Adoption and impact of gaps in pig value chains: Implications for institutional policy and practice change

This paper investigates the adoption of VietGAHP, a set of guidelines for best practices in pig production, and evaluates impacts using quantitative and qualitative indicators. It tackles the following specific research questions: 1) What is the extent of adoption of VietGAHP among smallholder pig producers? 2) Is there a difference in performance between VietGAHP adopters and non-adopters? Outcomes from adoption and compliance with VietGAHP are assessed using reduction in mortality as a metric for efficacy. Cost-benefit comparisons are also made to illustrate economic outcomes as a measure of effectiveness. We employ statistical t-tests for mean comparison of outcomes between VietGAHP adopters and non-adopters and across exposed and control sites. Our study shows productivity gains from practice and behavioral changes elicited from adoption and compliance with VietGAHP outweigh the costs of doing so, at least at the household level. The observed economic and market incentives could boost the adoption of VietGAHP if these incentives are sustained with appropriate institutions in place. Scalability could be facilitated by exposure via demonstration effects. Peer-to-peer learning is an effective strategy in enhancing capacity for uptake. With exposure being strongly linked to uptake, regardless of gender of respondents, training opportunities for non-exposed groups are worthwhile to pursue

Improving the livelihood of small farmers in the pig value chain: Experiences in the north of Vietnam

Livestock sector in general and pig production in particular are important in Vietnam not only for supplying food for its growing population but also for their significant contributions to the country’s economy. Smallholder pig producers which are common, are estimated to supply at least 80% of pork in total pork production in the country. The paper airms to draw a picture of pig production performance of small farmers based on the survey data of ILRI-VNUA and value chain approach. It is believed that pig smallholders in Vietnam perform a weak market orientation, and they do not have full information about market. Therefore, some implications should be as small pig farmers need facilitation from the government and training & improving veterinary network are needed; Government management on input and output markets should be strengthened effectively; The private sector should participate actively in the chains; and Awareness of food safety of people should be improved

Using a system dynamics framework to assess disease risks of pig value chains in Vietnam

In Vietnam, there are more than 4 million households producing pigs and pork. This accounts for 57% of quantity of meat consumed. One of the most critical constraints to pig production is the presence of animal disease. Pig disease outbreaks are a regular occurrence in various parts of the country, with the industry affected by diseases such as foot and mouth disease, porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome, classical swine fever, porcine high fever disease, and swine influenza. In addition, food safety issues related to pig diseases and pork-borne diseases have also increasingly become more important concerns for consumers. Recent studies have shown significant changes in consumption behaviour in response to disease outbreaks. For instance, at least half of urban consumers stop consuming pork in times of pig disease epidemics and/or shift consumption to other meat substitutes such as poultry or fish. Disease risks thus have both public health and livelihoods impacts that are important to understand for appropriate policy and practice response. A proposed methodology for investigating disease risks uses a system dynamics analysis framework. System dynamics models are particularly relevant in the study of livestock systems, as they capture the diverse actors and feedbacks present in value chains and their interface with disease risk and behaviour. A system dynamics model is developed that will describe different scenarios of disease risks and the consequences of different interventions to mitigate these risks. Data from a sample of 1000 farmers and value chain actors including all actors in the pig value chain in Vietnam was collected with support from an ACIAR-funded project on Reducing Disease Risks and Improving Food Safety in Smallholder Pig Value Chains in Vietnam. We propose to test the hypotheses that disease risk is affected by type of production system, feeding system and types of feed uses, access to inputs and services, and selected socio-demographic variables associated with farmers and location

Market-based approaches to food safety and animal health interventions: Lessons from smallholder pig value chains in Vietnam

Food safety and animal health issues are increasingly important constraints to smallholder pig production in Viet Nam. Recent studies have highlighted the significant prevalence of animal disease and food‐borne pathogens inherent within the Vietnamese pig sector. These in turn have important negative livelihoods effects on smallholder pig producers and other value chain actors, as well as important public health impacts. An important research gap is in identifying ex‐ante appropriate market‐based policy responses that take into account the tradeoffs between improved animal health and food safety outcomes and their associated costs for different value chain actors as a means of developing chain‐level solutions for their control. In this paper, we constructed a system dynamics model of the pig value chain that combines a detailed model of herd production and marketing with modules on short‐ and long‐term investment in pig capacity, and decisions by value chain actors to adopt different innovations. The model further highlights the feedbacks between different actors in the chain to identify both the potential entry points for upgrading food safety and animal health as well as potential areas of tension within the chain that may undermine uptake. Model results demonstrate that interventions at nodal levels (e.g. only at farm or slaughterhouse level) are less cost‐effective and sustainable than those that jointly enhance incentives for control across the value chain, as weak links downstream undermine the ability of producers to sustain good health practices

Robust Adaptive Control of 3D Overhead Crane System

In this chapter an adaptive anti-sway controller for uncertain overhead cranes is proposed. The system model including the system uncertainties and disturbances is introduced firstly. Next, the adaptive controller which can guarantee tracking the desired position of the trolley as well as the anti-sway of the load cable is established. In this chapter, the system is proven to be input-to-state stable (ISS) which is supported by Lyapunov technique. The proposed algorithm is verified by using Matlab/Simulink simulation tool. The simulation results shown that the presented controller gives the good performances (i.e., fast transient response, position tracking, and low swing angle) when there exist system parameters variation as well as input disturbances

Enhancement of Magnetic Properties of La-substituted Strontium Hexaferrite Particles Prepared by Sol-gel Route

La-substituted strontium hexaferrite particles Sr$_{1 - x}$La$_{x}$Fe$_{12}O_{19}$ $(x = 0 \div 0.2)$ were prepared by using sol-gel method and subsequent calcination at temperatures ranging from 750\rc{}C to 1050\rc{}C for 2h in air. The effects of the initial La concentration and the calcination temperature on the structure, particle morphology and magnetic properties of the hexaferrite samples were investigated by using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM). The high magnetic coercivity $(_{i}H_{c}$) of 6.6 - 6.7 kOe and magnetization in maximum applied magnetic field (13.5 kOe) of 68 - 72 emu/g were achieved with the particles of compositions x = 0.1 $\div$ 0.2 and calcination temperatures between 850\rc{}C and 1000\rc{}C. The experimental data indicate that La replacement for Sr improves the crystallinity and inhibits the grain growth of the samples in a wide range of calcination temperature. These factors are important for production of high-coercivity hexaferrites by sol-gel technology

Penetrating Keratoplasty for Keratoconus in Vietnamese Patients

BACKGROUND: Keratoconus is an ectatic corneal disorder that can impair the visual acuity. Up to now, penetrating keratoplasty (PK) remains the most common surgical procedure to treat severe keratoconus. In Vietnam, most keratoconus patients come to visit doctor at severe stage and were treated by PK, so we conduct this study. AIM: To evaluate the results of PK for keratoconus in Vietnamese patients. METHODS: This was a retrospective study of 31 eyes with keratoconus who underwent PK in VNIO from January 2005 to December 2014. RESULTS: The average visual acuity was 0.86 ± 0.37 logMAR (20/145). In the group of patients without amblyopia, best spectacle-corrected visual acuity of 20/60 or better was recorded in 75.9% of eyes and 93.1% of eyes achieved a best corrected visual acuity with hard contact lenses of 20/40 or better. Mean postoperative corneal power was 43.8 ± 4.5D. Mean corneal astigmatism was 5.9 ± 2.7D. 94.6% of grafts remained clear. Posterior subcapsular cataract developed in 22.6% of eyes. Graft rejection was recognized in 12.9% of eyes. CONCLUSION: PK is an effective procedure with high rate of graft survival for keratoconus patients. However, patients should be aware of the necessary of optical correction to gain the best VA after surgery