Alternative Development in the Ky Son District

The Ky Son District shown on the left is where UNODC is implementing it's alternative development projects. Ky Son used to be one of the major opium poppy cultivation districts in Vietnam. Once where opium poppies grew, now licit income from agriculture crops, livestock and off-farm activities has replaced the previously illicit income generated from opium cultivation. Along with this development new ideas of hope for the future has come to the local population of the Ky Son district. A district once in despair is now thriving through the introduction of new alternative crops.

History

There has been significant & rapid reduction of opium cultivation in Vietnam since 1992. The government, however, is aware that sustainable reduction depends on bringing comprehensive socio-economic development to the opium growing ethnic minorities Ky Son district is listed as one of the nine poorest districts in Vietnam. In 1994 the district also produced the most opium in the country by 1999 opium cultivation was totally eliminated from the region.

The district covers some 184,000 ha of mountainous, steep and mostly inaccessible land. It straddles National highway 7a and has the Lao border on three sides of the district. There are some 55,000 people of which 38% are Hmong, 32 % Kamu , 28% Thai ethnic minority groups and 2% Kinh, the main ethnic group in Vietnam living in 175 hamlets belonging to 21 commune administrative units.

There is an estimated 1800 drug users in the district. Since 1997,highway 7a has become a major transit route for drugs coming into the country and the growing number of new heroin addiction and the risk of HIV is a grave concern.

Problems

Opium is mainly produced in the most remote, desolate, under developed and poorest parts of the country. The ethnic minorities have few other crop alternatives besides opium to ensure survival in an increasingly difficult and harsh environment.

The areas have a higher level of socio-economic deprivation and ecological vulnerability:

• The quality of life in these areas is far below the level of other rural areas with regard to health, education, nutrition and family income.
• There is a lack of important infrastructure for development such as access roads, health facilities, schools, clean water, sanitation, electricity, access to information, communication and markets.
• Lack of suitable agricultural land leads to serious environmental degradation due to increasing population pressure on decreasing agricultural land as well as deforestation.
• Opium poppy cultivation, addiction and trafficking as well as related social problems causes growing concern.
• The government lacks the resources, capacity and experience to develop effective programs to address the problems.

Achievements

The project is working towards achieving its main objectives. This includes a dedicated project staff, an effective management support system for project interventions as well as a project centre which provides essential support to project activities.

Study tours, training workshops, seminars have been carried out that have enabled district ,community and village leaders to be more aware of the possibilities and opportunities available to improve their living conditions.

Community Development Boards play key roles in the project annual planning workshop sessions. Emphasis has been given to women development and support provided to women groups in income generation, marketing, AIDS and drug abuse awareness.

The capacity of the district transportation and irrigation department to construct, upgrade and maintain rural access roads, water supply and irrigation schemes has been significantly strengthened. A total of 43 kms of roads has been upgraded with one major bridge crossing. A total of 10 water supply schemes implemented. Irrigation schemes supported. A TV relay station supported and the district video reporting capacity improved. The project continues to support opening of new roads and other infrastuctural development.

The capacity of the district livestock and veterinary department, district health department, district education and training department has also been strengthened. Three schools and three health stations have been constructed. Assistance for school furniture and equipment has been provided to an additional 8 schools.

Livestock disease was identified by village communities as a main constraint to livestock development and increasing income generation, An action plan to address the problem is being carried out after a National Expert Veterinary Workshop was conducted in Ky Son.

Farmers are actively engaged in their own identified farm based research models on maize, rice, root crop, potato, fruit tree and livestock feed improvement and development programs.

Project Activities

In the first year of the project (1995) a socio-economic baseline, agricultural, infra-structure, and training needs assessment studies. A project centre provides office space, training, storage as well as other essential support and accommodation for staff and visitors was also established. Vehicles, machinery , furniture and equipment were specified, and procured. Needs assessment meetings at the commune and village level as well as special meetings for women groups were also carried out.

In the second year the project the recruitment of staff and procurement of main equipment was completed. Training sessions were organised and carried out for district staff and project staff. Community needs assessment, problem solving and planning sessions were also carried out. Assistance and support was given to opening up and upgrading of 42 kms of access roads to two key communes. Assistance was also supported for upgrading community health stations and schools.

Small agricultural and livestock adaptive trials were started. A TV relay station was supported. UNICEF, UNDP & UNFPA also began assistance activities in Ky Son. Construction of two schools was supported. One health station renovated.

In the third year the role of the Commune Development Boards in 3 key communes were formalised. Planning sessions and detailed commune level development plans were drawn up. Work continued with the upgrading of rural access road. Over 10 clean water supply schemes and related programs were supported. Support continued to be given to upgrading health and educational facilities. Construction of one school and two health stations was supported. Equipment and training was also provided for the health staff. A total of 10 livestock and 12 agricultural development programs were defined. The emphasis is to improve on existing crops and livestock systems.

Establishment of small scale demonstrations for agriculture and livestock have commenced in three key communes. Marketing studies and crop economic analysis are being carried out to support these demonstrations as well as environmental and social forestry studies. Video, documentation and reporting capability is being enhanced. Seminars, training workshops amd specialised expert meetings to strengthen village, commune, district and national institutions continued to be carried out.

Requirements

The first four years of the project can be described as a preparatory phase. More time and resources are required to enable participatory monitoring and evaluation of small-scale demonstrations established as well as for the extension effort required for the expansion of suitable alternative development programs. Experience elsewhere indicate that it takes a minimum of eight years to effect a change for farmers practising traditional slash and burn cultivation.

Consistent, persistent follow up efforts & documentation, expert meetings and seminars related to the programs are required to enable a meaningful contribution to development of models which can be realistically replicated in other mountainous areas of Vietnam and the region.

Ky Son is a remote, isolated and mountainous district. Although the project has contributed to many improvements in the three key communes the district still lacks many infra-structural as well as the socio-economic requirements for development. Many of the villages in the district are still inaccessible by road.

A mid term review of the project carried out in late 1998 has recommended a four years second phase of the project to ensure sustainability of achievements made and the realistic extension and expansion of activities in the project zone.