The GP in Communities program began in Vietnam in
1998 as a pilot program in 3 villages, Tinh Loc and Kha Ly Ha
villages in Viet Yen commune, Bac Giang province and My Khanh B
village in Cu Chi district, Ho Chi Minh City. In this phase, the
primary areas of concern were identified as clean water supply,
solid waste management, pesticide and chemical fertilizer use
reduction and traditional career development. In Phase II 1999
– 2000, the GP program was expanded to 9 villages in the
North, the Centre and the South of Vietnam in Bac Giang, Ninh
Binh, Hue, Da Nang, Phu Yen, Ho Chi Minh, Can Tho and Vinh Long
provinces.
In response to the success of stage 1 and 2,
1998-2000, the Green Productivity (GP) program was expanded so
that in 2001 – 2003, GP has been brought to 81 villages in
21 provinces: Ha Noi, Hai Duong, Quang Ninh, Ninh Binh, Bac
Giang, Thai Nguyen, Hoa Binh, Ha Tinh, Nghe An, Hue, Da Nang,
Quang Nam, Gia Lai, Kon Tum, Ho Chi Minh, Can Tho, Vinh Long,
Vung Tau, Ben Tre and Ca Mau Vietnam. In addition to the GP
options in phase I and phase II, additional GP options were
generated and implemented. These include planting trees to
prevent sand erosion, worm farming, bee keeping at the household
level and the use of a foliage colour table to control
nitrogenous fertilizer use in rice farming. Additional GP
options for environmental protection and income generation were
generated and implemented widely in this phase.
Villages participating in GP program come
from different areas of Vietnam (the North, the Central and the
South of Viet Nam) with various conditions such as mountains,
plain, tourist, coast, urban areas, traditional villages,
minority groups.
The socio-economic conditions of villages
varies. However, most (90%) of villages in the GP program are
agricultural. The types of village are also different. For
example, the total area of Lac, Dam and Trai village are only 4
km2, 1 km2 and 4 km2 respectively while others have large area
(Man De village – Hai Duong province: 155 ha). Average
income is different either (poverty rate in Ky Loi village
– Ha Tinh province is 35 % compared with 5% in Thanh Lap
village – Thai Nguyen province).
The villages cover a range of different
socio-economic conditions and have differing environmental
conditions and problems. Some of the problems commonly faced
are:
• Human and animal waste water
pollution owing to lack of treatment facilities and unsuitable
management methods.
• 
Polluted potable water supply
• Pollution due to storm water runoff
• Inappropriate use of chemical
fertilizers and pesticides
• Solid waste disposal
• Inefficient use of cooking fuel
• Deforestation
• Inadequate Rural infrastructure
• Environmental awareness of
villagers is limited, especially regarding the application of
new technologies for environmental protection.
Through its 5 year implementation period
(1998 – 2003), the GP program has brought significant
benefits for people in rural area in terms of living standard
enhancement and environmental protection. The program has
achieved the visible outcome such as Biogas, energy saving
stoves, hygienic latrine, etc and also invisible achievements
such as awareness enhancement of people about their role for
environment protection.
Training and promotion are effective methods
to increase local peoplefs awareness of environmental
protection. Through the training courses, people have
opportunities to learn technical information that can help them
to improve their quality of life and local environment. Training
in the GP concepts and methodology was held in the 21 provinces
with the participation of 1857 people. Training courses on new
rice varieties has attracted more than 1000 people in Hai Duong,
Enhancing Environmental Awareness Enhancement has attracted 200
people in Phu Hai – Hue; Integrated Pest Management in Ha
Tinh, Ho Chi Minh, Nghe An, Phu Yen has more than 700
participants.
In term of human and animal waste, 200 pig
breeding facilities, 96 biogas plants and 40 plastic bag model
biogas plants were constructed. 507 hygienic latrines were
constructed to solve human waste problem.
In term of clean water, 16 wells were
upgraded, 27 simple water filtration models were applied and
rain water collection system was installed to provide clean
water for domestic purpose. 38 water treatments were constructed
and drainage system was applied to remove wastewater pollution
problem.
In term of pesticide and fertilizer
management, 127 households applied IPM on rice, fruit and
vegetable, proper application of pesticide and chemical
fertilizer, natural farming, plantation of safety vegetable and
colour table to control pesticide application was introduced and
implemented which has significantly reduced the amount of
pesticide and chemical fertilizer. Through application of GP
options, the use of pesticide and chemical fertilizer has
reduced. This brings benefits, not only through reduced risks of
chemical usage, but also reduces the financial burden.
In term of solid waste management, solid
waste collection teams and solid waste classification system was
established. Solid waste management has been integrated with
cultural activities of area, such as solid waste collection
campaigns at celebratory times in village. In addition, the
establishment of environmental protection regulations have had
significant benefits in villages. 183 rubbish bins were
constructed for solid waste collection. The awareness of
people has been enhanced through their daily activities.
449 energy efficient stoves were constructed
which has contributed to reduce energy consumption in rural
area. Construction of Biogas plants is also one option for
energy conservation in rural area.
In terms of income generation, 200 advanced
furnaces were constructed in Hai Duong province. Mushroom
cultivation, worm farming, bee keeping at household levels,
Pigeon rearing, frog rearing, develop traditional careers, etc
are the GP options which were implemented to increase living
standard of people in rural area. Many GP options have brought
significant benefits for people. In economic terms, the return
for high quality product is greater.
During five years of implementation, the
Green Productivity Program has significantly contributed to
rural development in terms of social, economic and environmental
protection. GP has become part of peoplefs lives and can be
considered an effective tool for enhancing productivity and
socio-economic development in the direction of sustainable
development. The concept of GP promotes the ideology that
environmental protection should be viewed as an essential
element in any development and should be integrated into the
global community.
Read all about the success of the Phase I and Phase II
of the Integrated Community Development for Poverty
Alleviation in the 11 villages in Vietnam in the
period from 1998 - 2001. |
