AGRICULTURAL TRANSFORMATION IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES UNDER CONTEXTS OF URBANIZATION AND CLIMATE CHANGE – THE CASE OF VIETNAMESE MEKONG DELTA

AGRICULTURAL TRANSFORMATION IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES UNDER CONTEXTS OF URBANIZATION AND CLIMATE CHANGE – THE CASE OF VIETNAMESE MEKONG DELTA

(for International Master of Science in Rural Development)

1. The context

Like some elsewhere, some main issues of the agricultural transformation in Vietnam, particularly in the Mekong delta include: (1) Agricultural systems are changing rapidly and they are driven by economic growth, technological innovation, infrastructure development and natural environmental changes. The drivers of the transformation are highly diverse among agroecological zones or provinces and therefore, agricultural development strategies need to be responsive to differences to enhance food security, reduce poverty and spur growth in rural sectors.

Can Tho City (CTC) Was established in 2004 by splitting up the former Can Tho province into two new administrative units, CTC and HauGiang province currently. Being an independent municipality at the same level as provinces of Vietnam CTC is the fourth largest city in the country and the largest city in the Mekong delta. The population of CTC increased from 1.15 million persons in 2005 to 1.22 million in 2012. The proportion of urban population is increasing from 50% to 66% in CTC in the period of 2005-2012 while this figure increases slowly from 20 to 25% in the whole Mekong delta in the same period. GDP growth in CTC was also higher than other provinces, averaged at 15% per year in the period of 2005-2012. Economic structure is shifting towards reduction of Sector 1 (agriculture, forestry, fishery and aquaculture) And increase of Sector 2 (industry and construction) And Sector 3 (service and import tax). In 2005, GDP structure was recorded as 19% of Sector 1,40% of Sector 2, and 42% of Sector 3, whereas this figure was 10,40 and 50% in 2012, respectively (Can Tho Statistical Office, 2013).

However, Can tho City has faced foreseen challenges: (1) Increasing urban population faster than developing infrastructure systems, (2) Widening income gaps between urban and rural inhabitants, (3) Increasing environmental pollution and climate change. (More detail of the Mekong Delta and Can Tho City presented in appendix 3)

2. Objectives

Participating in the case study, students will be able to:

(1) Adapt their leaned theories to real practices in Vietnam by IMRD program to the Mekong delta;

(2) Understand agricultural and rural transformation under urbanization and climate change in a developing country like Vietnam; And

(3) Have opportunities for cultural exchanges and interaction with local students, lecturers and people from Vietnam.

3. Methodology

Problem-based and student-centred methods will be applied. Students will be placed in a complex and real situation, through both desk study on readily-prepared data and field works, where they can use their knowledge and skills to solve the problems. Students will have opportunities to apply concepts, methods and skills that they have learned. They will benefits from the case study through individual analysis, group discussion and interactions with facilitators and local people. In addition, during the training, students will learn how to work in a team to come to a common agreement, to present, defend and convince others to adopt their points of view.

The students will be introduced relevant tools for participatory community appraisals to. They will have an opportunity to face-to-face discuss with officials from Department of Agriculture and Rural development (DARD), Department of Natural Resources and Environment (DONRE), IDS (Institute of Research and Development Social-economic) AndDIAT (Department of Industrial and Trade) On the concerned issues. Subsequently, the students will visit two study sites: BinhThuy district (an urban area) And VinhThanh district (a rural area).

Eight students from IMRD and eight students from MDI will be split into 4 groups (2 IMRD + 2 MDI each) During desk study and field work. Each group will be assisted by a facilitator.

4. Contents (in Appendix 2)

5. Agenda of the case study

Week 1. Introduction of the case study

- Can Tho city tour

- Culture exchanges between MDI and IMRD students

- Discover of cultural and social life in Can Tho City

- Introduction the program of case study + General introduction of Mekong delta, CTU and MDI + Planning of the case study + Vietnamese rural transformation in the context + Introduction of the framework of the case study

Week 2. Method and tool training

- Database: Physical, social and economic data (desk study)

- Methods: Structured and semi-structured methods

- Tools: Focus group discussions, individual in-depth interviews, mapping, etc.

- Facilitate to the student groups to develop their study

- Focus group discussion with Key Informant Panels (KIP) From: DARD (Department of Agriculture and Rural Development), DONRE (Department of Natural Resources and Environment), IDS (Institute of Research and Development Social-economic), DIAT (Department of Industrial and Trade), BinhThuy and VinhThanh districts.

- Site survey ' development by each group (4 groups)

Week 3. Field works

- Apply the tools to the sites “ study

- Complete the data collection

- Present the Draft by students and and get feedback from communities

Week 4. Final report and evaluation

- Writing up the report

- Presenting results

- Feedbacks and lessons learnt

- Finalization of the report

Tentative time schedule for case study

Timing	Contents	Responsibility	Outcome
Arrival	Welcome, Jul. 31st –Aug. 2nd, 2015
Friday- Sunday	-Welcome IMRD students - Guiding accommodation and others	Dr. Phap, Ms. Tien, Facilitators and MDI students
Week 1	Introduction, Aug. 3rd- 9th, 2015
Monday 9: 00- 17: 00	- Welcome ceremony - Explore Can Tho city	Dr. Phap, Mr. Dang, Lectures, all facilitators, IMRD and MDI students	Exchange culture and information
Tuesday 8: 30-9: 30 9: 45- 11: 30	- General introduction to Vietnam case study, structure of Mekong case: City-commune - Agricultural transformation: Context of developing country (Mekong delta) & Framework of case study	Dr. Sanh and Dr. Nhan, Lecturers, facilitators	General and agricultural information of VN, Mekong delta and CT
13: 30-17: 30	- Structure of data (nation, region, province, district, commune) - Grouping into 4 student groups & selection of case study topics	Dr. Dung, lecturers and facilitators	Knowledge of Social-economic
Wednesday 8: 30-11: 30	Country case study presentation for Agricultural transformation	Dr. Sanh, students, all Lecturers and facilitators	Exchange knowledge
13: 30-17: 30	Country case study presentation for Agricultural transformation	Dr. Sanh, students, all Lecturers and facilitators	Exchange knowledge
Thursday 8: 30-11: 30	Database: Physical, social and economic (desk study- group work)	Dr. Dũng, facilitators and students	Framework
13: 30- 17: 30	Database: Physical, social and economic (desk study- group work)	Dr. Dũng, facilitators and students	Framework
Friday 8: 00-19: 00	Visiting different ecological zones and farming systems in the Mekong delta (SocTrang province- coastal area)	Dr. NH Tin, Students, Lecturers and Facilitators	Learning culture, climate change, farming systems of Khmer group
Saturday	Free
Sunday	Free
Week 2	Training on the tools and KIP methods, Aug. 10- 16th
Monday 8: 30-17: 30	Training on tools and techniques for assessment (selected tool and application	Dr. Be and all Facilitators	Secondary data collection by groups and share between groups
Tuesday 8: 30-17: 30	- Preparation for key informant (KIP) Interview at related governmental departments of Can tho City	Dr. Be and all Facilitators	Selected tools for assessment
Wednesday 8: 30-17: 30	- Conducting key informant interview (DARD, DIAT) - Collecting secondary data	Dr. Be, Mr. Quynh, Mr. Toai, and all Facilitators	Tools for data collection
Thursday 8: 30-17: 30	- Conducting key informant interview (CIDS* And DONRE) - Collecting secondary data	DR. Be, Mr. Cuong, Mr. Vinh, Students and all Facilitators	Secondary data collection
Friday 8: 30-21: 30	- Preparation for collecting data at selected communes - Country cultural exchanges	Dr. Be, Students and all Facilitators - Mr. Dang, Students	Primary report Sharing culture
Saturday	Free
Sunday	Visiting floating market	Dr. Binh, Mr. Nhieu Em, Students, Lecturers, and all Facilitators	Cultural and farming systems study
Week 3	Field works and site survey, Aug. 17- 23rd
Monday 8: 30-17: 30	- Preparation for collecting data at selected communes	Dr. Be, Students and all Facilitators	Selectedtools Semi-structure questionnaire
Tuesday 8: 30-17: 30	- Conducting data collection at selected communes in BinhThuy (PCA, PRA,..)	Dr. Tuan, Students, Lecturers and all Facilitators	Data collection
Wednesday 8: 30-17: 30	- Conducting data collection at selected communes in BinhThuy (PCA, PRA,..)	Dr. Tuan, Students, Lecturers and all Facilitators	Data collection
Thursday 8: 30-17: 30	- Conducting data collection at selected communes in VinhThanh (PCA, PRA,..)	Dr. Binh, Students, Lecturers and all Facilitators	Data collection
Friday 8: 30-17: 30	- Conducting data collection at selected communes in VinhThanh (PCA, PRA,..)	Dr. Binh, students, Lecturers and all Facilitators	Data collection
Saturday 8: 30-19: 00	- Study tour in Flower commune (Sa Dec, Dong Thap province)	Prof. Loc, Mr. Nhieu Em, Students, Lecturers and all Facilitators	Learning the supply chain of flower farming
Sunday	Free
Week 4	Final group presentation and preparation of individual written report, Aug. 24- 30th
Monday	Processing data analysis and need assessment	Dr. Dung, Students and Lecturers, Facilitators	Data analysis
Tuesday	Develop concept	Dr. Tuan, Students, Lecturers and Facilitators	Draft report
Wednesday	Preparing the final group presentation Writing the final individual report	Dr. Tin, Students, Lecturers and Facilitators	Draft report
Thursday	Preparing the final group presentation Writing the final individual report	Dr. Binh, Students, Lecturers and Facilitators	Final group report and Lessons learnt
Friday 8: 30-17: 30	Presentation and discussion of group final work Evaluation, Certificate (IMRD &MDI) Closing	CTU-MDI leaders, all lecturers, all facilitators, guests (stakeholders)	Presentation and feedbacks Evaluation
Saturday	Free
Sunday	Free

* DARD: Department of Agriculture and Rural Development; * DONRE: Department of Natural Resources and Environment;

* DIAT: Department of Industrial and Trade; * IDS: Institute of Research and Development Social-economic

More details of the lectures and facilitators presented in appendix 1

6. Evaluation

Country presentation (individual work) (weight 10% of the final score)

Desk analysis report (group work) (weight 20% of the final score)

Final presentation (group work) (weight 30% of the final score)

Final written report (individual work) (weight 40% of the final score), deadline of submission is Sep. 6th, 2015.

7. Planning of the case study

1st week	2nd week	3rd week	4th week	5-7th week
Introduction -Country case study exchange	-Training on tools and KIP methods for field research - KIP meeting	- Field study	Evaluation workshop Drafting report, Final presentation and Evaluation Closing	- Individual report submission and evaluation - Final score send to Ghent university.

 

Appendix 1. Content 1 Lectures 1. Agricultural transformation: Context of developing country (Mekong delta) (Dr.. Nguyen Van Sanh and Dr. Dang Kieu Nhan) 2. Policy reform in Vietnam: Legal framework. (Prof. Phan TrungHien and Prof. Nguyen Van sanh) 3. Agricultural development and farming system change in the Mekong delta (Dr. Nguyen Hong Tin) 4. Socio-economic development in the Mekong delta (including urbanization, industrialization, migration, demography, living condition, livelihoods, …) (Dr. Le Canh Dung). 5. Value chains of key agricultural products and the way to improve (Prof. Vo Thi ThanhLoc) 6. Natural resource use and management: Focusing on land, water, and biodiversity (Prof. Nguyen HieuTrung, Dr. Dang KieuNhan) 7. Climate change and adaptation policy (Dr. Nguyen Hong Tin and MSc. Ky Quang Vinh) 8. Participatory Community Appraisals (PCA): Selected tools for assessment of agricultural transformation (Dr. Tran Thanh Be) 9. Description of study site - Can Tho city (Dr. Vo Van Tuan, Mr. Pham Van Quynh- Director of DARD, Mr. Nguyen Van Khanh- Vice chairman of BinhThuy district) 2 Desk study

- Review current literatures and publications related to the contents of lectures above

- Secondary data of the Mekong and Can Tho City, BinhThuy and VinhThanh District – Can tho City

- Summary results of the desk study and make the plan for the group’ work for the site ‘study 3 Field works

The students will be trained some tools for Participatory Community Appraisals (PCA) And selected tools for assessment of agricultural transformation in Department of Agriculture and Rural development (DARD), Department of Natural Resources and Environment (DONRE) And two local sites (BinhThuy and VinhThanh districts), 16 students (8 of IMRD and 8 of MDI program) Will be divided into 4 groups.

Facilitator: Facilitators will participate in 4 groups for supporting all activities

Dr. Le Canh Dung (Team leader)

Dr. Nguyen Hong Tin

Dr. Vo Van Tuan

Dr. Nguyen Thanh Bình

4. Evaluation

Country presentation (individual work) (weight 10% of the final score)

Desk analysis report (group work) (weight 20% of the final score)

Final presentation (group work) (weight 30% of the final score)

Final written report (individual work) (weight 40% of the final score)

5. Facilities and logistics of the case study

Can Tho university Dormitory (50 m distance from study room) + High standard: Price 200 EUR/room/month, 4 single beds for 1-4 persons, air-conditioned, individual WCƯbathroom and share washing machine. + Normal standard: Price 100 EUR/room/month, 4 single beds for 1-4 persons, electrical fan, individual WCƯbathroom and share washing machine.

- Hotel (1-2 km distance from study room) + About 15- 30 EUR/room for 1-2 persons (more convenient than the University dorm.)

Food: Diversified foods

+ Can Tho university canteen: Normal Asian (Vietnamese) Food, or specific foods need to reserve: 1-2 EUR/meal/person;

+ Restaurant (diversified foods): 3-5 EUR/ meal/person (0.5- 2km distance from university dorm)

+ Research site: Foods need to reserve: 2 EUR/meal/person

Estimated cost for a student is 300-900 EUR/person/month

Appendix 2. General Guidance

1. Transportation from Ho Chi Minh city (Tan Son Nhat airport) To Can Tho University (CTU)

Distance: Around 180 km

Travel time: 4 - 5 hours (depending on vehicles and traffic jam)

Transportation: Car, taxi, bus

By car: We can arrange a car and pick you up at the airport. This is an easy way for you as foreigners. The car will travel directly from the airport to CTU within 4 hours. The cost will be around 100 EUR per trip. If you can manage to come as a group, the cost will be shared. We will organize 1 car to pick you at 18: 00 on Aug. 1st and Aug. 2nd or any time you can suggest that is suitable for your flight.

By taxi: At the airport, you can also take a taxi directly to CTU. The cost will be around 120 EUR per trip (but you have to pay in Vietnamese Dong (VND), money exchange can be done at the airport).

By bus: You can take an express bus. This is a cheap way but you may face some difficulties (i. E. Language, finding bus station, using local currency, etc.). If you travel by bus, please follow 3 steps:

Take a taxi from the airport to bus station (around 250,000-300,000 VND per 4 seats, approximately 12-15 EUR). You tell driver, I want to go to “Ben Xe Mien Tay” (Western Bus Station)

Buy a ticket at “Ben Xe Mien Tay”. You find “Phuong Trang”  or “ThanhBuoi” travel company. A ticket from here to Can Tho costs around 120,000 VND, approximately 5-6 EUR. Travel time will be about 3.5 hours.

Take a taxi from Can Tho bus station to CTU. It costs around 80,000 VND, approximately 4 EUR.

Note: 1 EUR = 23,500 VND

2. Accommodation and food form

2.1. Your information

Full name: …………………………………………………………

Nationality: ……………………Gender: ……………

2.2. Accommodation (please check)

	One person per room		Up to 4 persons per room
	Air condition	Electronic fan	Air condition	Electronic fan
Price (not including electric use)	4,000,000 VND	2,000,000 VND	4,000,000 VND	2,000,000 VND
Your choice

Note: 1 EUR= 23,500 VND

Other suggestions: ………………………………………………………………………………………

2.3. Food (please check)

No	Your statement	Yes	No
1	I am a vegetarian
2	I am allergic to chicken
3	I am allergic to pork
4	I am allergic to sea food
5	I can eat any “normal” food

Other suggestions: …………………………………………………………………………………. ………………………………………………………………………………………………………

3. Local contacts

1. Local manager: Prof. Nguyen Van Sanh, Tel. 0918972245; Email: Nvsanh@ctu. Edu. Vn

2. Local coordinator: Dr. Vu Anh Phap, Tel. 0986000616; Email: Vaphap@ctu. Edu. Vn

3. Local secretary: Le Van Thuy Tien, Tel. 0939001769; Email: Lvttien@ctu. Edu. Vn

4. Facilitator: Dr. Le Canh Dung, Tel. 0939020536; Email: Lcdung@ctu. Edu. Vn

4. Emergency case - Security phone number: 113

- Fire phone number: 114 - Health phone number: 115

5. Banking

Unlike in Europe, cash transaction is common in Vietnam. You should therefore change some money upon your arrival at the airport. You can withdraw Vietnamse money with ATM within the university campus with your credit/bank card (visa, express, mastercard, unionpay, etc.).

For further information, you can visit the website of common banks as below:

- Vietcombank: Service phone number: 1900 545413; Website: Vietcombank. Com. Vn/

- Eximbank: Service phone number: 1800 1199; Website: Eximbank. Com. Vn/

- AgriBank: Service phone number: 1900 558818; Website: Http: // agribank. Com. Vn/english. Aspx

APPENDIX 3:

Summary of the physical and Economic conditions in the Mekong Delta of Vietnam

Soils in the Mekong Delta

The soils of the Mekong Delta are mostly young alluvial soils. The combined actions of the river and the sea have formed rich alluvial soils on elevated levees along the riverside and acid sulphate soils in depressed back swamps such as the Plain of Reeds, the Long-Xuyen-Ha Tien Quadrangle and the Trans-Bassac Depression.

The soil in the Mekong Delta can be categorized into four main types (Fig. 2) As outlined below. In association with rainfall, temperature, topography, cropping system and water resources, the soils divide the Mekong Delta into six Agro-ecological zones:

+ Alluvial soils: Found along the Tien and Hau Rivers, cover an area of approximately 1,100,000ha (28% of the Delta). The two main agro-ecological zones (first and second) Which share these soils are the fresh water alluvial zone (900,000ha) That is well known for rice and fruit production, and the Trans-Bassac Depression (600,000ha) Where most food crops and fruit tree plantations of the Mekong Delta are found.

+ Acid sulphate soils: Occupy an area of 1,590,000ha mainly in the Plain of Reeds and the Long Xuyen-Ha Tien Quadrangle. Acid sulphate soils are divided into two types:

(i): Saline affected potential acid sulphate soils found in the south tip along the coastal line with an area of 1,080,000ha, and

(ii): Actual acid sulphate soils found in the Plain of Reeds and the Long Xuyen Quadrangle with an area of 510,027ha. These soils have great constraints to rice production because of the high concentrations of acid, with pH values ranging from 2.26 to 3.54. In the region of these soils, two typical agro-ecological zones (third and fourth) Are located and these are the Plain of Reeds (500,000ha) And the Long Xuyen-Ha Tien Quadrangle.

+ Saline soils: Found along the coastal regions cover an area of 808,749ha where the agro-ecologically coastal zone (fifth) Shares an area of 600,000ha and agricultural production depends on rainwater.

+ The remaining soils: Are upland and mountainous peat soils. The sixth agro-ecological zone is the Ca Mau Peninsula. It covers an area of about 800,000ha of permanent and seasonally saline-affected soils presenting a rich zone of mangrove and various rice-based farming systems under rain-fed conditions (Fig. 3).

Fig. 2. Soil map of the Mekong Delta.

Source: Sanh et al. (1998)

Fig. 3. Agro-ecological zones of the Mekong Delta.

Source: Xuan et al. (1982)

Topography in the Mekong Delta

The topography of the Mekong Delta is flat and low-lying, formed through slow alluvial depositions. The average topography of the Mekong Delta is 2 meters above mean sea level and the lowest is 0.5 meter below mean sea level located in the Dong Thap Province.

Economic conditions in the Mekong Delta

Of the eight agro-ecological zones of the nation, the Mekong Delta is a strategic zone for national food security. It plays the most important role for Viet Nam agricultural development in particular and for Viet Nam economic development in general. Also, it is the most downstream part of the Mekong River Basin with 17 million inhabitants living in 12 provinces and one central Can Tho city. In fact, the MD accounts for more than 27% of Viet Nam’s GDP and contributes over 50% of the total aquatic volume, 80% of the total rice export value (US$ 3,246,000 per year) And 75 to 80% of the total cultivated area.

Nevertheless, the MD has been facing physical constraints that affect socio-economic development, especially related to agricultural production. Especially, it has an area of 1.2 to 1.9 million hectares under annual floods and the complexity, degree and frequency of the floods are increasing. Over the past 40 years, floods had occurred in the study area, in the years: 1961,1978,1991 and 2000. This is one of the first, and largest, concerns of policy makers, agricultural managers and local inhabitants in the region because floods are recognized as both the “enemy” and a “friend”  of the local farmers. Floods can devastate crops, and result in a reduction in their productivity, and yet floods also bring much benefit to farmers such as replenishing natural fish resources, alluvium deposition as natural fertilizers for fields and the flushing of toxicity from acid sulphate soil. Flood water has been utilized to improve the quality of acid sulphate soils by taking away toxicity released from the soils.

Overall, the most serious constraints to agricultural production, and land use, in the Mekong Delta are currently recognised as (1). The status of fresh water shortage and the deterioration of water quality through the transformation of the cultivation structure accompanied by acidification due to sulphate soils in the dry season and, (2). The fact that most land areas are flooded for several months in the annual wet season, this damages agricultural and aquacultural production, threatens infrastructure in general and the agricultural irrigation system in particular. (3). The movement of the young labour force in the rural areas to the cities and (4). The lack of farmers’ accessing opportunities (new technology, capital resources for production, production skills and market information) And the lack of supporting policies for farmers, and the limitation of rural vocational training as well. Those constraints reveal that farmland capability evaluation, undertaken by an integration of components in the agricultural production system, including the bio-physical and technical factors, and socio-economic parameters, is essential. The capability evaluation approach presented in this research will provide a tool to assist in meeting the goal of sustainable agricultural development in the Mekong Delta.

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World Bank (2012). Well Begun, Not Yet Done: Vietnam’s remarkable progress on poverty reduction and the emerging challenges. World Bank, Hanoi.

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