1 INTRODUCTION 1. Rationale Nowadays Viet Nam and other developing countries are facing to fierce conflicts of which to satify the need of food for moutainous people and environment conservation for sustainable development. Agro-forestry (AF) is the best way to solve the conflict, contribute to food security and sustainable natural resource management. Vo Nhai is a district in moutainous region of Thai Nguyen, it has diverse topography that is advantageous for AF . However the current situation of AF in the district is still sparse, which leads to low economic and environmental effect In order to support local farmers to define solutions for the development of AF towards sustainable resources management, we carried out the project: “To evaluate effectiveness of AF systems in Vo Nhai district, Thai Nguyen province” 2. Puposes, objectives * Purposes To evaluate effect of typical AF systems in order to develop sustainable cultivated systems for improving living standard of local farmers in the district and in the mountainous and highland. * Objectives - Evaluating current situation of AF and define effects of representative systems in Vo Nhai, Thai Nguyen. - Proposing solutions to enhance effects of local AF systems in order to contribute to sustainable land use. 3. Object of study - AF systems which are being managed by local farmers in the district. 4. Signification and new points of the thesis *Scientific significations - Results of the project supplemented foundation for economic development planning of the Vo Nhai distict and Northern highland of Viet Nam as well. 2 - To enrich the knowledge on land use systems of AF for sustainable highland rural and agricultural development. * Practical significations The solutions which the project proposed will be applied into pratice for AF development in the manner of high economic efficiency, sustainable land use and enhancing living standard of the farmers in Vo Nhai and highland as well. * New points of the thesis - The project is a complete and systematical research on AF in a district. - Quantitative analysis of economic, social and environmental effect of 6 AF systems in 3 ecological regions of Vo Nhai, which were not mentioned in previous researchs. - Proposing AF systems which are appropriate with conditions of the research area. 5. The layouts of the thesis Besides the introduction and conclusion, the thesis consists of 3 chapters, total 110 pages, 32 tables, 8 pictures and 132 domestic and foreign reference materials. Chapter 1: Oveview of research issues. 1.1. Studies of AF in the World 1.1.1. History of studies of AF in the world In history of AF development, King (1987) claimed that in medieval time in Europe, people cleared forests, burned tree branches and cultivated crops to make use of nutrition of forest soil. Although this sort of cultivation was not widespread and long-lasting, in Finland and Germany, this type of farming existed until the 1920s. After shifting cultivation methods, the advent of Taungya method in the tropical regions was regarded as a forecast for the development of AF. According to Blandford (1858), the origin of this method is from the dialect of Myanmar: Taung means cultivation, ya is the same as hills. Taungya is the cultivation method on hilly land. After that, Taungya system was put into use very early in India and spread across Asia, Africa and Latin America. Aggro-forestry is a scientific field which was recommended in the 1960s by King (1969). For many years, a lot of different definitions have been developed. The below definition of AF which have been growing until now. Nowadays AF is defined as a system of resources management based on ecological characteristics. It is effective due to the coordination of perennial 3 plants into farms to diversify and strengthen the production, increasing social utilities, economic profits and environmental efficiency in various levels of farms (ICRAF, 1997). Therfore, Agroforesty is the method of cultivation on sloping lands to take advantage of soil, limit the deterioration of natural resources and environment, contributing to the sustainable use of land. 1.1.2. Classification of AF systems in the World The criteria for classifying AF systems are based on: Structure, Function, Economic - Social correlation, Management, and Ecologial impact of the system. AF researchers all over the world have divided AF systems into some main types: The agro-sylviculture: including trees, shrubs and herb (Agricultural crops, industrial crops and timber). The forest-livestock: Trees, pasture and grazing. The agro-sylviculture-livestock: Crops,trees combined with cattles. The special Agro-forestry: Apiculture with trees, fruit trees, aquaculture in mangrove areas… From these main AF systems, different types of Agroforesty are formed ( Nair,1985; MacDicken and Cs, 1990). 1.2. Study on AF in Viet Nam 1.2.1. History of AF study in Viet Nam The study of AF in Viet Nam has just begun since the 1960s. According to Nguyen Trong Ha (1966), the first reseaches on AF belonged to Nguyen Ngoc Binh, Nguyen Qui Khai, Cao Van Minh, Nguyen Xuan Quat, Bui Nganh in 1964 worked on anti-erosion experiments in Cau Hai- Phu Tho. Ton Gia Huyen, Bui Quang Toan (1965) carried out experiments and constructed anti-erosion model in the hamlet of the Northern State-owned farm which brought back positive results. Thai Phien, Nguyen Tu Siem (1986) summarized the research results in 5 years (1980 - 1985) of the state program on “Application of scientific and technical progress in the work of reclamation and anti-erosion for new reclamation land” has generalized measures of protection and improvement of feralit soil, reclamation and restoration of sloping areas of the country. Many models of soil protection with the plant structure was implemented and applied. 4 The authors Tran Ngoc Ngoan, Nguyen Huu Hong, Dang Van Minh (1999) concluded that AF is a term used to refer to the land use systems, in which the plant (crops, trees ) and animal, are combined with forest trees in spatial or rotation with the interaction of both ecology and economics. 1.2.2. Classification of AF systems in Vietnam In Vietnam, on the basis of results of researchs on AF authors Hoang Hoe, Nguyen Dinh Huong, Nguyen Ngoc Binh classified AF systems into eight main types so called "farming systems", the subunits of farming systems are called the "method" or "model" farm. According to the classification above, the AF systems in Viet Nam is divided into eight farming systems: Agro-sylvicuture, agro-sylvicuture–livestock, forestry- livestock, multi-pupose timber, forestry-fishery, agro-sylvicuture-fisheries, apiculture-timber, agro-sylvicuture-fishery-animals. (Pham Duc Tuan et al, 1992). The farming systems is divided into 27 different types of cultivation depending on ecological zones. The last one is household AF "model" Chapter 2: Research tasks and methodoloy 2.1. Research tasks 1. Descriptions of the natural and socio-economic characteristics in study area. 2. AF development status in the study area. 3. Assessing effectiveness: economic, environmental, social of the typical AF systems. 4. Improvement measures, testing and proposed solutions to develop the AF in the research area and the similar areas. 2.2. Research methods Applied research methods by majors: (1) Inherited selectively (documents in conjunction with consultation) (2) RRA (Rapid rural appraisal) and PRA (Participatory rural appraisal)- (3) Field Investigation and field survey (4) Experimental layout (5) Data processing with the support of the specified software. 5 Chapter 3: Results and discussion 3.1. Natural and socio- economic features in Vo Nhai district 3.1.1. Natural features Vo Nhai is a district located in the mountains northeast of Thai Nguyen, 37 km far from Thai Nguyen city on the road Thai Nguyen - Lang Son. Geographical location and topography: the East boder is Bac Son district (Lang Son); West boder is Dong Hy and Phu Luong districts (Thai Nguyen), the South bordering on Dong Hy and Yen The district ( Bac Giang), The northern border is Na Ri district ( Bac Kan). Vo Nhai martial elevation a.s.l from 100 - 800m, generally topography of the district is sloping and is divided by two mountain ranges: The Ngan Son and Bac Son, which cause great difficulties for the construction of infrastructure, especially for development of agriculture and forestry. Climate: The district has full nature of tropical monsoon climate of northern Vietnam, with 2 distinct seasons: dry and rainy. The structure of land use Table 3.1. The structure of land use of districts in 2007 Land use types Area (ha) Rate (%) No Natural land area 84.510,41 100,00 I Land for Agriculture 61.719,41 73,12 1.1 Crop land 6.325,0 7,48 + Annual crops 5.364,0 - Rice paddy- field 3.152,0 - Upland and industrial crops 2.072 - Vegetables 140,0 + perennial crops 812,0 - Tea 255,0 - Fruit trees 557,0 + Lakes and ponds 149 1.2 Forest land 55.469,41 65,64 II None-Agricultural land 932,0 1,10 2.1 Specialized land 492,0 0,58 2.2 Residential land 440,0 0,52 III Unused land 21.784,0 25,78 Thus the district’s land potentials are huge. Natural land area is 84,510.41 hectares. In the group of agricultural land, there is 55,469.41 ha of forest land 6 accounting for 65.64%, crop land is only 6.325,0 ha at the rate of 7.48%. Land in the district are mostly sloping, with the degree from 15 to 45 0 . Types of soil: Yellow- brown feralit soil developed on mother gravel rocks and limestone; sloping converging soil; sediment deposition soil Those also shows that economic development on hills by AF cultivation is the direction towards promoting potentials of the district. Production situation of agriculture - forestry According to statistics of the District Agriculture Office (2006), among 10.406,5 ha of agricultural crop land, the area of food crops account for a large percentage of 73,4% (7.633,5 ha). Mayor crop area is rice paddy 4.442,0 ha. The corn area is second after rice and then cassava. Area of industrial crops (tea, tobacco, sugarcane, peanuts, soybeans, green beans…) is small (up 20.3%). Fruit trees for only 5,30% of the area. * Irrigation: With the financial support of the state Vo Nhai has built 11 reservoirs, 50 solid dams, 12 pumping stations, 132km of canals, but these still not provide adequate irrigating water in dry seasons. . * Electricity: Vo Nhai now has 35KV and 10KV electrically wired systems running along Highway 1B and from Dinh Ca town to Trang Xa commune. Demographic characteristics, ethnic, labor District population is 62,612 people with 13,676 households in which main labors are 35,596 people (accounting for 56.85% of the district population). The population density is 74 people/km2, composed of nine ethnic groups. Where: Kinh is of the highest proportion (37%), Tay (22%), Nung (20%), Dao (13%). The rest are other ethnic groups (Dept of Agri& Rural Devp of Vo Nhai, 2006). Based on topographical and ecological conditions, Vo Nhai is divided into three regions with the following characteristics: Region 1 (KVI): including the communes located along the national highway No. 1B. The region has relatively flat terrain, mainly low hills, and convenient traffic conditions. Residents are mainly the Tay, Nung and Kinh group, whose main income is from the rice production. Local people’s cultivating experience is outstandingly higher than other regions of the district. In this region we selected two representatives communes: La Hien and Lau Thuong. Region 2 (KV2): Including the northern communes of the district. The topography of this area is mainly limestone alternating with valleys and low mountains. Residents are mostly the Tay and Dao, Hmong living on agriculture, 7 the region’s transportation is very poor. In this region, we investigated two communes: Cuc Duong and Vu Chan Region 3 (KV 3): The southern communes of the district, the topography of this region are mainly hilly steep slopes. The residents in this region is mainly Kinh, Tay, Nung, in addition to some other ethnic groups such as Dao, Cao Lan. In this area we investigated four communes: Lien Minh, Trang Xa, Dan Tien and Binh Long In brief: In terms of the characteristics of the natural conditions of the district as above, generally speaking, it is relatively favorable conditions for the development of agricultural and forestry production in general and AF in particular. 3.2 Current situation of AF in the study area Classification of AF systems based on structure. Table 3.2. Classification of the surveyed AF systems Unit:Model, rate ratio% Reg. 1 Reg. 2 Reg. 3 Sum of 3 Reg(s) N o SYS LH LT CĐ VC LM TX DT BL Total % 1 RVACRg 5 4 5 6 7 4 5 5 41 12,43 2 RVAC 5 7 10 11 5 7 6 6 57 17,70 3 VAC 9 10 6 7 10 8 8 11 69 21,43 4 RChe Rg 11 10 4 2 8 9 6 7 57 17,70 5 RRg 3 4 9 8 5 7 6 5 47 1,60 6 RVCRg 4 5 9 7 6 7 7 6 51 15,84 Total 37 40 43 41 41 42 38 40 322 100,00 Note: Communes symbolized by region: LH: La Hiên ; LT: Lâu Thượng; CĐ: Cúc Đường; VC: Vũ Chấn; LM: Liên Minh; TX: Tràng Xá; DT: Dân Tiến; BL: Bình Long Systems symbolized: VACRg (garden, pond,, stables, rice field); RVAC (forest, garden, pond, stables); VAC (garden, pond, stables), RChèRg (forest, tea, rice field); RRg (forest, rice field); RVCRg (fores, garden, stables, rice field) In the table 3.2, it can be seen that there are different AF systems in Vo Nhai district, however, only 6 systems are being commonly applied: VACRg, RVAC, VAC, RChèRg, RVCRg. Most of these consist of forest. 8 Below are some typical system models in Vo Nhai district. Figure: 3.1 Figure:3.2 Figure: 3.3 Figure: 3.4 Figure: 3.5 Note: Figure 3.1: Sys Forest- Garden- Barn- Rice field; Figure 3.2: Sys Shade trees for tea; Figure 3.3: Sys Forest- Tea- Orchard coordinated in the model of SALT; Figure 3.4: Sys coordinated in the manner of Taungya; Figure 3.5: Sys Forest- Tea- Field. 3.3. Efficiency of AF systems. 3.3.1. Economical efficiency Economic efficiency of surveyed systems by income per ha in a year. To compare economic efficiency between systems, we based on the criteria of income (million VND- mVND) per ha in a year (/ha/year). The results show that: Of 322 surveyed AF models in entire Vo Nhai district, the majority at 166 ones (51,56%) has income on the range of more than 4 to 8 mVND 84 models 9 occupying 21.57% output the income/ha/year fewer than 2 to 4 mVND. The number of models whose income/ha/year ranges from 8 to more than 10 mVND is 72 ( 22.36%). Thus at the time of investigation, the economic efficiency of AF systems in Vo Nhai district is not still commsurate with potential. Economic effectiveness (E.e) of systems calculated on production formulas. * The E.e of the system RVACRg by formulas. Some common cultivation formulas: The formula 1: (Natural forest, litchee, longan, fish, pig, rice); The formula 2: (Eucalyptus, fruit trees, fish, cow, rice, tobacco); The formula 3: (Manglietia glauca, custard apple, fish, cow, rice, tobacco); The formula 4: (Acacia, pine apple, fish, chicken, rice, food crpops). The calculated results indicates that: The highest income/ha/year of 8,862 mVND is seen in the 3 rd formula. In contrast, the 1 st one makes up the lowest at 7,069 mVND. * The E.e of the system RVAC by formulas. Some common cultivation formulas: The formula 1: (Eucalyptus, pine-apple, food crops,fish, cow); The formula 2: (Natural forest, fruit trees, food crops, fish, duck or chicken); The formula 3: (Acacia, litchee, longan, fish, pig); The formula 4: (Manglietia, custard- apple, fish, goat, food crops). After calculating E.e, we can summarize the total income in the system RVAC as follows: The 4 th formula had the greatest income at 13,39 mVND/ha/year. Meanwhile, the lowest income at 8,682 mVND/ha/year is seen in the 3 rd formuala * The E.e of the system VAC by formulas. Some typical cultivation formulas: The formula 1: (Fruit trees, food crops, fish, duck, chicken); The formula 2: (Litchee, longan, fish, pig); The formula 3: (Custard-apple, food crops, grass, fish, goat); The formula 4: (Pine-apple, food crops, grass, fish, cow). According to the calculations of E.e from the formulas of the system VAC, the total income is as follows: The highest total income at 14,910 mVND/ha/year is seen in the 3rd formula. Whereas the 2nd formula outputs the lowest income at 10,710 mVND/ha/year. In this formula, because of the devaluation of litchees and longans, pigs yield less E.e. * The formularily E.e of the system RChèRg. 10 Some cultivation formulas of the system RChèRg The formula 1: (Natural forest, tea, rice, corn); The formula 2: (Accacia, tea, rice); The formula 3: ( Bamboo, tea, rice); The formula 4: (Manglietia, tea, rice, tobacco) The calculating results of E.e of the system RChèRg formulas shows the total income in all of the above formulas as follows: The highest total income at 15,390 mVND/ha/year is seen in the 4 th formula. Meanwhile, the 1 st one releases the lowest income at 12,107 mVND/ha/year. This is the system of the highest income formularily compared to other systems in the entire area. Because the main income is from tea, but this system is more costly and labour-consuming than others for tea management so that they is taken over only by households with adequate capital and labour. *The formularily E.e of the system RRg. Some common cultivation formulas: The formula 1: (Manglietia, rice, corn); The formula 2: (Natural forest, rice, tobacco); The formula 3: (Accacia, rice); The formula 4: (Eucalyptus, bamboo, rice, tobacco). The calculating results of E.e of the system RRg shows the total income in all of the above formulas as follows: The highest total income at 6,525 mVND/ha/year is seen in the 4 th formula. Meanwhile, the 3 rd one releases the lowest income at 3,434 mVND/ha/year. This is the system of the lowest income compared to other systems in the region. Because the income from forest trees, rice and corn is always low. * The formularily E.e of the system RVCRg. Some common cultivation formulas: The formula 1: (Natural forest, litchi, longan, pig, rice ); The formula 2: (Accacia, fruit trees, duck, rice, corn); The formula 3: (Natural forest, manglietia, custard apple, goat, rice); The formula 4: (Bamboo, pine apple, chicken, rice, corn ). After doing some calculations on E.e of production formulas, we realize that: The highest total income at 9,780 mVND/ha/year is seen in the 3 rd formula. Following is the 4 th one with relatively high total income at 8,726 mVND/ha/year. Meanwhile, the 1 st one releases the lowest income at 6,874 mVND/ha/year. This system generates comparatively high income when [...]... some systems agricultural crop systems in AF models in the Vo Nhai district, Thai Nguyen province " Journal of Science and Technology, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, (12 + 13) in June, July 2007, p 127-129 .4 Dam Van Vinh, Dang Kim Vui, 2009 "The economic effects of AF systems in the Vo Nhai district, Thai Nguyen " Journal of Science and Technology, Thai Nguyen University, episode 57... fluctuations in economic efficiency of components in the AF system in order to put forward more practicable solutions In regards of the evaluation of economic efficiency, there needs to be researches on economic efficiency standards reliant on initial investing capital when constructing models 25 MINISTRY OF EDUCATION AND TRAINING THAI NGUYEN UNIVERSITY AM VAN VINH TO EVALUATE EFFECT OF AGROFORESTRY SYSTEMS IN. .. plants and livestock However, we must take particular conditions into account when applying those systems into AF production The E.e of some systems with crops and trees in AF system 12 Table 3.4 Comparison of the E.e of some monocultural and intercrop crops in the AF system (Unit: 1000 VND/ha/year) Total cost Crops AF Monoculture Total income AF Monoculture Profit AF Monoculture Profit compare Up... meeting at Thai Nguyen university of Agriculture and Forestry in … The thesis is able to be finded in the libraries: - Viet Nam National Library - Learning Resource Center of the Thai Nguyen University - Library of the University of Agriculture and Forestry, Thai Nguyen 27 LIST OF PROJECTS RELATED TO THE THESIS STATEMENT HAS BEEN PUBLISHED 1 Dam Van Vinh, 2005 "Status of AF development in Vo Nhai, Thai. .. no knowledge of suitable selection of seedlings for each system; unstable market Especially, cattle and poultry diseases Above are the main constraints hindering the development of Agroforesty systems 3.4.2 Some solutions to the development of AF system in Vo Nhai district Selection of trees, crops, livestock for AF systems After making a summary of opinions, we found that the generality of people chose... impovement, testing and solutions to the development of AF in Vo Nhai 3.4.1 Main advantages and disadvantages in the development of AF systems in the locality Advantages of each ecological regions in the district Region 1: Less steep land, abundant source of labour, high standard of intensive farming Most of cultivated area is in water initiative Convenient transportation, strength of tea tree, tobacco, corn,... very essential to every family Particularly, tea and tobacco have become valuable commodities for export 3.3.4 Evaluation of the sustainability of AF systems Participatory evaluation of the sustainability Agroforesrty systems To assess the sustainability of local AF systems , the dissertation, with the cooperatoion of system owners and households of good agriculture and forestry business, has standardized... evaluation of AF and Crop systems The roles of trees in decreasing soil erosion of AF and crop systems 14 The ultimate difficulty of cultivating in sloping land which affects is the high degree of slope, therefore, trees and crops systems affect on the level of soil erosion The results in the table 3.6 show that the crop systems had influence on the ability to limit soil erosion on difrent degree of slope,... Vo Nhai, Thai Nguyen Journal of Science and Technology, Thai Nguyen Univ, (3), p 109-115 2 Dang Kim Vui, Dam Van Vinh, 2005, "Results of studies on the growth of Batdo shoot bamboo on different types of terrain in the AF models in Vo Nhai - Thai Nguyen " Journal of Agriculture and Rural Development, October 2005, p 91-93 3 Dam Van Vinh, 2007 "Research on the environmental impact of some systems agricultural... to the innovation of the rural areas A few years ago, many poor families could only afforf for their children to finish secondary school, but now they can send their children to Universities, build house, and are classified into well-off households The level of cultivation is improved, creating a change in thinking and way of doing business among local people, contributing to deterring life of deprivation . systems in Vo Nhai district, Thai Nguyen province 2. Puposes, objectives * Purposes To evaluate effect of typical AF systems in order to develop sustainable cultivated systems for improving. 1: Oveview of research issues. 1.1. Studies of AF in the World 1.1.1. History of studies of AF in the world In history of AF development, King (1987) claimed that in medieval time in Europe,. of Agroforesty systems. 3.4.2. Some solutions to the development of AF system in Vo Nhai district. Selection of trees, crops, livestock for AF systems. After making a summary of opinions,