business planning, Composite Products, Holmesglen TAFE field trip, Leadership, Occupational Health and Safety, Project Planning and Management, Saw Blades and Sharpening, Sawmilling Principles and Practice, Teamwork, Timber Drying, Timber Resources, Timber Specification and Manufacturing, Tour of ACAWP and Research activities, Tour of Plantations, Canberra field trip, Weyerhaeuser Sawmill field trip, Wood Science and Work Place Training The full program is in appendix 11.4.4 5.1.4 Advisory Group Meeting On the 6 th August 2008 a meeting of the advisory group was held at the Forest Science Institute of Vietnam in Hanoi. This meeting was well attended with continuing support shown for this project. A presentation explaining the results of the training section of the survey was presented and agreement that the proposed training program was appropriate. Suggestions were proposed of additional items to be included in the course and these where included. 5.1.5 Training course (North) On the 11th and 12th of August 2008 a training course was held in Vin Phuc at the FSIV Centre. The course content was based on the advisory group’s recommendation and included presentations by Dr T.T Nghia on sawing patterns and optimization and Dr Nguyen Bich Ngoc on timber preservation, the remaining sessions were conducted by Philip Blackwell and translated by Pham Duc Chien and Nguyen Thanh Tung. 5.1.6 Training of trainers On the 18 th and 19 th August 2008 a training session was undertaken for current and future trainers. These sessions contained the same course content while going into greater technical detail and presenting more information on the theory behind sawmilling and timber drying. This course was well received and the response was extremely good. The program was conclude with a practical session at a local sawmill, where the theory and the effects of timber growth stresses where demonstrated. 5.1.7 Training course (Central) On the 25 th and 26 th 2008 August the second sawmiller training course was held at the Vocational School for Agriculture and Rural Development in Quy Nhon. The program was similar to that presented in the north with Nguyen Thanh Tung delivered the wood preservation component. Philip Blackwell prepared and delivered a new presentation to emphasise growth stresses and sawmilling techniques. Many of the sessions were attended by students who attend the vocational training school. 7 5.1.8 Sawmill and Furniture Industry site visits During each visit to Vietnam, Peter Vinden and Philip Blackwell had many opportunities to visit sawmills and manufacturing facilities. These ranged from the smallest of sawmills to larger furniture manufacturers. These visits were very informative and a great deal of discussion was held during the visits. It became obvious that a major area of concern is timber drying, with very few enterprises having any kilns and those that did lacked the basic technology, experience and knowledge to satisfactorily ensure quality drying of their timber. 5.2 Capacity Building The original CARD project had funding for six persons attending the Australian Study Program. With the assistance of GSZ an addition member was included in the group. GTZ supplied the airfare for Nguyen Thanh Tung and the University of Melbourne provided the training and accommodation costs. Mr Tung proved to be a valuable member of the group and was used as the interpreter for much of the training courses subsequently held in Vietnam. 5.3 Project Management An issue arose with the project management with the sudden untimely death of John Fryer, this shocked all the project participants and caused some delays in reorganising the project. The project management is now back on track and due for completion on time. 6. Report on Cross-Cutting Issues 6.1 Gender and Social Issues A woman was included in the Australian Training Program. She was the team coordinator and leader after Mr. Thu left Australia. Each of the Vietnamese training courses included women attending the sessions. The timber preservation session of the Sawmiller Training Courses was prepared and presented by women. Women already play an important role in the industry but are often relegated to less skilled tasks such as stacking. Under this project women will receive the same opportunities for training as the men. 7. Implementation & Sustainability Issues 7.1 Issues and Constraints To date the major issue has been the delay caused by research directives at the University of Melbourne. These have all been completed and the personnel are now fully focused on the completion of this project. Minor issues relate to: The purchase of a Portable sawmill. After some discussions it was decided that the use of a Vietnamese manufactured horizontal bandsaw would be desirable. FSI staff are in discussions with the manufacturers to investigate the modification of their equipment to make it portable, also with the transport authorities as to the legality of a machine that could be towed behind a small truck. The performance characteristics of plantation species is at present being undertaken at the FSIV research centre in Hanoi and the completion date for this work is unknown. 8 Output 2 includes the development of an Electronic web page designed for cluster group. The project does not have the formation of cluster groups as part of its objectives. Cluster groups could be a good idea to help small rural sawmillers cooperate in developing joint project and initiaves. It is felt that these cluster groups can not be developed in the short term and will take a great deal of grassrotts work to facilitate their development. The need for the Electronic web page designed for cluster group is being reassessed The other issue is that very few rural sawmillers have computers or even access to the internet and this may not benefit the target group for this project. 8. Next Critical Steps The next steps include: (1) The report on the survey data which will be completed by the end of October 2008. (2) The final training course in Vietnam will be held in September 2008. (3) An instruction manual for sawmillers will be completed by the end of November and available for review by the advisory group in December 2008. 9. Conclusion The project has been delayed and is now back on track and due for completion in April 2009. The inception meeting brought together all parties interested in the development of rural sawmills. The meeting was valuable for all stakeholders and crystallised what was needed in terms of the information that needed to be gathered as well as the protocols needed to ensure the conduct of a successful survey. Of necessity the questionnaires are very detailed. and will provide a platform for assessing long-term directions for the industry as well as providing a base from which stakeholder beneficiaries can be assessed. The training courses both in Australia and in Vietnam were very well received with the participants giving positive feedback and claiming to have gained extensive knowledge and understanding on the issues related to sawmilling. 9 MINUTES OF THE INCEPTION MEETING (Card project 027/06/VIE) IMPROVEMENT OF OPERATOR SKILLS AND TECHNOLOGY IN SMALL RURAL SAWMILLS IN VIETNAM Venue: Seminar room, Forest Science Institute of Vietnam Dong Ngac, Tu Liem, Ha Noi, Vietnam. Time: May 17, 2007, 8.30-12.30 am. Chairman: Mr. Doan Van Thu (Deputy Director General of FSIV, Vietnamese Project Leader). Secretary: Dr. Pham Duc Chien, (Head of International Co-operation Section of FSIV, Coordinator of the Project) Participants (list included) Opening the Inception meeting Mr. Doan Van Thu (Deputy Director General of FSIV, Vietnamese Project Leader) started the Meeting. He welcomed participants and introduced the reasons for implementing the Project, the purposes and contents of the inception meeting. Introduction of the project Mr. Philip Blackwell (Melbourne University, staff of the Project) showed the presentation (power point): • Some activities of sawmill and wood processing in Australia; • Objectives and methodology to implement the Project; • Discussion on how to implement the project: survey, training, long term strategy for the development of sawmills, writing annual and final report. Mr. Nguyen Quang Trung (Director of the Forestry Industry Centre of FSIV, staff of the Project) showed his presentation “Overview the wood processing industry in Vietnam” (power point). - Trung talked more details about the need and importance of the Project: VN currently has a lot of sawmills, particularly in rural areas, but most of them are small, and their equipments are old, ineffective and unsafe…Most of workers are not trained or well trained. However, these sawmills are very important in terms of contributing to the wood processing and to improve living conditions [...]... out in 4 selected provinces (Binh Dinh, Quang Tri, Phu Tho and Dong Nai) The Project should obtain the cooperation of the local authorities in order to carry out a survey and identify the sawmills in the region For instance, Binh Dinh authorities will provide with characteristics of big and small sawmills in the region It is also very important to know the system of sawmills and also the ideas of sawmill... and learn 12 Training plan and discussion Dr John Fryer: presented training issues that will probably carry out by the Project (included in the project proposal) - Selected trainees for the training course organized in Australia (training for trainer): Experience in sawmills, continue to work on sawmills after training course Selected trainees should have some English (but not too important) - Trainees... of VN and Vocational Training Centres These trainees will be sent to Australia for attending a training course, and then return to VN to develop program and teach in Vocational Training Centres for other trainers - How to select suitable candidates for each training course? How to attract saw millers and workers to the training course? - As the budget for training is limited, how to organize good and. .. survey, sending questionnaire in advance to units of wood processing throughout VN, collecting and analysing However, the information is not as detail as what we will do in this Project Dr Nguyen Ton Quyen (Vice Chairman & General Secretary of VN Timber & Forest Production Association): - The objective of the Project is clear: to improve operator skills and technology in small rural sawmills in VN As... efficiency and effectiveness of technologies, characteristics of materials (note that wood in VN is different with that from Australia and European countries) 10 - Need to add more information on characteristics of materials, rate of end use, quality of sawn timber, technology and equipments currently using It would be very good if we can add more information of before and after sawing - In terms of selecting... issue to improve quality and quantity of products and by these ways to increase incomes for the sawmill owner and workers - Should pay attention to the sustainability of the training organizations These organizations will be able to continue the training after the end of the project The organizations should be the Vocational training Centres, Centre of forestry extension, Centre of industry extension -... GTZ project in terms of training style to share responsibility in organizing training Sawmills are responsible for basis needs (class room, equipments…), and GTZ are responsible for teaching, text books… 13 - The Government pays a great attention to training (via General Department of Vocational Training) We therefore should contact this organization to get help and cooperation - A good training course... information on sawmills can be collected from Mard, provincial department of science and technology, provincial department of agriculture and rural development, centres for forestry extension and centres for industry extension and other relative projects - The number of samples are around 30 samples (sawmill) per one province - Important information should include: 14 • General information on sawmills: ... Division): The Project is very necessary for improving living standards of rural areas, and it is also in accordance with the wood processing strategy of Vietnam It is also important that the Project is as a bridge for Vietnam and Australia to learn and exchange knowledge and technology each other - Survey should add some more information on safe conditions and wood decay - If possible, the Project should... other hand, VN needs confident information on technology of wood processing, particularly on small sawmills It is now unclear that how important small sawmills contribute to the economy of the country - Information from the survey and form GTZ Project (MARD) is very important for policy makers both in central and local levels Dr Le Thanh Chien (Head of the Wood Processing Division, FSIV) - Lack information . 027/06/VIE) IMPROVEMENT OF OPERATOR SKILLS AND TECHNOLOGY IN SMALL RURAL SAWMILLS IN VIETNAM Venue: Seminar room, Forest Science Institute of Vietnam Dong Ngac, Tu Liem, Ha Noi, Vietnam. . Issues and Constraints 7 8. Next Critical Steps 8 9. Conclusion 8 2 1. Institute Information Project Name Improvement of operator skills and technology in small rural sawmills in Vietnam. . 1 Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Development CARD Project Progress Report 027/06/VIE IMPROVEMENT OF OPERATOR SKILLS AND TECHNOLOGY IN SMALL RURAL SAWMILLS IN VIETNAM MS2: