Summary Report on Experience Sharing and Learning among Extension Workers and Researchers in Vietnam

1. Objectives of the Forum

• To raise awareness about the role of agricultural extension in climate change adaptation.
• To share experiences and practical lessons from countries/regions in implementing climate change-adaptive agricultural extension.
• To propose sustainable solutions and supporting policies.

2. Main Content of the Forum

• Sharing the difficulties and challenges in agricultural extension activities in the context of climate change.
• Sharing some models and initiatives for climate change adaptation.
• Summarizing lessons learned.
• Proposing solutions to enhance agricultural extension efforts in the context of climate change.

3. Results Achieved

• Participants: 106 members, including local agricultural extension officers and researchers in Vietnam.
• Number of discussions: 40
• Number of subtopics discussed: 33
• Number of documents shared in the library: 30 documents.

Based on the topics guided, the members discussed and shared the difficulties, challenges, and some exemplary models from their localities, while also proposing solutions for agricultural extension activities in the context of climate change in the current situation. The results are as follows:

3.1. Sharing Challenges and Difficulties in Agricultural Extension Activities in the Context of Climate Change

Advantages:

• Local agricultural extension work receives attention and guidance from all levels of government as well as support from the grassroots level.
• The agricultural extension staff from provincial to commune levels are professionally trained and experienced.
• Each commune has local agricultural extension officers who directly guide agricultural production.
• The transportation infrastructure to communes and villages has been improved in many areas, making it easier to visit households and carry out extension activities.
• The supply of seeds, livestock, and machinery is reliable.
• In areas near local universities, regular training workshops are organized.

Difficulties: Due to regional characteristics, many challenges were raised by members, specifically:

• Difficult transportation due to heavy rains and frequent, increasingly severe flooding events. Especially in remote mountainous areas where infrastructure is underdeveloped, floods can damage roads, bridges, and other poor-quality infrastructure, isolating areas from the outside world. This isolation not only hinders extension officers from accessing communities but also prevents farmers from participating in training activities.
• Climate change makes weather forecasting and pest monitoring more difficult: o Unusual weather patterns such as off-season warmth or unexpected temperature fluctuations in winter have caused extension officers and farmers to fail in scheduling flower planting, reducing both yield and flower quality.

o The unpredictability of weather has led to changes in pest outbreaks, increasing risks to agricultural ecosystems. Studies show that climate change increases pest risks for plants, especially in subtropical regions.

o The frequency and severity of infectious diseases in livestock have also increased, making forecasting and monitoring more challenging.

• Increased workload for agricultural extension officers:

o Unpredictable weather requires adjustments to production plans, increasing time and effort.

o The increased number and severity of pests and livestock diseases also require extension officers to carry out additional forecasting, monitoring, and research activities.

• Difficulties in promoting new technology:

o For example, a new rice variety may be chosen based on normal weather conditions. However, during the growing season, sudden weather changes make the variety unsuitable.

o Demonstration models are also vulnerable to extreme weather events such as drought, heavy rain, floods, and pests.

• Lack of materials for climate-smart agriculture and climate change adaptation (CCA) models.
• Difficulty in encouraging farmers to invest in agriculture: Agricultural production is mostly small-scale, heavily dependent on nature, and therefore highly vulnerable. Due to adverse weather conditions, farmers reduce investments, making the spread of new technology even more difficult.
• Many extension officers, especially at the grassroots level, have to undertake non-specialized tasks, affecting their professional duties.
• Agricultural extension officers have not been adequately trained, regularly, or promptly in new technologies to match the reality.
• Resources and funding for extension activities are still limited; funds for field demonstration projects and technology transfer are also scarce.
• There is a lack of official sources of information to support agricultural extension officers in carrying out their duties and improving their capacity. Most have to rely on unofficial information found on the internet due to the lack of official sources.

3.2 Models and Innovations in Climate-Adaptation

In Bac Kan, Vietnam:

• Crop models: Planting potatoes, vegetables, and corn on rice paddy fields; cultivating local Shan tea and seedless persimmons on hillside land.
• Growing citrus trees, legumes, potatoes, and canna on rice paddy land.
• Intercropping fruit trees and food crops (corn, cassava) with legumes; intercropping and/or rotating potatoes with corn on alluvial soil.
• Afforestation and the application of agroforestry practices.
• Using drought-tolerant and short-duration crop varieties.
• Growing short-duration crops (soybeans, peanuts, potatoes, etc.) on paddy fields to avoid the summer flood season.
• Cultivating drought-tolerant, cold-resistant (Japonica rice), and short-duration rice varieties to adapt to water shortages, drought, and cold; short-duration varieties help avoid storms and frost.
• Planting genetically modified corn NK4300, resistant to drought, disease, and wind; growing cold-resistant rice varieties.
• Livestock farming with biogas systems (and rice wine brewing): The main goals include converting livestock waste into clean organic fertilizer, reducing air pollution, utilizing energy (biogas) for cooking, and using by-products from wine brewing as pig feed.
• Livestock farming with bio-bedding methods and vermicompost production.

In Thai Nguyen, Vietnam:

• Livestock farming (pigs, cows) with biogas system installation.
• Promoting intercropping of fruit trees and annual crops; planting fruit trees on single-crop rice land.
• Using drought-resistant and disease-resistant corn varieties (genetically modified corn).
• Changing farming models: cultivating alternative crops (fruit trees, legumes, and/or chili) on single-crop rice land.
• Applying water-saving production techniques (e.g., sprinkler irrigation systems for tea and fruit trees; using mulching materials for tea, fruit trees, and corn).
• Producing organic fertilizer using vermicompost for organic agricultural production.
• Utilizing native crop varieties (e.g., soybeans, custard apples).
• Adopting the System of Rice Intensification (SRI) and/or alternate wetting and drying (AWD) methods in rice cultivation: reducing water use, improving yields, promoting healthier crop growth, and reducing pest and disease incidence.

3.3. Lessons Learned

3.3.1. Enhancing Collaboration Among Stakeholders

• Lessons learned: The success of climate change-adaptive agricultural extension models depends on close cooperation among government agencies, research institutions, businesses, and farming communities. Speakers at the forum emphasized the importance of building networks to share information, resources, and mutual support in implementing sustainable farming models.
• Recommendations: Policies and agricultural extension projects need to involve all stakeholders, including local authorities, businesses, and farmers, to ensure effectiveness and sustainability in implementing adaptive solutions.

3.3.2. Science- and Data-Driven Agricultural Extension Practices

• Lessons learned: The application of farming techniques and modern technologies must be based on scientific research and accurate climate forecasts. The forum highlighted the need for agricultural extension efforts to provide farmers with precise information about climate conditions, drought-tolerant crop varieties, and scientific farming methods.
• Recommendations: Extension officers should be equipped with strong knowledge of climate and environmental issues to offer solutions tailored to the actual conditions and needs of farmers.

3.3.3. Continuous Education and Training for Extension Officers

• Lessons learned: The forum underscored the importance of training and updating knowledge for extension officers on climate change-adaptive production techniques. Training programs need to be conducted regularly and tailored to the specific conditions of each locality.
• Recommendations: Extension officers should be equipped with knowledge about climate change, sustainable agricultural production models, and efficient farming methods. These training sessions not only enhance the officers’ capabilities but also enable them to effectively transfer these skills to farmers.

3.3.4. Promoting Sustainable and Climate-Smart Production Models

• Lessons learned: Climate change-adaptive agricultural production models, such as using drought-tolerant crop varieties, water-saving irrigation systems, or soil conservation farming practices, have proven effective in mitigating the impacts of climate change.
• Recommendations: Efforts should focus on implementing pilot models and sharing results with farmers to help them understand the benefits of applying these models in practice. Programs supporting farmers to participate in trials and adopt these models need to be strengthened.

3.3.5. Enhancing Financial Support for Farmers

• Lessons learned: One of the greatest challenges farmers face in adapting to climate change is a lack of financial resources. The forum participants pointed out the need for effective financial support mechanisms to enable farmers to invest in climate-adaptive solutions.
• Recommendations: Policies should facilitate farmers’ access to preferential loans, technical support, and funding for sustainable agricultural projects. The implementation of agricultural insurance programs should also be considered to reduce risks for farmers.

3.3.6. Encouraging Community Participation in Agricultural Extension Activities

• Lessons learned: The success of agricultural extension efforts depends not only on extension officers but also on the active participation of farming communities. The forum emphasized the crucial role of fostering solidarity among farmers, sharing experiences, and jointly seeking solutions to cope with climate change.
• Recommendations: Agricultural extension programs should create favorable environments for farmers to share experiences, collaborate in implementing sustainable production models, and support each other in adopting new techniques.

3.4 Proposed Solutions for Enhancing Agricultural Extension

In the face of climate change, enhancing the capacity of agricultural extension officers is a key factor in transferring knowledge and techniques to farmers, enabling them to adapt to climate impacts. Below are several solutions to strengthen the capacity of extension officers:

3.4.1. Training and Professional Development

• Solution: Agricultural extension officers should undergo continuous training in sustainable agricultural production methods and climate change adaptation. Regular workshops and specialized courses on drought-tolerant crop varieties, water-saving techniques, soil conservation, and climate-smart agriculture models should be organized.
• Objective: To help extension officers stay updated on new knowledge and skills, enabling them to guide farmers in adopting climate-adaptive agricultural practices.

3.4.2. Strengthening Connections and Collaboration with Research Organizations

• Solution: Extension officers should establish connections and collaborate with research institutes, universities, and international organizations to stay informed about the latest agricultural research and technology.
• Objective: To equip extension officers with the most advanced solutions and technologies to share with farmers. This collaboration also helps build networks for experience sharing and learning among experts and farmers.

3.4.3. Organizing Training Sessions on New Farming Techniques

• Solution: Regular training sessions on sustainable farming techniques, such as using drought-resistant crop varieties, water-saving methods, and biodiversity conservation, should be conducted. These sessions should be accessible to extension officers and farmers in rural areas.
• Objective: To enhance the capacity of extension officers in implementing agricultural production techniques suited to changing climate conditions.

3.4.4. Applying Information Technology in Agricultural Extension

• Solution: Utilize information technology and online platforms to provide timely updates on weather forecasts, pest and disease predictions, and recommendations for climate-adaptive farming practices. Mobile applications and agricultural extension websites can make information easily accessible to extension officers and farmers.
• Objective: To improve the effectiveness of agricultural extension efforts and help both extension officers and farmers proactively respond to extreme climate events.

3.4.5. Supporting and Encouraging the Development of Pilot Models

• Solution: Extension officers should be encouraged to design and implement pilot models in communities, such as climate-smart agricultural models. These trials not only enhance practical skills for extension officers but also serve as examples for farmers to follow and adopt.
• Objective: To create practical models for extension officers and farmers, facilitating the adoption of sustainable and climate-adaptive farming methods.

3.4.6. Establishing Mechanisms for Feedback and Learning from the Community

• Solution: Develop mechanisms for feedback and learning from the community to allow extension officers to adjust and improve their support for farmers. Meetings, workshops, and discussion groups between extension officers and farmers can enhance mutual understanding.
• Objective: To ensure that agricultural extension strategies and measures are adjusted to fit the realities and needs of farmers while creating opportunities to learn from both failures and successes.

4. Conclusion

The identified solutions will not only enhance the capacity of agricultural extension officers, but also enable them to perform their duties more effectively in the context of climate change, thereby laying a solid foundation for the sustainable development of agriculture.

The online forum was successful in connecting stakeholders, sharing practical experiences, learning documents and offering practical recommendations. This is an important first step in promoting sustainable agricultural extension initiatives, contributing to the reduction of climate change impacts on agriculture.