The relative sustainability of coffee and mixed farming systems in Daklak Province, Vietnam | |
| Author | Chau Thi Minh Long |
| Call Number | AIT Thesis no.RD-07-16 |
| Subject(s) | Sustainable agriculture--Vietnam--Daklak Coffee--Vietnam--Daklak |
| Note | A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Regional and Rural Development Planning |
| Publisher | Asian Institute of Technology |
| Abstract | Having been supported by the government, farmers in the Central Highlands of Vietnam have been practicing coffee system for a long period. However, due to sharp fall in the market price of coffee, since recently the Vietnamese Government has been encouraging farmers to practice mixed farming system (MFS), comprising coffee, cereals, livestock, and aquaculture. Some farmers have positively responded to this government policy, while majority of them are still practicing coffee system. Based on selected indicators, this study evaluated the ecological, economic and social sustainability of coffee system and MFS, comprising coffee, rice, cattle and aquaculture components, specifically with reference to the Eakar district of Daklak province. The factors influencing farmers in adoption of MFS was also identified. Necessary empirical information was collected though a household survey, key informants interview, group discussion, in-depth interviews with selected farmers, field observation and soil sample analysis. The results of the analyses revealed MFS more sustainable than the coffee system from the perspective of ecological, economic and social sustainability. The key factors influencing the adoption of MFS are land suitability, training, extension services, land holding size, household size and sentimental attachment. The findings of this study open up a good opportunity for wider discussion on the promotion of sustainable agricultural systems in the mountains of Vietnam and elsewhere. To achieve sustainable agriculture, support services need to be reoriented and adjustment made to current policies. The needs are to promote locational suitable MFS, strengthen the extension program, provide of training, provide required amounts of credit, promote some free inputs as incentives, provision of irrigation water and provide a market information network. |
| Year | 2007 |
| Type | Thesis |
| School | School of Environment, Resources, and Development (SERD) |
| Department | Department of Development and Sustainability (DDS) |
| Academic Program/FoS | Rural Development, Gender and Resources (RD) |
| Chairperson(s) | Thapa, Gopal Bahadur;Routray, Jayant Kumar; |
| Examination Committee(s) | Schmidt-Vogt, Dietrich |
| Scholarship Donor(s) | IFP;Ford Foundation;AIT Fellowship; |
| Degree | Thesis (M.Sc.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 2007 |