| Objectives : |
Cotton IPM in Vietnam started with a TOT for 23 Vietnam Cotton Company (VCC) trainers and 68 FFS for 1700 farmers, carried out 1996-1999 by the FAO Community IPM Programme. Activities of the current project include: 2 additional TOTs for 60 cotton IPM trainers from VCC and PPD; 415 cotton IPM FFS for 11,200 farmers; Farmer TOTs produce farmer IPM trainers; Farmer-to-farmer training supported by farmer trainer meetings; Community-level follow-up activities for FFS graduates: farmer-led field studies and organizational, planning, and technical training meetings; IPM field exchanges to promote a community approach to IPM; Local, national, and regional meetings to discuss policy, methodology, and technical developments.
The project supports sustainable, profitable and environmentally sound production of cotton in the participating countries through the development, promotion, and practice of IPM by farmers and extension staff. In particular the project develops a cadre of IPM cotton trainers from existing extension or field plant protection staff to train farmers in Farmer Field School. The project also promotes cooperation for cotton IPM among governments, research institutions, development agencies, extension services and farmers’ and other non-governmental organization. It improves access for all interested parties to information from within and outside of the program area. The project assists the formulation of national policies on plant protection in cotton re-oriented to support IPM development in the six program countries. |