The Centre for Sustainable Rural Development cooperated with the Forest Protection and Management Board of Mu Cang Chai district to hold a study visit to models of water management, agroforestry, and farming to adapt to climate change of Yen Bai. In the framework of the project “Mitigation and Adaptation to Climate Change in the agricultural and forestry sector of the north-western highlands”, the activity was held with an aim to create opportunities for local leaders and farmers participating in the project to experience practically and gain more knowledge.
Participating in this tour were leaders, project managers, and project officers from the SRD Center, representatives of the Sub-Department of Plant Protection and Protection of Son La province, and farmers from villages in 4 communes: Nam Lau, Chieng Pha, Muoi Noi, and Bon Phang. With the support from the staff of the Forest Protection and Management Board of Mu Cang Chai district, and the vice president of Nam Khat commune, Mr. Ly A Su, the visiting delegation visited the following models: Model of water management, integrated farming model (Fuyu - Wild boar) in Hua Khat village, Nam Khat commune; Model of agroforestry with maize intercropping with apples, Nam Khat commune, Model of bamboo forest in Pung Luong commune; Model of sturgeon and salmon ponds and Model of growing amaranth and cardamom under the forest canopy of Cao Pha commune.
After the trip, people were deeply impressed with the models, and more importantly, they have accumulated appropriate experiences to apply in their villages and communes. Like the water management model in Nam Khat commune, built with 2 large water tanks and a system leading to water tanks at households. People had time to talk with a representative of the Commune's Water Management Cooperative Group to understand more deeply about how to deploy and manage water sources so that it can be applied in two communes Chieng Pha and Muoi Noi - two communes with the shortage of domestic water in the dry season. In addition to the differences in scale, people were surprised with the organization and management here, mainly people in Nam Khat commune voluntarily joined the Cooperation Group on water resource management. The operating budget for the Group is only taken from a small source of 24,000VND/household/year. According to a representative of Nam Khat commune, forest protection is an important prerequisite for maintaining an abundant water source like here.
Model of water management in Hua Khat village, Nam Khat commune, Mu Cang Chai district, Yen Bai province
The model of planting trees and raising wild boar in the direction of goods in Hua Khat village is one of the typical models of the province, which has helped the people here develop the economy. Visiting the rose garden with a model of wild boar grazing in a semi-natural direction under the canopy of the rose garden, Mr. Su said: "The average profit per tree per crop is about 1 million. If compared with short-term crops such as maize, the output is many times more, besides the value obtained from wild boar has contributed to doubling income, even tripling it. It can be seen that this is a model that can be applied to highland communes such as Nam Lau and Muoi Noi. After the visit, Mr. Quang Van Ba representing Muoi Noi commune shared: “I am most impressed with the combined breeding model of Hong Crispy - Wild Boar. In the spirit of seeing with my own eyes the model that brings a stable economic source to the people of Nam Khat commune, after I return, I will mobilize everyone in the village to raise livestock together."
Model of planting trees and raising wild boar in the direction of goods in Hua Khat village
Docynia indica is a multi-purpose indigenous tree, suitable for the climate, site conditions, and farming practices of the people in the Northwest, especially the people who live closely with the forest in Yen Bai. Currently, Docynia indica has become one of the crops that help alleviate poverty and bring stable income for local people. Not only that, with its strong vitality, medlar is grown in inefficient, arid upland fields, bare land areas, barren hills, helping to limit landslides and soil erosion in the rainy season, combined forest protection and development. To increase economic efficiency, the people of Nam Khat commune have combined short-term crops such as maize in the areas planted with medlar to have both a short-term income from maize and a sustainable income from the Docynia indica. At the same time, the model of intercropping corn under the forest canopy creates conditions for people to cultivate sustainably, and limits changes and adverse effects of the weather; protects and preserves forest land. This is one of the models that are both effective in terms of economy, environment, and sustainability in the current context, giving people in Yen Bai mountainous areas a more stable and prosperous life.
The salmon and sturgeon farming farm was built in 2008 and has been maintained for more than 10 years
Following Khau Pha pass, the tour group stopped in the middle, where a salmon and sturgeon farming farm was built. This is one of the large-scale investment models, deployed since 2008, until now the model has been maintained for more than 10 years with more than a dozen salmon and sturgeon farming areas. The source of water for fish farming is taken entirely from the back natural forest, where there are models of growing amaranth and cardamom under the forest canopy. The system of natural forests - Amomum xanthioides, cardamom - salmon, sturgeon can be considered as a typical system for the form of ensuring nature conservation, conserving water sources for household economic development, and bringing energy to the community. high performance and efficiency. However, this is a difficult model to apply, requires large investment capital, has a lot of knowledge and experience in animal husbandry and management of forest and water resources. The farm's representative shared that maintaining this model was very difficult, although the fish food sources was imported from abroad, the water was abundant and clean, but the success rate was only 50%.
The cliff road leading to the model of growing cardamom and sardines under the forest canopy
At the end of the visit, leaders, project managers, and project staff from SRD Center, representatives of Sub-Department of Plant Protection and Protection of Son province received positive comments from farmers. Mr. Lo Van Hoan, representative of Chieng Pha commune was most impressed with the water management model: “I am very happy to visit and learn from all 5 models, especially forest protection and water regulation. Living. Myself is one of the villages with difficult water conditions, after I return, I will share with everyone in the village and apply the appropriate experience to change the current situation.”
Most of the visiting delegation members recognized the importance of forest management and protection, “Based on the reality of the locality, I realized the important role of forest management and protection, after I will bring the knowledge about the village to propagate to the households in order to do well in the management and protection of the forest.” – Mr. Lo Van Tien, representative of Nam Lau commune shared.
With the experiences and lessons learned after the visit, the SRD center and project stakeholders such as the Provincial Department of Crop Production and Plant Protection, Thuan Chau District People's Committee, and People's Committees of 4 communes will discuss and come up with solutions. suitable for local application.
Centre for Sustainable Rural Development (SRD)
No.31, Alley 19 Kim Dong Street, Hoang Mai District, Ha Noi
Phone: +84 24 3943 6676/78 | Fax: +84 24 3943 6449
