Economic Feasibility of Diversified Farming System in the Flood-Prone Mekong Delta: Simulation for Dike Area in an Giang Province, Vietnam
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Economic Feasibility of Diversified Farming System in the Flood-Prone Mekong Delta: Simulation for Dike Area in An Giang Province, Vietnam Shigeki Yokoyama Le Canh Dung Japan International Research Can Tho University, Vietnam Center for Agricultural Sciences, Japan Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Yoichi Fujihara Hideto Fuji Ishikawa Prefectural University, Japan Yamagata University, Japan Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Keisuke Hoshikawa Toyama Prefectural University, Japan Email: [email protected] ABSTRACT A simulation of crop choice was performed to examine the feasibility of introducing diversified farming systems, coexisting with seasonal floods, as an alternative to triple rice cropping system in the flood- prone Mekong Delta in Vietnam. A combination of 1.78 to 1.88 ha of double rice cropping and 0.12 to 0.22 ha of upland cropping can achieve an equivalent income or profit from 2 ha of triple rice cropping. Farmers evaluated the full-dike system positively in terms of both economic aspects and living conditions. Some farmers recognized that full flood control might have worsened the natural environment and reduced soil fertility resulting in declining rice yields. To establish a smart flood control system as an adaptation strategy against expected climate change, the following measures must be undertaken: (1) sensitize farmers to the increasing climatic risk in the near future and long- term adverse effects of intensive triple rice cropping; (2) offer alternative environmentally sound and economically profitable farming systems; and (3) develop institutional design for well-coordinated gate and pumping operations both at dike units and in canal network systems. Keywords: adaptation strategy, climate change, economic simulation, triple rice cropping, dike system JEL Classification: Q01, Q12, Q25 22 Shigeki Yokoyama, Le Canh Dung, Hideto Fuji, Yoichi Fujihara, and Keisuke Hoshikawa INTRODUCTION cultivated in this type of dike. The full dikes were built to improve local standard of living, Rice is a strategic food crop in Vietnam, to increase agricultural income from intensified as affirmed by the Central Communist Party and diversified farming systems, and to ensure development program until 2020.1 Paddy fields protection of livelihood from floodings year- are protected and are expected to remain at 3.76 round. million ha nationwide until 2020.2 In particular, The dike construction in Vietnam’s paddy fields in the Mekong Delta are expected Mekong Delta, however, might have caused to remain at 1.8 million ha. In this region, aside unexpected effects on soil and water quality, from conserving paddy fields, intensification of resulting in environmental problems and yield rice planting is strongly encouraged through the decline especially in the case of triple rice development of triple rice cropping in flood- cropping system, which is associated with prone zones that are protected by dike systems.3 continuous and increased use of chemical An Giang is a major rice producing province inputs (Nhan, Be, and Trung 2007; Apel et al. in the Mekong Delta with intensive practices. 2012; Sebesvari et al. 2012; Fujii, Fujihara, and It occupies 353,643 ha or 8.9 percent of the Hoshikawa 2013). Linh et al. (2013) revealed total area of the Mekong Delta. Its agricultural from a farmers survey in Tien Giang province land area totals 297,405 ha, accounting for 84 that the rice yield of continuous triple rice percent of the province’s total land area as of cropping decreased from 2006 to 2010, while 2011. In 2012, the province launched a project to that of rotational system of rice and upland increase the area devoted to triple rice cropping crops increased. Van Brakel, Hambrey, and from 164,881 ha to 192,536 ha by 2015.4 The Bunding (2011) also documented that farmland province has 11 administrative units where expansion and increased use of agrochemicals Chau Phu is a major rice producing district in have negative impact on both wild fish habitat a flood-prone zone. In 2010, the district had and inland aquaculture. Moreover, recent 14,983 ha devoted to triple rice cropping and climatic changes in association with market- 776 ha planted to upland crops practiced within oriented economic reforms in Vietnam has made a full-dike system (An Giang DARD 2011). rice farming in the Mekong Delta increasingly There are two dike types in the area: (1) the full- uncertain, unstable, and insecure in terms of dike with a height of 2-4 m, depending on the production and economic returns (Coclanis local flood level, and is strong enough to protect and Stewart 2011). In order to keep the soil farmlands from flood throughout the year; and fertile, the introduction of nutrient sediments (2) the semi-dike with a maximum height of is recommended during flooding periods by 1.5 m, allowing flood intrusion during the flood appropriate gate operations (Hung et al. 2014). season; thus, only double rice cropping can be Diversified farming systems such as combining rice with upland crops, livestock, and/or aquaculture have been proposed as alternatives to intensive rice monoculture to mitigate 1 Decree 63/TTg (Vietnam Government 2009), followed by Decision 432 QĐ/TTg (Vietnam environmental problems without sacrificing Government 2012) agricultural income (Berg 2002; Bosma et al. 2 Resolution No. 134/2016/QH13 (Vietnam National 2005; Bosma et al. 2007; Kirby and Mainuddin Parliament 2016) 2009; Nhut 2011; Linh et al. 2015). 3 Decision 99/TTg (Vietnam Government 1996) In view of the foregoing, this study sought 4 Decision 740/QĐ-UBND (An Giang People to examine the feasibility of introducing Committee 2010) Asian Journal of Agriculture and Development, Vol. 15 No. 2 23 diversified farming systems coexisting with flood was recorded in 2011 (Vietnam Red Cross seasonal floods as an alternative to triple rice 2011). cropping system in the Vietnamese Mekong A comparison of economic returns was Delta. To achieve this, the following were conducted between different cropping systems. undertaken: Likewise, the farmers’ subjective evaluations of 1. Quantified economic returns of rice and the dike systems with respect to the economic other non-rice production available in the and non-economic aspects were examined. district; 2. Performed economic simulation of counterfactual double rice cropping with RESULTS AND DISCUSSION upland crops system against actual triple rice cropping system; and Characteristics of Sample Farmers 3. Clarified local people’s perception of the dike system in terms of improving As presented in Table 1, the average family agricultural production and living size in both My Phu and OLV is 4.56. About standards. 75 percent of family members are of working age, 18-60 years for males and 18-55 years for females. The average age of household heads is METHODS AND DATA ANALYSIS 51 years. Most household heads have secondary level of educational attainment (Table 1). The 101 respondents of the study were Participation in organizational activities selected through random sampling. These are is unusual in both communes. Majority of farmers who own paddy fields located in an area the respondents in OLV (77%) and in My protected from the flood during the main wet Phu (64%) do not have membership in any season (August to November) by a dike system. organization. Only 5 percent of the sample Of these, 44 and 57 came from the communes farmers are members of a farmer association, of My Phu and O Long Vy (OLV), respectively, which indicates low collective activities in in Chau Phu district. Consisting of one town farming (Table 2). and 12 communes, the Chau Phu district had a Of the 101 respondents, some 66 farmers total population of 245,958 in 2011 (An Giang (32 in My Phu and 34 in OLV) participated in Statistical Office 2013). The average population training courses on plant protection. For the of each town/commune is 18,920, and the courses of farming techniques (mainly rice sample population is 204 in My Phu and 257 in production) and postharvest loss reduction, OLV (calculated from Table 1). Based on these combined attendance was 3 and 1, respectively, figures, the coverage ratio of the survey sample for My Phu and OLV. About 31 percent of the is roughly estimated at 1.1 percent of My Phu farmers have not attended any extension course and 1.4 percent of OLV communes. in the last three years (Table 3). A structured questionnaire comprised of Motorbikes and bicycles ranked highest major sections on household demographical among the physical assets supporting the characteristics, landholdings, farming systems, farmers’ livelihood. These are the most cost structure, and perception of dike systems popular mode of transport in rural Vietnam was used in the survey. The interview survey because automobiles are less useful due to was conducted in October 2012. Data periods the narrow roads on the dikes. Agricultural covering one farming year from October 2011 machines such as four-wheel tractors, to October 2012 were collected. A 10-year 24 Shigeki Yokoyama, Le Canh Dung, Hideto Fuji, Yoichi Fujihara, and Keisuke Hoshikawa Table 1. Profile of sample farmers My Phu (n=44) OLV (n=57) Total (n=101) Major indicators Mean (SD) Mean (SD) Mean (SD) Household members (person) 4.64 (1.08) 4.51 (1.13) 4.56 (1.10) Labor* in household (person) 3.36 (1.36) 3.46 (1.25) 3.42 (1.29) Rate of labor (%) 73 76 75 Age of household head (yr) 54.14 (15.04) 48.96 (12.53) 51.22 (13.85) Education of head (level)** 1.68 (0.90) 1.33 (0.69) 1.49 (0.80) Number of female headed 2 2 4 family Notes: *Working age of 18-60 years for males and 18-55 years for females **Definition of level: 0 = No schooling; 1 = Primary: 1st to 5th class; 2 = Secondary: 6th to 9th class; 3 = High school (10th to 12th class); and 4 = College and university Table 2.