Partnerships and co-investment drive sustainable impact of Chan-henh project in Northwest Highlands of Vietnam

The CGIAR Sustainable Animal Productivity, or Chan-henh project (2022-2024), has successfully transformed livestock production in Mai Son District, Son La Province. As the project concludes, a closing workshop was held on 11 November 2024 in Son La Province. The project’s key findings and achievements demonstrate a sustainable development model built on strong partnerships and co-investment.

Situated in the mountainous northwest region of Vietnam, Son La is home to over 11,000 buffalo, 30,000 cattle, 83,000 pigs, and 1.1 million poultry. Despite these impressive numbers, farmers in Mai Son District have been facing significant challenges in livestock production, including fragmented farming practices and vulnerability to extreme weather conditions, particularly in the dry season. The Chan-henh project has provided innovative solutions to empower local farmers and enhance their livelihoods.

Key to the project’s success are partnerships with local authorities, including Son La Sub-Department of Animal Health, Mai Son district Agricultural Service Center and Mai Son People’s Committee. Their commitment to co-investing in the Chan-henh project has not only increased its impact but also integrated it into the broader National Target Program, aimed at improving the socio-economic conditions of ethnic minorities and mountainous regions.

Nguyen Ngoc Toan, director of the Sub-Department of Animal Health in Son La Province who is the implementing partner of the project remarked, “The Chan-henh project has been important in helping our farmers develop more resilient livestock practices. Our collaboration has enabled sustainable practices that significantly improve productivity and income for local communities.”

Phung Thi Hong Lan, deputy director of the Mai Son Agriculture Services Center, noted, “Through our partnership with Chan-henh, we organized 68 training courses and 8 outreach events, reaching over 5,000 participants, 35% of whom were women. Our co-investment of approximately $14,000 has been used in extending the project’s reach and ensuring sustainable practices are adopted by our farmers.”

The project’s collaboration with research institutions further enhances its sustainability by providing technical support and training materials to local staff.

Over three years of the project cycle (2022-2024), the Chan-henh project made substantial achievements in providing knowledge and developing capacity for farmers and local partners:

• Farmer groups: Eight farmer groups were initially formed with a total of 127 households, but within a year, the membership has increased to 692. With the support of the farmer groups, 692 smallholder households have been recorded as adopting at least one of SAPLING’s innovations (i.e., artificial insemination, feeds and forages, or animal health), benefiting approximately 3,321 people. The effectiveness of SAPLING’s farmer group model has been acknowledged and incorporated into the National Target Program in Mai Son District, Son La Province.
• Animal health and genetics improvement: A total of 207 farmers and 19 veterinary officers trained on animal health; 435 participants trained on breed selection; and 44 individuals trained in artificial insemination (AI), achieving a 50% pregnancy rate for inseminated cows in 2024.
• Feeds and forages improvement: The project has conducted and co-invested in 40 training sessions for local technical staff and over 2,000 farmers on feed and forage technologies. Additionally, the project has evaluated eight varieties of forage grasses and legumes with potential to enhance livestock productivity as well as adapt well to cold and dry seasons to ensure year-round feed availability.
• Eight demonstration farms have been established to showcase best practices on animal health, feeding and breeding aspects. Three more demo-farms are currently on the way under the leadership of Sub-DAH.
• Community engagement: More than 5,000 community members participated in 76 training and outreach sessions, with gender-focused training integrated across four communes, strengthening the role of women in livestock production.

As the Chan-henh project concludes, its legacy of sustainable livestock practices, community resilience, and gender empowerment will continue to foster progress in Son La Province. The commitment of local farmers and leaders illustrates the potential of sustainable agricultural development to strengthen rural economies and enhance the livelihoods of ethnic minorities in Vietnam’s mountainous regions.

Cam Thi Khay, vice president of the Mai Son People’s Committee, appreciates these partnerships: “To continue maintaining and promoting the results of Chan-henh in the coming time, the People’s Committee will focus on expanding capacity-building training for local staff. The district People’s Committee will intensify efforts to support the poor and near-poor households and will regularly review and assess project activities, making adjustments to any strategies that are no longer suitable (if any) to ensure the sustainability of the project.”

Chan-henh project is implemented by the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) and the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT, in partnership with the National Institute of Animal Sciences (NIAS), the National Institute of Veterinary Research (NIVR), the National Institute of Nutrition (NIN) and the Son La Sub-department of Animal Health (Sub-DAH).