Identifying Needs and Actions

Group 1. Conservation Farming Research Needs in Vietnam

The group proposed secondary information collection and action research in 1998-1999 on the following:

1. Obtain secondary information on:

• Indigenous and improved technologies on conservation farming

• Impacts of previous and ongoing research projects on agroforestry and conservation farming

2. Conduct transect surveys in selected agroecological zones:

• With the participation of ICRAF and institutions in the VACB network

3. Design and evaluate conservation farming models such as:

• SALT-3

• Agroforestry for shortening the fallow period without deterioration of soil fertility, e.g., Tithonia, Eupatorium

• Introduce conservation farming technologies, e.g., natural vegetative strips (NVS)

• Identify a site in each of the seven agroecological zones, and develop two models at each site; scale of each model ~2ha

4. In the northern highlands/midlands and north-central coast zones, investigate the following:

• Transformation of fallow land into permanent cultivation of pastures/cover crops as an alternative to slash-and-burn in Cho Don, Bac Can

• Application of suitable cropping patterns to shorten fallow periods in the uplands of Son La

• Design of models involving forest trees and fruit trees in Ba Quang, Ha Giang

• Production model involving forest trees and field crops in Hoa Binh and Son La

• Cinnamon and tea plantation in Yen Bai, with focus on (1) forest trees plus fruit trees; and (2) forest trees plus field crops

5. In the south-central coast zone, conduct trials of:

• Hedgerows of Sesbania rostrata, cinnamon intercropped with peanut/maize in Aluzi, Thua Thiem Hue

6. In the central highlands zone, develop the following models:

• Coffee and cinnamon

• Hedgerows of Desmodium, Gliricidia, Flemingia intercropped with fruit trees such as durian, persimmon, cinnamon

• Hedgerows plus fruit trees plus vegetables

• Coffee intercropped with field crops

7. In the northeast portion of the south, experiment with:

• Hedgerows of Leucaena, Tephrosia, Gliricidia intercropped with fruit trees such as durian, rambutan, mangosteen

• Hedgerows plus rubber plus field crops

• NVS, rubber, fruit trees intercropped with field crops

The working group also suggested activities to support the proposed research work:

• Arrange cross-visits for staff of involved institutions.

• Conduct group seminars before compiling final report.

• Seek support from other organizations, e.g., MOSTE, NGOs and international institutions.

• Set-up an ICRAF coordination office for Indochina based in Vietnam.