The fragmented landscape of Northwest Vietnam. Humidtropics' Central Mekong Flagship team in Northwest Vietnam launched its first Newsletter in April. Taking stock of what was achieved in 2015, the team sets the stage for 2016 with plans to further expand their R4D Platform project, working on integrated upland farming systems innovations, and nutrients management for coffee. Moving forward, Humidtropics researchers and partners will focus on promoting safe vegetable production and establishing market linkages for safe vegetable products in Muong Bon commune, as well as scaling-up … [Read more...]
The Golden Apple that Offers New Livelihoods Options to Vietnamese Smallholders
Son tra, the miracle fruit behind the tea that will simultaneously save forests, raise the income of smallholder farmers in Northwestern Vietnam, transform their landscapes, and be healthy for you. Son tra, aka the H’mong apple, taorung, maccam, or macsamcha depending on whether you are in Vietnam, India, Myanmar, or some southern provinces of China, is an indigenous fruit tree species growing naturally in forests around the Himalayas. It is especially abundant in areas populated by the H’mong people in Northwestern Vietnam, hence the local name "H'mong apple" (Docynia Indica). Listed as … [Read more...]
The Hills Are Coming to Life in Vietnam
For agroforesters, there is nothing more refreshing than seeing a hill covered with trees interplanted with crops. For agroforesters concerned with livelihoods, health and nutrition, there is nothing sweeter than seeing a hill covered with fruit trees and nutritious vegetables. Both these cases applied to me when I recently visited Humidtropics' sites in Son La Province of Northwest Vietnam. The primary purpose of my visit on June 15–17, 2015, was to represent the East and Central Asia Region, and the Thailand and Vietnam country programs of the World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF) at … [Read more...]