Epsilon Open Archive

Abstract

Vietnamese agriculture has undergone many changes in modern time connected to politics, social structures
and a globalised economy. Looking at statistics rice production seems to be the key to understand the situation
of a Mekong Delta farmer, which was the objective of this study. In reality though the farming systems of high
yield rice production are starting to fail and are rapidly being supplemented by new systems. Because of a
quick increase in infrastructural quality and foreign investments it is possible to redirect the production
towards vegetables which need a higher level of industrialisation. The individual farmers are struggling to keep
up with “the new times” as governmental policies are often confusing and somewhat contradictory. Since
there are no subsidies and no social safety-net farmers are not to keen on doing rapid changes that may not
give any profit in the end, and would rather than stick to what has “always” worked. The different
organisations such as village committees, women union, farmer cooperatives and banks create a complex web
of economic and social aspects which must be considered when thinking of what affects a household in the
region. What is clear is that the region, and probably the whole country is facing a new era in agriculture
history.