IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/agiwat/v276y2023ics0378377422005650.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

The economic sustainability of rice farming and its influence on farmer decision-making in the upper Mekong delta, Vietnam

Author

Listed:
  • van Aalst, M.A.
  • Koomen, E.
  • Tran, D.D.
  • Hoang, H.M.
  • Nguyen, H.Q.
  • de Groot, H.L.F.

Abstract

Intensive agriculture is increasingly associated with environmental degradation that may jeopardise long-term environmental and economic sustainability. The high-dike system in the upper Mekong delta that has enabled intensive rice cultivation represents a prime example of these potential negative feedbacks. The lack of seasonal flooding and the associated depletion of nutrients is expected to affect farmer income as productivity declines and more fertiliser is required. Therefore, emphasis has shifted towards more sustainable, flood-based agriculture, however farmer uptake has its challenges. Based on a compilation of different household surveys we first analyse rice farmers’ ability and willingness to transition and subsequently study the economic sustainability of intensive rice-based livelihoods. A Motivation and Ability (MOTA) survey reveals that two-thirds of the surveyed rice farmers are reluctant to change to flood-based farming systems, as they consider rice cultivation to be economically viable in the near future. They also mention financial and technical ability as key constraints. Subsequently, we analyse yield and fertiliser developments for a large sample of farming households under different dike systems between 2008 and 2015. This shows that income from rice farming grew steadily under high-dike systems as productivity growth compensated for higher input requirements. This growth is partly dampened by the slightly higher negative impacts of potential flood damage in high-dike areas, compared low-dike areas. A counterintuitive effect that is related to the fact that high dikes remain prone to dike overtopping or breaching in the flooding season, resulting in potentially higher damage than low-dike areas that are able to crop flood-based alternatives. The observed growth in income is a likely explanation for the reluctance to change in the studied period. Our analysis also shows that rice income growth is unequally distributed in high-dike areas, with lower incomes being associated with new high-dike systems and slower growth of incomes of smallholder rice farmers compared to large-scale farms. This makes smallholder rice farmers in high-dike areas especially vulnerable to changing conditions, and thus a priority target group for policy makers promoting flood-based alternatives. Recent commune level yield data show that the past productivity growth has stalled, increasing the prospects for alternative flood-based agriculture. This transition can be facilitated, by enhancing the economic viability of flood-based crops and, particularly for smallholder farmers, by improving their financial and technical capabilities through supportive policies.

Suggested Citation

  • van Aalst, M.A. & Koomen, E. & Tran, D.D. & Hoang, H.M. & Nguyen, H.Q. & de Groot, H.L.F., 2023. "The economic sustainability of rice farming and its influence on farmer decision-making in the upper Mekong delta, Vietnam," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 276(C).
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:agiwat:v:276:y:2023:i:c:s0378377422005650
    DOI: 10.1016/j.agwat.2022.108018
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378377422005650
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only

    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.agwat.2022.108018?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Ho Long Phi & Leon M. Hermans & Wim J.A.M. Douven & Gerardo E. Van Halsema & Malik Fida Khan, 2015. "A framework to assess plan implementation maturity with an application to flood management in Vietnam," Water International, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 40(7), pages 984-1003, November.
    2. Ba, Hélène A. & de Mey, Yann & Thoron, Sylvie & Demont, Matty, 2019. "Inclusiveness of contract farming along the vertical coordination continuum: Evidence from the Vietnamese rice sector," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 87(C).
    3. Alexander D. Chapman & Stephen E. Darby & Hoàng M. Hồng & Emma L. Tompkins & Tri P. D. Van, 2016. "Adaptation and development trade-offs: fluvial sediment deposition and the sustainability of rice-cropping in An Giang Province, Mekong Delta," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 137(3), pages 593-608, August.
    4. Le, Thuy Ngan & Bregt, Arnold K. & van Halsema, Gerardo E. & Hellegers, Petra J.G.J. & Nguyen, Lam-Dao, 2018. "Interplay between land-use dynamics and changes in hydrological regime in the Vietnamese Mekong Delta," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 73(C), pages 269-280.
    5. Tran, Dung Duc & van Halsema, Gerardo & Hellegers, Petra J.G.J. & Hoang, Long Phi & Ludwig, Fulco, 2019. "Long-term sustainability of the Vietnamese Mekong Delta in question: An economic assessment of water management alternatives," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 223(C), pages 1-1.
    6. Tran, Thong Anh, 2019. "Land use change driven out-migration: Evidence from three flood-prone communities in the Vietnamese Mekong Delta," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 88(C).
    7. Tran, Dung Duc & van Halsema, Gerardo & Hellegers, Petra J.G.J. & Ludwig, Fulco & Seijger, Chris, 2018. "Stakeholders’ assessment of dike-protected and flood-based alternatives from a sustainable livelihood perspective in An Giang Province, Mekong Delta, Vietnam," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 206(C), pages 187-199.
    8. Tran, Dung Duc & Huu, Loc Ho & Hoang, Long Phi & Pham, Tien Duy & Nguyen, Au Hai, 2021. "Sustainability of rice-based livelihoods in the upper floodplains of Vietnamese Mekong Delta: Prospects and challenges," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 243(C).
    9. Hong Quan Nguyen & Dorien Korbee & Huu Loc Ho & Jacob Weger & Phan Thi Thanh Hoa & Nguyen Thi Thanh Duyen & Pham Dang Manh Hong Luan & Thi Tang Luu & Dang Ho Phuong Thao & Ngo Thi Thu Trang & Leon Her, 2019. "Farmer adoptability for livelihood transformations in the Mekong Delta: a case in Ben Tre province," Journal of Environmental Planning and Management, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 62(9), pages 1603-1618, July.
    10. Tong, Yen Dan, 2017. "Rice Intensive Cropping and Balanced Cropping in the Mekong Delta, Vietnam — Economic and Ecological Considerations," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 132(C), pages 205-212.
    11. TRAN Thi Ut & Kei KAJISA, 2006. "The Impact Of Green Revolution On Rice Production In Vietnam," The Developing Economies, Institute of Developing Economies, vol. 44(2), pages 167-189, June.
    12. Shenggen Fan & Connie Chan‐Kang, 2005. "Is small beautiful? Farm size, productivity, and poverty in Asian agriculture," Agricultural Economics, International Association of Agricultural Economists, vol. 32(s1), pages 135-146, January.
    13. Nguyet Anh Dang & Rubianca Benavidez & Stephanie Anne Tomscha & Ho Nguyen & Dung Duc Tran & Diep Thi Hong Nguyen & Ho Huu Loc & Bethanna Marie Jackson, 2021. "Ecosystem Service Modelling to Support Nature-Based Flood Water Management in the Vietnamese Mekong River Delta," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(24), pages 1-28, December.
    14. Binh, Nguyen Thanh & Thuy Tien, Le Van & Thi Tang, Luu & Tu, Nguyen Minh & Dung, Tran Duc & Quan, Nguyen Hong, 2022. "Resilience of various innovative water management practices: The case of rice production in the Vietnamese Mekong Delta floodplains," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 270(C).
    15. A. Smajgl & T. Q. Toan & D. K. Nhan & J. Ward & N. H. Trung & L. Q. Tri & V. P. D. Tri & P. T. Vu, 2015. "Responding to rising sea levels in the Mekong Delta," Nature Climate Change, Nature, vol. 5(2), pages 167-174, February.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Håkan Berg & Simon Dang & Nguyen Thanh Tam, 2023. "Assessing Stakeholders’ Preferences for Future Rice Farming Practices in the Mekong Delta, Vietnam," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(14), pages 1-15, July.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Binh, Nguyen Thanh & Thuy Tien, Le Van & Thi Tang, Luu & Tu, Nguyen Minh & Dung, Tran Duc & Quan, Nguyen Hong, 2022. "Resilience of various innovative water management practices: The case of rice production in the Vietnamese Mekong Delta floodplains," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 270(C).
    2. Nguyet Anh Dang & Rubianca Benavidez & Stephanie Anne Tomscha & Ho Nguyen & Dung Duc Tran & Diep Thi Hong Nguyen & Ho Huu Loc & Bethanna Marie Jackson, 2021. "Ecosystem Service Modelling to Support Nature-Based Flood Water Management in the Vietnamese Mekong River Delta," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(24), pages 1-28, December.
    3. Quan H. Nguyen & Dung D. Tran & Khoi K. Dang & Dorien Korbee & Luan D. M. H. Pham & Lan T. Vu & Tang T. Luu & Loc H. Ho & Phat T. Nguyen & Trang T. T. Ngo & Dung T. K. Nguyen & Andrew Wyatt & Maaike v, 2020. "Land‐use dynamics in the Mekong delta: From national policy to livelihood sustainability," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 28(3), pages 448-467, May.
    4. Tran, Thong Anh & Nguyen, Tri Huu & Vo, Thang Tat, 2019. "Adaptation to flood and salinity environments in the Vietnamese Mekong Delta: Empirical analysis of farmer-led innovations," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 216(C), pages 89-97.
    5. Mucahid Mustafa Bayrak & Tran Hieu & Thong Anh Tran & Yi-Ya Hsu & Tung Nien & Dang Thi Thanh Quynh, 2023. "Climate change adaptation responses and human mobility in the Mekong Delta: local perspectives from rural households in An Giang Province, Vietnam," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 10(1), pages 1-14, December.
    6. Tran, Thong Anh, 2019. "Land use change driven out-migration: Evidence from three flood-prone communities in the Vietnamese Mekong Delta," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 88(C).
    7. Berchoux, Tristan & Hutton, Craig W. & Hensengerth, Oliver & Voepel, Hal E. & Tri, Van P.D. & Vu, Pham T. & Hung, Nghia N. & Parsons, Dan & Darby, Stephen E., 2023. "Effect of planning policies on land use dynamics and livelihood opportunities under global environmental change: Evidence from the Mekong Delta," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 131(C).
    8. Tsukada,Kazunari & Arimoto,Yutaka & Kojin,Emi & Mano,Yukichi & Lan Nguyen,Kim, 2023. "Cumulative Effects of Intensified Cropping Cycles: Triple Rice Cropping in the Vietnamese Mekong Delta," IDE Discussion Papers 899, Institute of Developing Economies, Japan External Trade Organization(JETRO).
    9. Le, Thi Ha Lien & Kristiansen, Paul & Vo, Brenda & Moss, Jonathan & Welch, Mitchell, 2024. "Understanding factors influencing farmers’ crop choice and agricultural transformation in the Upper Vietnamese Mekong Delta," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 216(C).
    10. Thijs Poelma & Mucahid Mustafa Bayrak & Duong Nha & Thong Anh Tran, 2021. "Climate change and livelihood resilience capacities in the Mekong Delta: a case study on the transition to rice–shrimp farming in Vietnam’s Kien Giang Province," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 164(1), pages 1-20, January.
    11. Nguyen Trung Nam & Pham Thi Bich Thuc & Do Anh Dao & Nguyen Duc Thien & Nguyen Hai Au & Dung Duc Tran, 2023. "Assessing Climate-Driven Salinity Intrusion through Water Accounting: A Case Study in Ben Tre Province for More Sustainable Water Management Plans," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(11), pages 1-19, June.
    12. Tran, Dung Duc & Huu, Loc Ho & Hoang, Long Phi & Pham, Tien Duy & Nguyen, Au Hai, 2021. "Sustainability of rice-based livelihoods in the upper floodplains of Vietnamese Mekong Delta: Prospects and challenges," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 243(C).
    13. Dam, Thi Huyen Trang & Tur-Cardona, Juan & Speelman, Stijn & Amjath-Babu, T.S. & Sam, Anu Susan & Zander, Peter, 2021. "Incremental and transformative adaptation preferences of rice farmers against increasing soil salinity - Evidence from choice experiments in north central Vietnam," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 190(C).
    14. Tran, Dung Duc & van Halsema, Gerardo & Hellegers, Petra J.G.J. & Ludwig, Fulco & Seijger, Chris, 2018. "Stakeholders’ assessment of dike-protected and flood-based alternatives from a sustainable livelihood perspective in An Giang Province, Mekong Delta, Vietnam," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 206(C), pages 187-199.
    15. Håkan Berg & Simon Dang & Nguyen Thanh Tam, 2023. "Assessing Stakeholders’ Preferences for Future Rice Farming Practices in the Mekong Delta, Vietnam," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(14), pages 1-15, July.
    16. Tien D. N. Ho & Takuji W. Tsusaka & John K. M. Kuwornu & Avishek Datta & Loc T. Nguyen, 2022. "Do rice varieties matter? Climate change adaptation and livelihood diversification among rural smallholder households in the Mekong Delta region of Vietnam," Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change, Springer, vol. 27(1), pages 1-33, January.
    17. Han, Jichong & Zhang, Zhao & Luo, Yuchuan & Cao, Juan & Zhang, Liangliang & Zhuang, Huimin & Cheng, Fei & Zhang, Jing & Tao, Fulu, 2022. "Annual paddy rice planting area and cropping intensity datasets and their dynamics in the Asian monsoon region from 2000 to 2020," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 200(C).
    18. Tran, Dung Duc & van Halsema, Gerardo & Hellegers, Petra J.G.J. & Hoang, Long Phi & Ludwig, Fulco, 2019. "Long-term sustainability of the Vietnamese Mekong Delta in question: An economic assessment of water management alternatives," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 223(C), pages 1-1.
    19. Tien D. N. Ho & John K. M. Kuwornu & Takuji W. Tsusaka, 2022. "Factors Influencing Smallholder Rice Farmers’ Vulnerability to Climate Change and Variability in the Mekong Delta Region of Vietnam," The European Journal of Development Research, Palgrave Macmillan;European Association of Development Research and Training Institutes (EADI), vol. 34(1), pages 272-302, February.
    20. Thuy Ngan Le & Arnold K. Bregt & Gerardo E. van Halsema & Petra J. G. J. Hellegers & Thi Thu Trang Ngo, 2023. "Multi-Scale Drivers of Land-Use Changes at Farm Level I: Conceptual Framework and Application in the Highly Flooded Zone of the Vietnamese Mekong Delta," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(7), pages 1-32, June.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:agiwat:v:276:y:2023:i:c:s0378377422005650. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/locate/agwat .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.