03vu-378 - Building up an agricultural extension network.
The project aims at using the network of organised farmers and selected outstanding farmers to promote improved agricultural systems and techniques in order to raise the income and livelihood of rural people. The activities are linked to the national policy of reforming the agricultural sector by stepswise integration in the market economy. The project activities link the establishment of model (demonstration) farming systems to the network of outstanding farmers. Farmer to farmer extension will be the major approach in disseminating knowledge and skills. Not the establishment of parallel extension programmes is the main focus but the improved organisation and linking of farmers and the strengthening of their capacity to effectively use existing extension services. The nucleus of these linkanges are model farms used to demonstrate and disseminate improved agricultural techniques. In improving agricultural techniques both quantitative as well as qualitative criteria are taken into consideration including post-harvest treatment and marketing issues. The project will be guided by the Vietnam Farmers Union on national level but implemented by 6 Provincial level Farmers Associations.