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Presented by: Mr. Pham Van ThanhDirector of CCRD

VAC integrated systemwith entire Energy chainin Vietnam

The Center for Rural Communities R&D (CCRD)

FAO Technical consultation, Rome, Italy 14-15th 2010

How to make ‘Integrated Food Energy Systems’

work for small-scale farmers and rural people

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China

Laos

Cambodia

Pacific Ocean

80,000.000 people 80% population: farme

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Presentation of IFES in Vietnam :

1. Brief background of Vietnam economy development

2. The basic elements of VAC integrated System

3. Example of VAC integrated System

4. The entire Energy chain in VAC Integrated System

5. VACVINA’ Biodigester System

6. Strategic Distribution Network

7. User survey & Lesson learnt

8. Barriers for Replication and scaling-up of IFES

9. Suggestions and Recommendations

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1. Brief Background

Centrally planned

& Subsidized System

All Production materials

(land) have been belonging

to collective ownership

1986

Market oriented

System

Allocation of land

to peasants

The Vietnam Economy

“Doi moi”

Reform

Policy

Overuse chemical fertilizers

Waste agricultural by-products

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A large amount of chemical fertilizers being lost Fertilizer use in agriculture

From a Total ~ 2.4 million tons NPK /Year

Estimated 1,2 mil.tons of urea-equivalent being lost environment pollution

N2O emission

nitrogen : 35nitrogen : 35nitrogen : 35nitrogen : 35----45%, 45%, 45%, 45%, phosphorus and phosphorus and phosphorus and phosphorus and potassium : 50potassium : 50potassium : 50potassium : 50----60% 60% 60% 60%

lost to leaching, erosion, volatilization and fixation in the soil

40- 45%

40- 65%

chemical fertilizersusing by plants:

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VACVINA has developed a concept

of integrated farm management, comprising 3 elements :

- the garden, - the fishpond - the animal husbandry

1. Brief History

Centrally planned

& Subsidized System

All Production materials

(land) have been belonging

to collective ownership

1986

Market oriented

System

Allocation of land

to peasants

The Vietnam Economy

“Doi moi”

Reform

Policy

long-standing, traditionalactivities of Vietnamese people

The new concept - called the VAC integrated systemVACVINA: Trained farmers in improved agricultural practices

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Garden

animal shed

fish pond

What is VAC ? VAC is acronym formed from the three Vietnamese

words:

“Vuon” : garden or orchard,

“Ao ” : fish pond,

“Chuong” : animal shed (stable, pigsty,poultry shed )

2. The basic elements of VAC System

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where: Gardening (V) , Fish rearing (A) & Animal husbandry (C)

are closely integrated.

VAC refers to a form of small-scale bio-intensive fa

The interactional

relationship in VAC System:

• Fish pond (A) provides water, mud and slime to irrigate and

fertilize the garden (V).

• Some of the fish (A) generally the cast of fishes, can be used as

nutritious animal feed (C).

• Animal manure (C) is used for plant (V) and fish food (A)

• Some products from the garden (V) is used to feed the fish (A)

Animal shedGard

en

Fish pond

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And People roles …

People make interactional effects to VAC system: They consume VAC products ; Add outside factors (fertilize

plantation, food for breeding, etc.) to this systemand control the process of waste treatment of VAC simultan

VAC system makes optimal use of land, water & solar energy to achieve high economic efficiency with low capital investment/ inputs

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70% from VAC activities

30% from rice cultivation

VAC and economic

development

Household income

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Rice Mono-cultivationVAC integrated

application

Income from 1 ha : 13-15 millions VND/year.(1US$ = 19.000 VND)

Income from 1 ha: 50-70 millions VND/year.

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Garden (V)

Fish pond (A)

Animal husbandry (C)

3. Example of VAC integrated System

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fish raising in

fishpond

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Some fruit trees & vegetable growing in Home Garden (V)

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Pig, Cow/ Buffalo and Chicken are effective in Animal Husbandry (C) at VAC System

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4. The entire Energy chain in VAC Integrated Systemby recycling organic matters

FOOD safety

Agricultural by-products

Animal husbandry

waste

Plants

VACsystem

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Effluent from Biodigester

Chemical fertilizers/N,P,K limited at 50 - 55%

VACVINABio-

digester

Biogas

Energy

Self-efficie

ncy

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Composting Raw materials

in 45 days

BiOVACEffective Micro-

organism

Bio-fertilizer

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5. VACVINA‘ Biodigester system

The underground flat-top system integrates both pigsty and latrine

while providing a concrete floor on which the animal shelters are built.

1- inlet system 2. Digester 3. Outlet 4.Gas reservoir

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2

40cm

inlet system: a System of siphons (U-

band)

can daily work with breaking scum. Inlet: siphon-device with active andcontinuous scum-breaking

action: Through it the dung

is gravitationally

feedinginto the digestion

tankand help Gas

productionstable

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Here scum could not be

formed & developed -> This makes gas production stable

CH4

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Digestion tank (Digester):

L form Cylinder Rectangular

large size bio-digester tank:

inlet

inlet inlet i i

Outlet

ii

21The top of the tank: insite reinforced concrete

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The Outlet:

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Incorporation of toilet

into digestion tank

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Incorporation of toilet

into digestion tank

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One of the first VACVINA biodigesters

constructed from May 1998

gas reservoirssystem

26Women using biogas for cooking effectively

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Why ? Advantages of VACVINA biogas system

� Reduces land requirements to a minimum (available space is a

major hurdle for many households).

� Its hybrid nature (plastic bag reservoir) helps keep the cost

down (1 VACVINA Biodigester = 50% cost of Fixed dome digs).

� Its innovative design (siphon-inlet) prevents the accumulation

of a hardened scum layer that reduces gas output in the

absence of annual cleaning and overhaul (5person family ->5-7pigs)

� The construction is easy and it does not require special

masonry skills.

� Total cost: low (in comparison with a fixed dome model)

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Usage of the Slurry and

Recycling by-products for Production

of bio-fertilizer at household scale

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There're a large quantity of living & Agricultural Waste, ... discarded by farmers and make environment more

polluted

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Overuse chemical fertilizers and

Burning & discarding Agricultural Waste is a bad habit &

behaviour of farmers, representing unsustainable

agricultural practice in Vietnam

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Using slurry + agricultural waste

for Production of bio-fertilizer at household scale

daysdaysdaysdays

Groups

effective micro-organisms

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Bio-fertilizer could be producedeasily on the field ...

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Advantages of Bio-fertilizer produced at household scale by recycling agricultural waste:� More efficient retention of N,P,K elements

� Increased nitrogen fixing capacity.

� Soil enrichment by higher levels of organic

matter.

� Increased plant resistance and decreased

fungus levels.� Decreased environmental pollution.

� Direct savings for farmers as they use less chem

fertilizers.

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6. Strategic Distribution Network :

CCRD VACVINA chapter

at commune level

Potential

customers

Turn-key

biogas plant

VACVINA

Chapters

at all levels in

61 provinces

5-7Pigs, 2-3cows raising

Training, transfering technology

Set up a network ofbiogas suppliers asMicro-entrepreneurs

Biogas Service suppliers

- Early-bird promotion

- Warranty- Training user…

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7. User survey & Lesson learnt

Objectives:

To aware of the effectiveness of using the VACVINA biodigesters.

To aware of the breeding potential and effect of VACVINA Biodigesters

in the community life

Survey concerning issues including:

� Quality of the provided products,

� Satisfactory degree/level of the users,

� Biogas effect on environmental matter,

� Economic efficiency…

Lesson learnt

The Network of suppliers : VACVINA Chapters at commune (lowest) level

developed as micro- entrepreneurs have high level of satisfaction from

clients in term of : - Giving information ;

- Delivering product;

- Redering service

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� Lesson learnt (continue)

The marketing strategy:

The setting up of “biogas Information & Distribution shops” equipped

with promotional and presentation material (videos, booklets, flyers...)

has been a success in promoting interest and sales in communes.

The product:

VACVINA biodigester is very well rated among users.

No major weaknesses have been reported.

Its quality / price ratio is well perceived

The financial model:

- Turn-key biogas plant concept has been well perceived by community

- “early bird” promotion (a slightly more market oriented approach

than a subsidy) proved successful.

- a credit loan would advantageously replace a discount or subsidy

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8. Barriers for Replication and scaling-up of IFES

Policies in Vietnam:

• Subsidies to chemical inputs (fertilizers and pesticides)

• Fossil fuel

• Subsidies of national (SNV/Netherlands) biogas program

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9. Some suggestions and Recommendations

� Need increased staff for more awareness raising and training.

� More funds for national campaign.

� Need a more market oriented approach with private entrepreneurs

offering the biogas component.

� More varied product choices.

� Easier access to micro-credit for rural households.

� Implement a market based approach whereby farmers recognize

the value for money of the systems offered.

� Stay away from a “charity-based” model that devaluates

the perceived value of the IFES system.

� Market the system as beneficial for all farmers,

including successful ones, and not only for “the poorest of the

poor”

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Thank you for your attentions !

The Center for Rural Communities R&D (CCRD)

www.ccrd.com.vn

tvc.vacvina@fpt.vn

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Nte Analyses of micro-organisms Density

1Microorganism for

disintegrating phosphous (P) Pceudomonas Sp

3,5.107

CFU/gr.

2Microorganism for

disintegrating Cellulose Asperfilus.niger2,4.107

CFU/gr.

3Microorganism for

Nitrogen fixing & Bio-Synthesise IAA

(Active agent for stimulating growth of the plants)

Azotobater SpPceudomonasnitro-reduecen

107

CFU/gr

4micoorganism for

sythetise lactic acid Lactobacilus. Cp3,55.107

CFU/gr

5micoorganism emiting

musk to restrain harmful fungus

Fuzarium.Oxyporum1,58.106

CFU/gr

What 's BiOVAC ?