TRUONG TAN KHANH1, TRAN VAN DO2

1:Tay Nguyen University, Vietnam; 2: Quang Tri College, Vietnam

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Trương Tấn Khanh1, Nguyễn Ngọc Anh2, Werner Stur3

1: Tay Nguyen University, Buon Ma Thuot, Daklak, Vietnam.

2: National Institute of Animal Science, Ha Noi, Vietnam. 

3: International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT), P.O. Box 783, Vientiane, Lao PDR 

 TAN 853 CIAT1 

TECHNICAL ADVISORY NOTE FOR IFAD

2011-07-25

Website:  http://mahider.ilri.org/handle/10568/4743

ABSTRACT

Farmers in Ea Kar district, Daklak province have shown that it is possible for smallholders to transform their cattle production from a low-output grazing system („cattle keepers‟) to a high-quality, efficient beef cattle production system („cattle producers‟) based on farm-grown fodders and stall-feeding. This change enabled traders to access city meat markets with high demand for quality beef. The process and lessons learnt while assisting smallholders with this transition is described in a separate Technical Advisory Note (TAN). In this TAN we describe the process and lessons learnt during up-scaling of fodder and cattle development in Ea Kar between 2007 and 2010. The up-scaling was designed to (i) reach more farmers in Ea Kar, (ii) facilitate fodder and cattle fattening in other districts in Daklak Province, and (iii) link with an IFAD investment project in another province and introduce fodder production and cattle fattening to a district in their project area:

(i) Reaching more farmers in Ea Kar: By 2010, more than 3000 smallholder farms had adopted fodder production to improve feed supply for their cattle; 540 farms practiced stall-fed cattle fattening and supplied city markets with high-quality cattle; and approximately 800 farms practiced stall-fed cow-calf production and supplied Laisind and cross-bred calves for fattening by smallholders in Ea Kar.

(ii) Facilitating fodder and cattle fattening in other districts in Daklak Province: In 2009, smallholder cattle fattening was introduced to two neighbouring districts adjacent to EaKar. Within a year, 50 smallholder farms had adopted fodder production and 5 farmer groups had started to fatten cattle in pens.

(iii) Linking with an IFAD investment project: The IFAD-investment project „Improving Market Participation of the Poor‟ (IMPP) in Ha Tinh Province was selected as a partner in up-scaling fodder and cattle fattening. By the end

of the project, 485 smallholder farms had adopted fodder production in four communes in Ky Anh district, the site selected as a pilot district in the IMPP project area. In addition, IMPP had commenced to up-scale fodder development to a further two districts, Can Loc and Huong Son, in Ha Tinh.

The key to successful up-scaling was to (i) have a convincing example in Ea Kar that showed that it was possible for comparable smallholder farm families to produce high-quality cattle competitively, (ii) build local coalitions for development which facilitated the adoption and development process, (iii) strengthen the capacity of local stakeholders in facilitating the fodder and cattle development process, supporting farmers in technical issues, and developing market access, and (iv) support stakeholders at new sites by linking them with experienced counterparts in Ea Kar and as well as linking them with other project participants in an informal network of professionals.

Assessment of cattle production and marketing in Ea Kar, Daklak

Truong Tan Khanh1 and Werner Stür2

1  Tay Nguyen University, Buon Ma Thuot, Daklak, Vietnam

2  International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT), Vientiane, Lao PDR

Abstract

This paper discusses the results of a Cattle Market Study conducted in Ea Kar, Daklak in 2008. The objectives were to (1) describe the current cattle market environment and assess its influence on cattle production in the area, and (2) analyse constraints and opportunities for improving cattle production and trading systems in Ea Kar to meet the requirement of the changing market environment. The study team explored the market chain and held group discussions and individual interviews with market chain participants including farmer representatives, small and large cattle traders, slaughterhouse and destination market personnel and government authorities. Since 2000, the Center for International Tropical Agriculture (CIAT), Tay Nguyen University (TNU) and the National Institute of Animal Science (NIAS), in partnership with the Ea Kar Extension Service and District Government, have worked in Ea Kar to introduce the concept of cultivating forage grasses and legumes on farmers’ land for improved smallholder beef cattle production.  By 2007, more than 2400 smallholder farmers had adopted cultivated forages to feed to their animals.  This new feed resource has enabled farmers to change their cattle production system.  They have intensified their production systems from grazing to pen-fed cattle using planted forages as the main feed for fattening, and by changing from local breeds to raising Laisind and cross-bred cattle.

This intensification has resulted in much higher productivity and higher beef quality, and has enabled local traders to develop access to city beef markets which have higher quality criteria than local markets.  Prior to 2004, all cattle produced in Ea Kar were sold for markets in Ea Kar and in the provincial capital Buon Ma Thuot.  By 2008, 50% of all cattle produced in Ea Kar were sold to city markets in Nha Trang, Da Lat and Ho Chi Minh City.  Market demand for high-quality beef is strong and there are opportunities to expand production of cattle that meet the demands of exacting city markets.  

The Ea Kar example has shown that smallholder farmers can successfully and rapidly change from traditional cattle raising system to a productive market-oriented production system that can compete in city markets with imports from other countries. 

Key worlds: Cattle production system, market chains, constraints, opportunities, smallholders.