Sustainable Cocoa Enterprise Solutions for Smallholders (SUCCESS) Alliance Vietnam - Mekong Delta & Southern Vietnam
Project Dates: October 2003-June 2008
Country: Vietnam
Alliance: US Department of Agriculture, US Agency for International Development, World Cocoa Foundation, Mars Incorporated, ACDI/VOCA, and various local government and research organizations
Implementer: ACDI/VOCA
Overview
The SUCCESS Alliance Vietnam aims to establish a basis for sustainable growth of the cocoa sector in Southern Vietnam with a focus on farmers seeking to diversify their income. The program is active in the following provinces: Binh Phuoc, Ben Tre, Tien Giang, and Ba Ria Vung Tau.
Program Objectives:
- To train 17,000 farmers in cocoa production through the Farmer Field School approach
- To provide farmers with a total of 2.5 million cocoa seedlings
- To build the capacity of 13 nurseries to produce quality cocoa seedlings
- To develop a cocoa bean standard for Vietnam
Progress to Date:
- 16,647 farmers trained. Farmers receive training through the participatory Farmer Field School approach. Graduates continue to receive follow-on assistance and extension services. Topics covered include pest and disease management, pruning of young cocoa trees, planting, shade management and tree density, nutrition and soil health, and side grafting. Farmer Field School facilitators are trained through the Nong Lam University Cocoa Project.
- 2.8 million seedlings distributed. Farmer Field School participants receive an average of 150 seedlings to start growing cocoa on their farms. Most participants are new to cocoa farming and use the seedlings to begin intercropping cocoa with their existing crops such as cashew, black pepper, coconut, and fruit trees.
- 19 nurseries with increased capacity. To ensure sustainability and continuity beyond the project term, SUCCESS Alliance worked with 19 nurseries to provide them with the experience and expertise to produce quality seedlings in sufficient quantities to meet farmer demand.
- Cocoa Bean Standard developed. The SUCCESS Alliance is working with the Quality Assurance and Testing Center to conduct workshops on the cocoa bean standard in the four provinces participating in SUCCESS Alliance. To further support the standard, cocoa flavor analysis equipment was installed at Nong Lam University and the Department of Science and Technology in Ben Tre Province. A protocol for fermentation was developed, and SUCCESS Alliance has developed 18 fermentaries to date.