1 AIT Asian Institute of Technology

Farm household development in the midlands of Vietnam : a case study of Doan Hung district, Phu Tho province

AuthorNguyen Viet Dang
Call NumberAIT Thesis no.RD-01-06
Subject(s)Home economics, Rural--Vietnam--Phu Tho
NoteA thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirement for the degree of Master of Science, School of Environment, Resources and Development
PublisherAsian Institute of Technology
AbstractVietnam turns to a new stage of it socio-economic development with a rapid growing economy since the economic reform process started in the agricultural sector in early 1980s and accelerated since 1989 (ADB, 2000). However, in analyzing the farm household economy in the Midlands, there are certain important questions of what socio-economic status of the farm household is, how the production systems operate, what the farmer's perception is, how they participate in the supporting systems to faim development, and what measures needed to accelerate the farm development process. Addressing these issues, the research covers the socio-economic status of the farm households, the analysis of the farm production systems, the farmer's perception and participation in the supporting systems, and the factors influencing the farm household development as well as the recommended measures for farm development. The study was conducted in the two communes locating in the lowland and upland regions of the Midlands district of Doan Hung, Phu Tho province in the North of Vietnam. Findings from this study showed that the farm households in the two regions had different farming practices, and occupational structure. The upland farmers maintained crop-based farming in a relative extensive manner, while the lowland farmers cultivated more intensively with emphasis on rice farming, livestock rearing, and heading for off-farm occupations. Consequently, the lowland farmers obtained higher annual income than those in the uplands. Among the crop enterprises, even though farmers in the lowland, especially the high income ones, produced higher gross margin but less cost-efficiency than those in the upland, especially the low income farmers. In contrast, among the livestock enterprises, the lowland farmers, especially the medium and high income ones produced higher gross margin and cost-efficiency than those in the upland. Under economic liberalization, the farmers participated actively in the supporting systems, but the farmers in the upland still had less access to the market. However, the credit system, extension program, and farmer's organizations continuously played an important role in accelerating farm development. The study also identified various factors influencing farm household development including those belonging to the socio-economic status of farm households, the farm production systems and the supporting systems to farm development. A strategy for farm development was recommended for the study area to apply during the next decade. This is due to the fact that agriculture and rural sector are still the core sector for development. This needs to place in the high development priority, as it is crucial for poverty eradication. The proposed strategy should be the basis for the development at faim household level for optimization of farm production, improvement of household earning capacity, and strengthening capacity of the supporting systems to farm development as a whole.
Year2001
TypeThesis
SchoolSchool of Environment, Resources, and Development (SERD)
DepartmentDepartment of Development and Sustainability (DDS)
Academic Program/FoSRural Development, Gender and Resources (RD)
Chairperson(s)Soparth Pongquan
Examination Committee(s)Wickramanayake, B.W.E. ;Shivakoti, Ganesh P.
Scholarship Donor(s)Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (NORAD)
DegreeThesis (M.Sc.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 2001


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