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Impact
The 951 farmers who participated in the evaluation found that using three reductions, they can gain higher incomes of about US$58 and US$35 per ha in the dry and wet seasons, respectively, thus can potentially make ~US$93 more per year. This is equivalent to two months income of a typical household. Farmers found that the main incentive to reduce seed and fertilizer rates was the potential to reduce insecticides, since lower seed and fertilizer rates resulted in lower pest pressures. With fertilizer cost on the increase, the potentials for more savings further motivated the farmers.
A poster (left) and a billboard used to motivate farmers to adopt “Three Reductions, Three Gains” practices.
The farmer experiments were repeated in three more provinces with similar results. The next challenge then was to develop a communication strategy to motivate millions of rice farmers to adopt these three reduction practices. The “Message Design Workshop” was held in December 2002, where stakeholders developed a series of motivational materials, posters, leaflets, billboards, a radio, a TV drama and an advertising plug for TV. These materials were pre tested and mass produced for distribution and broadcasting. The campaign was launched on March 8, 2002 by the Deputy Director of Agriculture of Cantho province.
Launching on 8 March 2002 485,000 leaflets were distributed
Following the launch a total of 485,000 leaflets and 11,300 posters were distributed, 200 training courses were conducted, the radio drama was broadcast twice a week, the TV advertisement plug and TV drama were broadcast several times a day for three months. In addition, the Cantho TV station organized “Three Reduction, Three Gains” quiz shows and competitions weekly. Farmers who had conducted the experiments, university professors, agricultural directors and ministers had been interviewed on radio, TV and newspapers.
The post-test carried out 12 months after the launch showed that farmers on average had reduced seed rates by 14%, fertilizer use by 7% and insecticides by 27%. In July 2004 1 the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development announced its policy support for the “Three Reductions, Three Gains” Program and on 15 October 2004, the Minister of Agriculture urged all provincial authorities to develop plans for country-wide implementation of Ba Giam Ba Tang. On December 7, 2004, the ministry organized a meeting of agricultural directors to plan implementation activities for 2005.
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October 15, 2004
Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development,
Dr Cao Duc Phat:
“ The provincial authorities will implement “Three Reductions, Three Gains” in the whole country from the next crop season of 2004-2005”
Vice Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development,
Dr Bui Ba Bong:
“In the next 3 to 4 years, 50% of the farmers will adopt “Three Reduction, Three Gains” practices. |
Initiated with SDC support the “Three Reductions, Three Gains” Program is gaining popularity among farmers. In fact “Ba Giam Ba Tang” has become a household word in many parts of Vietnam and has become a national agricultural program. The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development awarded it the 2003 Golden Rice Award for best agricultural innovation. Recently the Cantho provincial government also awarded the Program for outstanding contributions to helping farmers. In 2004 several provinces allocated state funds totaling ~US$300,000 to implement the Program and more provinces are expected to do the same from 2005. The Program is expected to reach and improve the livelihood of more than 12 million rice farmers in Vietnam by increasing their incomes, decreasing their dependency on insecticides thus reducing their exposure to unnecessary health hazards and in addition the decrease in use of nitrogenous fertilizers and insecticides will contribute towards reducing environmental pollution.
http://vietnamnews.vnagency.com.vn/2004-07/12/Stories/02.htm
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