Collaborative Research Program on Humidtropics
Situation Analysis for Northwest Vietnam
Authors: to be inserted
Acknowledgements: to be inserted
Introduction
The Humidtropics research program is addressing the following issues in the humid tropic
areas of developing countries:
1. Reducing rural poverty. Agricultural growth through improved productivity, market
development, and income generation has been shown to be a particularly effective
contributor to reducing poverty, especially in the initial stages of economic
development.
2. Increasing food security. Access to affordable food is a problem for millions of
poor in urban and rural communities and requires increasing global supply of key
staples and reducing potential price increases and price volatility.
3. Improving nutrition and health. Poor populations spend most of their income on
food and suffer from diets that are insufficient in proteins, vitamins and minerals
affecting health and development, particularly among women and children.
4. Sustainable management of natural resources. Agriculture has a substantial impact
on natural resources that must be better managed to supply sustainable ecosystem
services, particularly in light of climate change.
In the Central Mekong Action area, the Humidtropics program is addressing the following
issues:
 Low or decreased productivity of smallholder farmers who practice maize monocropping, potato, banana, homestead production of livestock and vegetable and
other systems.
 Smallholder farmers continue to have little access to markets and relatively
insignificant influence in value chains. This is mainly due to farmers (including
ethnic minorities and women) having little institutional power.
 Total farm income remains relatively low since many farming systems have yet to
be diversified.
 Increasing environmental impacts where farming practices are intensifying to boost
yields. High chemical inputs and unsustainable farming practices have contributed
to land degradation, soil erosion, decreased soil fertility and loss natural forest
ecosystems, therefore increased vulnerability of poor people.
Household characteristics such as income, education and asset ownership are still not able
to positively influence household wellbeing due to gender disparities and cultural norms
that influence decision making at household levels Concentrating on major farming
systems in the Northwest Vietnam Action Site, Humidtropics research focuses on:
 Integrated livestock systems
 Improved tree-crop systems e.g. ‘green rubber’, shade coffee, and more.
 Improved rice production system
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

Conservation agriculture
Sustainable food crop/multi-crop systems, e.g. improved cassava-based and
banana-based systems, maize/agroforestry-based production.
The Northwest Vietnam Action Site is part of the larger Central Mekong Action Area,
which comprises several parts of Vietnam, Lao PDR, Cambodia, Thailand, and China
(refer to Humidtropics for details). The Action Site is considered part of the Green
Triangle zone of mostly upland mixed systems occurring in NW Vietnam and Southern
China. A GIS based data analysis and stakeholder workshop (Hanoi, May 12-13, 2013)
were conducted to identify the specific administrative areas to be included in the Action
Area. Based on this process, four provinces in Vietnam were selected: Son La, Dien Bien,
Lai Chau and Lao Cai. However, it was agreed that the initial focus would be on 2
provinces, Son La and Dien Bien.
Context for the situational analysis
It is important to note that the Situational Analysis (SA) is the starting point for an
extensive set of diagnostic activities that will can conducted within the Humidtropics
research program over the next 2-3 years. In addition to the SA, these later activities could
include among others:
- Detailed characterization studies of production systems in the form of baseline
household surveys
- In depth analysis of markets and value chains for target commodities, and
institutional and policy environments
- Household typology development
- Impact assessments
- Identification of preliminary best bet entry points for the Program
- Pilot testing of technologies and strategies among producers
The aim of the Situational Analysis is to provide a broad set of information that will inform
these coming exercises in the next phases of the Program. The SA will thus not be
expected to look into the details of the target systems. Also, because the Program aims to
work in a consultative manner through partners in all aspects of its work the SA also aims
to support the process of establishing strong and sustained linkages with stakeholders at
multiple levels.
Given the context above, there are 2 primary objectives for the SA:
1. Broadly characterize all important aspects of relevance to the Program within the
target Action Sites, and through that, generate information to inform all other
Program activities in the context of attaining the Intermediate Development
Objectives (IDOs), as well as to inform ongoing field site selection.
2. Initiate and facilitate engagement with stakeholders and partners as part of the R4D
platform development that is needed for the long term success and scalability of the
Program
The second section of this report will detail the methodology of the investigations that lead
to this analysis. The third section provides an overview of the development situation in
Northwest Vietnam. The following sections in turn characterize one after the other the
agricultural production systems, markets and institutions and natural resources
management systems. The final section identifies the overarching problems that come out
of this situational analysis and provides suggestions for further Humidtropics research
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interventions to address these overarching problems, and thus address its strategic
development objectives: livelihoods improvement, sustainable intensification, gender and
youth empowerment, and systems innovation.
Methodology
Data from 6 different sources was used to ensure information included in the SA was
accurate and comprehensive: existing Secondary Data, Key Informant(KI) Interviews,
Focus Group Discussions (FGDs), Household Surveys, Market Visits and a Stakeholder
Consulatation. This allowed for the triangulation and validation of data collected from
different sources. An online repository will be made available for secondary data collected
as well as the generated primary datasets.
Secondary data was collected for all 4 Provinces, however due to the limited financial and
time resources available, it was decided that only 2 Provinces would be selected to collect
more in-depth information via KIs, FGDs, Household Surveys and Market Visits. As the
National research partners all had existing projects in Son La and Dien Bien, these two
were selected.
Secondary Data
A list was developed outlining the types of data that was required to complete the Situation
Analysis (SA) (Annex X). The research team then divided into two groups to obtain the
data from local government sources in each of the 4 Provinces. In the case that data was
not available at the Provincial level, it was requested from the National Statistics Office in
Hanoi.
To compliment Government data, other secondary sources including data sets and reports
where utilised from National Research Institutes, NGOs and UN Sources (TBC).
For both Government and Non-Government data sources and reports, the reference period
for which data was requested was 2003 - 2013. Most of the data that was available existed
for the period 2008 -2013, however data gaps were present. A full list of all secondary data
collected is available (Annex X).
Key Informant (KI) Interviews
Key Informant Interviews (KIs) were conducted at the District, Provincial and Commune
Level. People were selected to be interviewed based on their knowledge, expertise and
professional affiliations
A Semi-structured interview relating to policy, programmes and Government directions
were administered to Provincial Government Officials in all 4 Provinces when the
Provincial offices were visited to collect the secondary data (ANNEX X). The same KIs
were administered to Distric Commitee Leaders in Son La and Dien Bien. KIs were
conducted in 2 districts in Son La and 2 districts in Dien Bien.
At the Commune level, X additional KIs were conducted in 2 districts in both Son La and
Dien Bien. A second semi-structred intervew was created which intended to capture
information on how policies have been implemented and the kinds agricultural practices
common on the ground. Key Informants interviewed included Commune leaders, Farmer
group Representatives, business men, NGOs and Professional Agencies.
Data from the KIs were subjectively analysed to identify key trends across the responses.
Focus Group Discussions
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A Semi-Structured Interview was designed to fill information gaps identified after
reviewing Secondary Data and KIs (ANNEX X). This was administered through Focus
Group Discussions (FGDs) together with the complementary use of the Participatory Rural
Appraisal (PRA) tools 'Community Mapping' and 'Seasonality Calendar'. In addition, the
research team conducted a Transect walk through the village where each FGD was held.
FGDs were carried out only in Son La and Dien Bien. It was planned that 3 FGDs of 10-15
people each would be conducted in each Commune:
1. Forest Dependent (either assigned a lot to protect or a production lot)
2. Agriculture Dependent (Crop and/or Animal Husbandry)
3. Small Business Dependent
After piloting, it was found that clear distinctions between Forest and Agricultural
dependent households were not always evident and as such, these groups instead presented
a mixed sample of forest and agriculture farmers. Entrepreneurs were more clearly
separated.
District Leaders selected which Communes and Villages that were to be visited based on
criteria supplied by the research team:
1. Forest, Agriculture or Business Oriented people
2. Typical production systems which were representative of the Province
3. Recommended by NGO partners
The research team attempted to reduce bias in the District Leader's selection of communes
by emphasizing that this was a research exercise and that no direct development assistance
would result for participants.
From the 2 Provinces visited, 9 communes from 5 Districts were Sampled (Table X). A
total of XX people participated in the discussions, of which XX were Women and XX
were aged between 15 - 35 (What is the definition of YOUTH for the HT programme?).
Most of the people were from the Kinh and Thai ethnic groups (XX% and XX%
respectively) with only XX% representing other ethnic minority groups.
The information from these FGDs were directly used to provide qualitative information to
the report. No coding or statistical analysis of the data was completed.
Province
D i s t r i c t C o m m u n e V i l l a g e s
S o n
L a T h u a n C h a u Chieng Bom
C h i e n g L y
T h o m M o n
V a n
H o V a n
H o
T o
M u a
M o c
Q a u D o n g S a n g
Muong Sang
D i e n B i e n D i e n B i e n T h a n h N u a
Muong Phang
M u o n g C h a N a
S a n g
Household Survey
After the completion of the FGDs, information gaps were still evident. In an attempt to
extract more detailed information and provide an additional opportunity to triangulate the
information already found, 3 short Household Surveys were developed and administered to
Households in the same Communes as the FGDs (ANNEX X).
The Commune leaders selected the Households to be surveyed based on the criteria that
they were Forest, Agriculture or small business orientated. Between 10-15 Households
were surveyed in each commune. Due to the nature of the selection criteria, XX% of
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households that were surveyed were also represented during the FGDs. XX% were Kinh,
XX% Thai, XX% H'Mong and XX% represented other ethnic minority groups.
No statistical analysis was calculated with this data, rather it was for subjective analysis
and interpretation only.
Market Visits
To better understand the market structure, 10 market visits were organised in Son La
Province. In Son La City, 3 large markets were visited, 3 Central markets were visited in
both Thaun Chau and Moc Chau Districts and 1 Central market in Van Ho Province. Due
to time and financial restraints, Market information for Dien Bien was was sourced from
the local trade office instead of conducting Market Visits. During thetransects of each
market the following information was captured:
1. Different products sold
2. Current prices and trends
3. Packaging and labelling
4. Means of transporting products to market
5. Origin of products and supply chains.
This information was utilised exclusively in the Market Section of this report.
Stakeholder Consultation
Draft results were presented to National Government, Research, and Development NGOs
stakeholders during a 2 day Workshop (Annex X). Apart from discussion and
confirmation of the presented preliminary results, Stakeholders were asked to provide their
input on what a) underlying system problems in the NW Region are and b) what the
possible solutions are and why.
This information was used to compliment and confirm those raised in the prelimary results.
Missing documents to be collected from section leaders:
1. List of types of data to be collected
2. List of all data sets collected. Including Source, reference period, date and author.
3. Key Informant Interview Templates (Provincial/District and Commune Level)
4. Key Informant Interview Results
5. FGD Participant Lists
6. FGD Semi-Structured Interview Template
7. Electronic FGD results and photos
8. Copies of each Household Survey Template
9. Electronic Household Survey Results
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Development Overview
Context of region
In general, the Northern Upland region is hilly to mountainous with remote rural area,
infrastructure is poor and population density (person/km2) is low (Lai Chau 44, Lao Cai
101 persons, Son La: 80 persons and 54 person) as compared with northern mountainous
provinces 120 person/km2. The region is less urbanized and livelihood of local people
more dependent on agriculture than other regions. A large share of population is ethnic
minority with more than 20 different groups. Rice and upland crops are an important
source of income, it estimated about 30-35 % of agriculture GDP (GOS, 2012). Although
open market economy and economic reform policies recently has greatly improved the
rural economic structure, but it still face with many challenges because the poverty rate is
still high and the economy of this region heavily relies on the agriculture (defined broadly
to include crops, livestock, fishing and forestry) with low economic efficiency. Moreover,
local livelihood resources are limited due to infertile cultivated land (upland degradation),
less opportunity for income generation. Therefore, Vietnam Government continuously
support for social economic development in Northwest provinces through reformed
policies and different action rural programs.
Income level and trend
Since the beginning of this century , the Vietnamese economy has sustained high
economic growth rates while markedly reducing poverty during its transition to a
market-oriented economy. Since 2002, the GDP growth rate has been consistently
above 7.0% and has accelerated from 7.0 percent in 2002 to 8.4 percent in 2005
(World Bank, 2006a). Despites the impacts of recently global economic crisis, Vietnam
has remained growth rate of GDP at 6.3 percent in 2012 (GOS, 2012). Observing the trend
of GDP of four provinces in period 2010-2012, it indicated that GDP has grown
continuously over three years .
Accompanying with economic growth rate of four provinces, in general, the trend of
income per capita per year has also increased year by year in both the rural and urban area.
The statistic data 2012 indicated that income per capita of urban area of four provinces was
higher than 20 million VND per year, while it was less than 10 million VND per year in
rural area.
Observe the trend of income per capita in period of 2008-2012 (figure 1, 2,3,4), it has
clearly showed that income disparity between urban and rural area is more clearly. The gap
of average income per capita in these province ranges from 2-3 times. The inequality of
income is considered as a social problem, especially income and income sources for ethnic
minority in remote area.
6
30
25
Income million VND/year
Income milliion VND/year
25.00
20.00
20
15.00
15
10.00
10
5.00
Urban
5
Urban
Rural
Rural
0
0.00
2008
2009
2010
2011
2008
2012
2009
2010
2011
2012
Years
Years
Figure 1: Trend of income in Lai Chau
Figure 2: Trend of income in Lao Cai
30
20
15
10
5
Figure
3: Trend of incomeUrban
in Son LaRural
0
2008
2010
2012
Years
Figure 3: Trend of income in Son La
Income million VND/Year
Income million VND/year
25
25
20
15
10
5
Urban
0
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
Years
Figure 4: Trend of income in Dien Bien
1.2. Poverty level in study area
Over two recent decades, the Vietnamese Government has achieved remarkable records in
poverty alleviation program. World Bank reported that that poverty rate in Vietnam has
sharply fell from 58.1 percent in the early 1990s to 14.5 percent by 2008 as using the
“basic need” poverty line initially agreed in 1990s, this an average 3 percent per year
(World Bank, 2012). Regarding to the trend of poverty rate of four studied provinces in
period of 2004-2012 (figure 5) showed that poverty rate of four provinces rapidly fell after
four years (2006-2009), it has a similar trend after the new poverty line established in 2010
(income per month is lower 400 thousand VND in rural and 500 thousand VND in urban
area. However, unsustainable poverty reduction seems to be appeared because the rate of
the near poor, who have income per month from 401-520 thousand in rural area and 501650 thousand VND in urban area, still remains at high level (Lai Chau: 9.7%, Lao Cai
11.6%, Son La: 10.3% and Dien Bien 6.8%)
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60.00
Poverty percent (%)
50.00
40.00
30.00
20.00
10.00
Lao Cai
Son La
Dien Bien
Lai Chau
0.00
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
Figure 5: Change of poverty rate of four provinces in period of 2004-2012
Figure #: Poverty Map
Factors effect on the rapid poverty reduction: There are many factors have contributed to
poverty reduction in Vietnam in general and particular in these provinces. First, it is
essential to address the role of new reform policies relate to poverty issues, open market economy and key stakeholders in Vietnam (government ministries, the National assembly,
local researchers and research institution, INGOs and NGOs and International partners)
have given many efforts and released national programs to solve poverty as so far such as
program 135 (I, II) and Resolution 30a/CP of the Government on the poverty reduction
support rapid and sustainable for the poorest districts in the country. Second, it is a strong
involvement of local stakeholders (provincial authorities/local Government, mass
organizations, private sectors and commune level, pioneer farmers etc.) in implementation
phase and scaling up to reduce the rural poor at communities. Of which, local Government
plays a key role in successful pilot models and ensuring that scaling up is taken broadly in
communities and linkage between donors and local people. The poor and near poor in rural
area has been supported new varieties, input materials and technical assistances, these are
incentives for the rural poor in improvement of their production system and income to
escape from the poverty.
Challenges for poverty reduction in Vietnam: Despites poverty reduction progress have
achieved remarkable success, the task of poverty reduction in Vietnam is not complete, and
in some aspects still cope with different difficulties such as the rate of economic growth
has slowed, macro economy instability beginning in late 2009, poor livelihood resources in
rural area and the poverty rate in rural area is still high from 5-15 times as compared to
urban area (Table 1), of which, the poor in rural area mainly are ethnic minority groups and
Hmong, Dao, La Hu, Cong people are remained with the higher poverty rate in these
provinces.
Table 1: Urban - Rural disparities in poverty in period 2010-2012
Province
2010
Total
Urban Rural
Total
2011
Urban Rural
Total
2012
Urban Rural
8
46.78
9.88
Lao Cai
42.9
11.2
Son La
38.14
Lai Chau
Na
55
47.2
10.22 55.47 41.37
9.52 49.63
53.4 35.28
9.84 44.89 27.69
7.19 35.01
Na
34.8
Na
50.01
8.11 59.23 45.28
Dien Bien
Sources: Provincial statistic data 2010-2012
Na
31.9
6.98 53.82 38.24
Na
Na
3.71 45.88
Malnutrition children
Malnutrition remains a problem in many of the poor, isolated rural areas of Vietnam,
particularly mountainous areas, it estimated about more than three million children under
the age of five are malnourished (NIN, 2012). High rates of child malnutrition not only
hinder the development of the children themselves, but also affect the potential of
economic and social development in general.
Rate of malnutrition (%)(
Rate of mlnutrition (%)
50
40
40
30
30
20
20
10
Lai Châu
Son La
Lao Cai
Điện Biên
Lai Châu
Son La
10
0
Lao Cai
Điện Biên
0
2004
2006
2008
2010
2012
2004
2006
Years
2008
2010
2012
Years
Figure 6: Trend of malnutrition (underweight)
Figure 7:Trend of malnutrition growth deficiency
Rate of malnutrition (%)
12
10
8
6
4
Lào Cai
Sơn La
2
Lai Châu
Điện Biên
0
2004
2006
2008
Years
2010
2012
Figure 8: Trend of malnutrition underweight per height - wasting
Statistical data in these provinces indicated that the malnutrition rate has remarkably
reduced in period of 2004-2012 with three types of malnutrition (underweight, growth
deficiency and underweight as compare to height). Among three types of malnutrition rate
of children under five-year-old in 2012, it reported that the rate of malnutrition rate
underweight in four provinces occupies from 20.8-23.5%, rate of children malnourished by
growth deficiency about 31.9-37.8% and 6.7-7.2% of children have been malnourished by
underweight as compare with height. Of which the rate of malnutrition in rural area
occupies 90% of malnourished children under five-year- old. Comparison with Asia
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countries, the rate of undernourishment remained at 13.9% (FAO, 2012), the malnutrition
rate of Vietnam is still high among Asian countries.
Education and literacy rate
Education
Vietnam has obtained universal primary education by Vietnam national standard. The
equality of education has improved on multiple aspects. In these studied provinces, the
school system have newly built and renovated to fulfill the increase demand of all
education levels. Every commune has nursery school, primary school; lower secondary
school and upper secondary school are available in every district. Local government has
put many efforts through support policies to encourage pupils go to school to build up the
quality of labor resource.
Table 2: Percentage of pupils at different education levels in 2012
Unit: Percentage
Education level
Lai Chau
Lao Cai
Son La
Dien Bien
Primary schoool (5 years)
98.34
98.96
99.18
99.6
Lower secondary school (4 years)
96.95
98.62
75.60
87.5
Upper secondary school (3 years)
79.36
96.82
16.69
51.6
Sources: Provincial statistic data
2012
Counting for the enrolment rate at right age in four province provinces, it estimates about
99.9 percent of children has enrolled at primary school. The rate of pupils enrolled into
lower secondary school and upper secondary has lower trend, especially percentage of
pupil enrolled to upper secondary school is less than 80%. However, rate of female pupil
enrolled into upper secondary school seemed lower; it is only 70-77% of female pupils at
school ages
Literacy among man and woman
Although Vietnam has noted that the universal primary education at primary school has
obtained in 2000, the literacy rate in Vietnam approximates 94 percent. However, the rate
of literacy rate in mountainous provinces is lower than as compare to others. Census
survey in 2011 indicated that literacy rate in four provinces from 61.6-78.2 respectively.
The literacy rate of male from 75-88.5% is higher than female 48-72.5% respectively
(Table 3).
Table 3 : Rate of literacy among man and women above 15 age
Unit: Percentage
Provinces
Total
Male
Female
Lai Chau
61.6
74.8
48.0
Lao Cai
77.8
83.2
72.5
Son La
78.2
88.5
68.2
Dien Bien
65.0
79.9
50.5
Sources: Provincial statistic data
2011
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Employment rates
The process of agricultural-rural urbanization and industrialization has created the dramatic
changes in the lives of Vietnamese farmer at present. However, these changes have less
effected on farmer livelihood in mountainous provinces, especially remote rural areas.
Table 4: Labor force distribution by gender, residence and types of ownership
Unit: Thousand persons
Employment rate
Lai Chau
Lao Cai
Son La Dien Bien
Total population
403.20
648.27
1134.3
519.286
Total employer
236.9
442.39
707.2
285.923
+ Male
119.65
219.59
351.85
148.158
+ Female
117.25
222.80
355.35
137.765
By residence
+ Urban
35.81
104.4
100.56
39.515
+ Rural
201.09
337.99
606.64
246.408
Employed population by types of ownership
+ State
24.83
39.42
53.45
39.276
+ Non-State
211.26
350.28
650.18
244.579
+ Foreign invesment sector
0.03
0.93
0.54
0.018
Sources: Provincial statistical
data 2012
Statistic data indicated that there is a large proportion of labor force at the age 15-60
locates in rural area and employed in farming activities Table 4. Data in indicated that the
employed rate in agriculture sector approximates 80 percent of labor forces in these
provinces. Their livelihood mainly subjects to farming activities, off-farm and non-farm
activities. The remain labor force in urban area employed in state-owned, private
enterprises and foreign investment sectors
The quality of labor force in these provinces has been facing with low skill and less
experience, it estimated that only 11.4-15 percent of labor force above 15 year old has been
trained through vocation training or short training courses with duration of 1-2 months, of
which, the rural labor force has been trained as so far only 6.1-7.5%. Moreover, women
labor in rural is considered as an important part in rural development, they play a vital role
in farming activities and running house’s works and children care, but unfortunately, they
are less to be invited attending the vocation training courses because of the gender
preconception.
Challenges for employment in rural area: The abundance of labor force in rural areas is
not only the loss of farmland but also because of the pressure of population growth while
the average cultivable land per capita is low, it estimated that working time consume for
farming activities only 50% of working time of the year (Thinh 2009) due to seasonality of
agriculture production. The redundancy of labor in rural area has increased social problems
such as crime victims, shifting of rural labor to urban area to fine job opportunities, but the
opportunities for seasonally migration are limited by low demand for unskilled labor, it
cannot meet the requirement of enterprises, especially, labor force from ethnic
communities with a high rate of illiteracy. The illiteracy labor force in rural area is a main
cause of low labor efficiency in agriculture production as well as other sectors.
Overcome to the low skill of labor forces in rural area, a National Vocation training
program has launched with the aim of improvement labor skill in rural area to meet the
social requirements. However, a large proportion of young people after training cannot find
a suitable job, exception for trainees who attended farming skill improvement training
courses.
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Trend of private sector investment in agriculture
In the last, public investment in agriculture was dominated through National programs and
trajectory by Government and local authorities, private sector was not officially recognized
under centrally planning economy which was put under broadly defined term of black
market and informal sector (Hung et al 2011). After economic reform policies 1986,
private sector has rapidly emerged and joined in agriculture and rural development, it has
gave a significantly contribution in social economic development of mountainous
provinces. However, the number of enterprises has invested in agriculture sector still limits
because of the high risk association and low increment economic efficiency. Statistical
data of four provinces indicated that proportion of enterprises invested in agriculture only
2.7% in Lai Chau, 1.7% in Lao Cai, 4.8% in Son La and 5.1% in Dien Bien province.
These enterprises have operated in the form of Join-stock companies or cooperative
alliances. In recently years, enterprises invested in rural area mainly are rubber, tea
planting, processing factories and service provision of agriculture input materials such as
fertilizer, seedling, pesticides, equipment and machineries etc. The capital invested in
agriculture sector unstably year by year and ranges from 200-500 billion VND per years,
of which, it estimated about 70 % of capital invested in rubber and tea plantation.
Agriculture sector: These enterprises focused on the tea production and processing, coffee
production and exportation. Of which, Tea joint stock companies has increased investment
in production and processing because tea products are easily exported to foreign countries
in recently.
Forestry development sector: Under national program on rubber development in Northern
provinces, Joint –Stock Rubber Companies has established in recent years in four
provinces and directly invested in rubber planting. However, the rubber in northern of
Vietnam still in period of vegetative growth and the economic efficiency hasn’t confirmed.
Livestock and aquaculture enterprises: Aquaculture enterprises mainly focused on the fish
stocking, pig farming in both piglets and fattening. However, production scale is small and
the output was not enough to meet the local demand. Moreover, the quality of fingerling
and piglet was low because of poor infrastructure and technique apply, as result the source
of piglet and fingerling for production in these province must import from other provinces
Assessment on the trend of investment in agriculture and rural area in these province by
private enterprises, it reported that the capital volume for agriculture has limited as
compared to 2010 (Hung, 2013) and many enterprises have been collapsed or narrowed
production scale, for example in Dien Bien province 9 of 10 private enterprises in forestry
sector has closed in 2011-2012 because a restricted loan from banking system and
limitation external cash flow under the circumstance of national liquidity crisis in these
years and collapse of real estate bubble
.
Infrastructure, including roads, electrification, main ports and border exchange
points
1.6.1. Rural road and electricity systems
Vietnam has a great supports from ADB, EU and World Bank for improvement of rural
infrastructure system through low interest loan packages. Through preference loan
packages, Vietnam Government has launched necessary national programs to improve
rural infrastructures, both of rural roads and rural electric system have addressed by
program 135 from 1999-2005. In this period, the rural road system were rehabilitated or
upgraded to connect commune to each other, to district towns, or to national, provincial
12
road network. The electric systems were upgraded and massively developed new line
system to communes and villages ensuring that people in remote area can assess to the
national electricity grid.
Under national programs on social economic development, rural road and electricity
systems in four studied provinces has remarkably upgraded as so far, the road system has
upgraded or new extended to commune and villages, new electricity system also have
access to communes center and villages.
The statistical data 2011 indicated that more than 95% of commune has road system access
to commune center, however, the percent of commune has road system has been concreted
only 45.45-56.12% in these provinces due to lack of financial investment.
Map #: Road system in region
The electricity system has covered more than 98 % of commune in these provinces; it is
impressive effort of Vietnam government over two recent decades, of which the rate of
commune has access to national electricity grid system from 60-79% and the rate of
household in rural access to electricity from 74-95%. The rest of HH hasn’t access as so far
to electricity system mainly settles in remote villages with high geography area and low
population density, it requires more cost investment.
1.6.2 Piped potable water access
Better access to safe water and sanitation, delivered by the Government programs and
under support of UNICEF, will help ensure that the quality of life for people in rural
communities improves, which is important for sustainability and equity of growth in
Vietnam. In period of 2001-2010, the clean water program has widely implemented in
rural area in the Northern provinces and obtained impressive results. It approximate 90%
of HH in urban area has access to clean water and clean water tapes have been built in
more than 75% of rural communities. However, the rate of HH has accessed to clean water
source is relative low (Lai Chau 18.23 %, Son La and Dien Bien approximate 41% and it
has better in Lao Cai 77.24 %).
Table 5: Available water accessing in urban and rural area
Province
Lai Chau Lao Cai Son La Dien Bien
Urban area
Percent of HH has access to clean water
(%)
Rural area
+ Percent of commune access clean water
(%)
+ Percent of HH has access to clean water
(%)
89.52
87.88
91.67
95.55
90.91
90.20
75.50
82.65
69.46
77.24
40.30
40.81
1.6.3 Rural Market and Border exchange points
This region plays an important role for trading in the Northwest region because these
provinces borders with Lao PDR and China. There are 9 border gates opened in these
provinces, of which 5 border gates for trading with to China and 4 border gates exchanges
to Lao PDR. It estimated about 80 % of export and import good volume has exchanged
through China at Lao Cai province. Major goods exportation to China consist of rice,
13
rubber, fruit, cassava starch, mineral, and import commodities are fertilizer, consumption
commodities, machineries etc. Exchange with Lao PDR mainly is importing, of which
90% of imported commodities are iron ore mineral and wood-blocks. Exporting to Lao
PDR mainly are seedling, fertilizer and petrol gas.
Table 6: Local exchange points and border gates
Province
Lai Chau Lao Cai Son La Dien Bien
Border exchange point
Viet Nam- Lao
Viet Nam- China
Rural market points
Percentage of commune have market
points
01
03
02
-
02
01
20.2
Na
28.7
15.3
Together with improvement of rural road system, the rural market development is a part of
economic development strategy has been set up by provincial authorities. Provincial
secondary data 2012 indicated that the rural market system has extended from central
province to district and communes as available number of local fixed market points Table
10 The appearance of fixed market points at district or commune and better rural road
system which have promoted the exchanges of agro-products between villagers and
outsiders. Local market channels today have dominated by private traders through business
process (Luong 2013). Exchange between villagers and outsiders at fixed market points
which help farmers obtain better price at farm gate as well as assess to necessary basic
needs of farming input material. Moreover, available input supply and market information
exchange have created the value chain in rural area for agro-products.
1.7 Ethnic/cultural diversity and general roles of women and youth
1.7.1. Ethnic/cultural diversity
Viet Nam is known as a country in which many ethnic groups are living together on the
same territory. In Northern provinces, there are more than 20 minority groups are settled
from high mountainous area to downtown of districts or city zones in provincial center.
Regarding on the ethnic composition figure 9 indicated that Thai people is a major ethnic
group in Son La, Dien Bien and Lai Chau with largest proportion of population (34-55%).
A Hmong person occupies from 18-20% of population and settles in higher mountainous
region of these provinces.
Ethnic composition in Lao Cai
Ethnic composition in Dien Bien
Kinh
Kinh
Hmong
Thai
Tay
HMong
Dao
Dao
Kho Mu
Giay
Ha Nhi
Nung
Lao
Other
Ethnic composition in Lao Cai
Kinh
Khang
Other
Ethnic composition in Lai Chau
Kinh
Thai
Hmong
HMong
14
Tay
Dao
Ha Nhi
Dao
Giay
Giay
La Hu
Figure 9: Ethnic composition in four provinces
Thai ethnic people plays as a key role in implementation of social economic development
in Northwest provinces, they are main labor force in rural area and have greatly
contributed in preserving the ethnic cultural identities in Northwest region. Moreover, Thai
ethnic people has stored a lot of experience in farming skills and indigenous knowledge, as
so far, they still keep the pioneer role in implementing models of poverty reduction and
scaling up to other ethnic groups in communities.
Kinh people is a Vietnamese majority, resettle in Northwest only 15-20 % of population,
exception for Lai Chau province 35% of population and it is result of immigration in the
past decades for social economic development. Although Kinh people resettled with a less
proportion, they are widely keeping a leader role in state organizations at different
institution levels.
Other ethnic groups locate in different geographic regions, they also contributed a large
labor force in agriculture and forestry production, new rural model building, create the
diversification of ethnic culture and give tourism performance, especially Thai and Hmong
people . On the other hand, they are giving a significant role in protecting frontier area and
national territory through residential area and farming activities in near border region.
1.7.2. Role of women and young
 Role of woman
FGD during field trip in Dien Bien and Son La province, it found that rural woman play a
central role in farming activities, it estimated about 60% of workloads of farming
production which was carried out by woman forces. Moreover, at family level, they also
keep an important role in house works such as fuel wood collection, water collection,
children care and family relationship linkage etc.
In social network scope, women has participated in different social associations such as
Woman Union, Farmer association etc and play key role in creating credit channels,
poverty reduction network, and strongly joined in other social works at community level.
However, rural ethnic minority girls and women are especially disadvantaged, are be
confirmed that have lower social status, less education, fewer contacts outside of their
community.
 Role of young generation in agriculture development
In rural area, young is next generation of farmers, producers and workers, a rural economy
in future cannot detach the role of young labor forces. In four provinces, it estimated about
30-32 % of population is young people with age 16-30 who will contribute for rural
economy in future (Statistical data 2009). In which 80 % of young people have better
education through universal primary school and higher education levels and they will be
become a better labor force. FGD in studied sites indicated that, beside the school time,
young people have intensively involved in farming activities, off-farm works by both of
15
labor exchange and hired labor by rubber companies in recently years and non-farm works
or a part of young people moved to city zones, industrial zones, even goes to work in
foreign countries and give back remittance to their families. On the other hand, it is
especially, Resolution 30a issued, educated young people have more involved in social
works at commune level such as leader of commune, local staff. In addition, many young
people in these provinces has given a value sights in building new enterprises, business
firm in the rural area .
1.8. Policy environment, distribution of decision making and role of local government,
land tenure regimes
As so far, various policies relate to agriculture sector has issued by government through
serious of Degrees, Circulars, Resolution and legal documents to support for agriculture
and rural development. The Resolution10 1988 suggested higher investment budget for
agriculture and Land law 1993 was issued to confirm long term land use right is a
benchmarks, the Degree 14/CP dated 2 March 1993 allowed household to borrow loan
from the bank in order to develop agriculture and forestry and trading celebration for
export agro-products etc. These policies have significantly boost growth rate of agriculture
sector and forced rural economy rapidly shifted to private forms, as result in 2002, nonstate economic sector accounted for 46% of agriculture GDP (Dieu 2006).
Decision making and role of local government in agriculture and rural development
The rural and agriculture development plan is built up by the participant of different
provincial divisions, of which, provincial DARD play a central role in implementing
phase. In general, rural and agriculture development process is built up parallel at three
levels (Commune, district and provincial level). The circulation process of plan building is
illustrated by below flow chart (figure 10)
The outputs of this process are agriculture development plan including (i)- Five year of
master plan of agricultures and rural development, and (ii)- Annual plan of agriculture and
rural development: Five years master plan of agriculture development often has built based
on the target program of province on social economic development which has approved by
resolution of provincial people committee. The master plan comprises action program for
different sectors such as agriculture production, livestock development, irrigation etc.
Annual plan of agriculture and rural development often verified year by year, it is more
concreted on objectives and results of each sector.
Provincial level
Complete plan &
submit to MPI
Final meeting at
province level
Receive the plan
from district,
DARD after
Complete
plan
Revise & complete
Dept. Finance
& Planning
Review plan
Dept. Finance
& Planning
District build up
tentative plan
District help
commune to
build plan
Synthesis &
revise
Consulted meeting
District
Commune level
Synthesis
plan
Function
divisions
build up plan
Consulted
Meeting at
different section
DARD
build up
tentative
plan
Provincial DARD help
division build up plan
DPI build up
tentative
plan
Provincial PC
releases the plan for
build up yearly plan
DPI/D
OF
help
division
,
district
to build
up plan
16
Figure 10: Process of decision making on the land use at local level
Land tenure and land use
Land institution reform by land allocation policies 1993 has granted land users with land
use period of annual crops 20 years and perennial crops 50 years. The main impacts of
policies are the land tenure security for users has ensured and higher investment to
agriculture by farmer households has increased remarkably (Camille et al 2009). Regarding
types of land tenure in these provinces, it indicated that three types of land tenure are
existed (1)- land owner by farmer household, (2)- Land owner by companies and (3)- land
owner by state (people committees). It estimates about 90 % of cultivated land area has
allocated to farmer households through land allocation policies with the land use right
certification/red-book(GSO, 2012), farmer households have a right to select the best
cropping systems and freely decisions to invest in their farm land. Forestland also allocated
to farmer households with duration 50 years for reforestation and forest conservation
which has positively changed in forestry sector by reforestation. Since 2006, rubber
development program has launched in Northwest provinces under operated by Rubber
Joint-Stock Companies, the forestland area under local government management before
has allocated for companies. It estimates forest land area shifted from state management to
rubber companies, statistical data 2012 indicated that about 67 % in Lao Cai, 49% in Lai
Chau; 50 % in Son La and 12.6% in Dien Bien province for rubber planting and other
purposes. Land owner by people committees mainly preserve for extending residence area
of the future generation.
Land tenure in Son La province
(ha)
300000
Land tenure in Lao Cai province
(ha)
300000
250000
250000
Companies
Committee
Household
Companies
200000
Committee
150000
Household
200000
150000
100000
50000
100000
0
50000
0
Annual Crop
Figure 11: Type of Land tenure in four provinces
(ha)
300000
Land tenure in Lai Chau province
Forest
Aquaculture Other land
Land tenure in Dien Bien province
500000
(ha)
250000
Companies
Committee
Household
200000
150000
400000
Companies
Committee
300000
Household
200000
100000
50000
0
Perennial
Crop
100000
Annual Crop
Perennial
Crop
Forest
Aquaculture
Other land
0
Annual Crop
Perennial
Crop
Forest
Aquaculture Other land
17
Table 7: proportion of land tenure in four provinces
Unit: percentage
Types of land tenure
Lai Chau
Lao Cai
Son La
Dien Bien
Committees (state)
0.01
0.29
0.34
2.06
Companies
37.95
52.28
26.79
10.37
Household
62.04
47.43
72.88
87.58
5. Institutional and civil society context, types and prevalence of NGOs, level of
innovation in institutions, civil society oversight and registration
The nature of civil society in Vietnam is till debate and the impacts of civil society
was most difficult dimension to assess because data limitation and non-systematical
monitoring. Analysis on civil society in Vietnam (Dang Ngoc Dinh, 2006) indicated that
there are four types of civil organization which involved in rural development including:
(1)- Mass organizations, (2)-Professional organizations (both central and local), (3)Vietnamese NGOs and (4)- Community base organizations such as farmer clubs, interest
groups elderly association.
Table 8: Types of civil organizations in Vietnam and it
Types of civil Nam of organization
Impact on rural development
organization
Mass organizations Farmer organization
- Direct or indirect involvement in rural
Women organization
programs
Young organization
- Service delivery, policies dissemination
War veterans organization
- Create linkage among social groups
Professional
Red Cross
- Charitable giving
organizations
Cooperative alliance
-Vocation training, job creation
Professional training
- Volunteering services
Vietnamese NGOs Research VNGOs
-Promote agriculture, develop farmer’s
Consultancy VNGOs
skills and other different activities
-Charity works
International
Research NGOs
-Link to local NGOs and support for
INGOs
Consultancy NGOs
agriculture, infrastructure etc.
Community base Farmer clubs
-Sharing information
organizations
Interest groups
-Volunteering assistant
(informal)
Mass organizations have been created by Government; performing regulation is more
depended on the state regulation. In term of institutional arrangement, the mass
organizations has vertically established from central to local level (province, district and
commune) and the operation of mass organizations covered various aspects and depends
on the function of each particular organization. In rural development, these organizations
has actively involved in policies dissemination, support for agriculture production through
pilot models, linkage among social groups etc.
18
Professional organizations have defined as social-professional organizations which
established base on the social needs, exception for “Red cross organization”. The operation
of professional organization under legal regulation and focused on the vocation training,
job creation etc.
Regarding on the impacts of INGOs in these provinces, it reported that 13 different INGOs
such as Oxfam, CARE, SNV, DANIDA etc. has been implementing in these province
since 1990s. However, in recently, INGOs trend to increase a number of Vietnamese staff
and increase linkage to local NGOs to operate at the rural level. The operation of INGOs
and NGOs doesn’t intervene in political system, mainly focused on the improvement of
agriculture, farmer livelihood, capacity building, improve infrastructure and marketing
challenge promotion for agro-products.
Community based organizations are established according to base on the people’s needs in
various forms such as farmer club, interest groups. The functions and regulation of
organization are set up by members themselves. Operation of community based
organizations is flexible, varying time to time, place to place according to the particular
local context. Although these are informal organizations,
6. General stakeholder and partner landscape in rural development and agriculture,
key research institutions, and main development agencies including line ministries.
Agriculture and rural development in Vietnam is especially concerned by
Government as so far because of more than 60% of population relies on, mapping of
stakeholder and partner landscape involve in agriculture and rural development (Figure 12)
indicated that there are many stakeholders involved in this sector with different thematic
function under different level. MARD is governmental agency performing state
management functions in the fields of agriculture, forestry, fishery, irrigation/water
services and rural development nationwide, including state management functions with
regard to delivery of public service in accordance with legal documents. MARD directly
released national programs (research programs, improvement of infrastructure etc.) and
linked international agencies (NGOs) to provincial level through DARD and research
institutions.
MARD
DARD
Research Institutions
Dept. of Agriculture and
rural development in
district
Planning and
Organization
INGO
Commune
Implement and
upscale
Local NGO
Extension service
Figure 11: Stakeholders and partner landscape and intervention in agriculture and rural
Market
development
Companies and Private
MASS Organizations
enterprises
19
Lower level agencies such as DARD of province, district agriculture and rural division,
extension service, private sectors are implementing units and directly involved in carrying
out the target programs in rural area. Of which, DARD more focused on the in
administrative works and other agencies involved in production activities, capacity
building, processing chain and market channel promote.
Summary
These province have greatly succeed in poverty alleviation, the living standard of
farmer have improved through income increment. However, the gap of income between
rural and urban has trend to be larger.
Rural infrastructure system has greatly improved through different national poverty
reduction programs and international program. Road, potable water and electricity system
has broadly built and extended to remote communes, given a better livelihood for different
ethnic minority groups in the Northwest region.
Education system has much more improved in remote area, education in region has
obtained primary universal, number of pupils enrolled in lower secondary school and upper
secondary school has increased. However, the rate of illiteracy still remained, the low
quality of labor force in rural area, especially, ethnic minority women, these are problems
need to be concerned.
Low investment by private sector in agriculture in recently has exposed because of
bank loan limitation and high risk association and low economic efficiency.
INGOs and NGOs have involved in agriculture and rural development sector with
different activities and significantly contributed to agriculture and local people capacity
building, but the week link between NGOs and local government has exposed, this
relationship must improve in the future years.
Inadequate implementation of policies due to weak collaboration among local
institutions has partly affected on the agricultural and rural development.
Women and youth in rural area has actively contributed in social economic
development through farming and non-farming activities.
Reference:
Camille.S.M., K. Alwin and M.Zeller. 2009. Land allocation policy and conservation
practices in the mountains of Northern Vietnam. Contributed Paper prepared for
presentation at the International Association of agricultural Economists Conference,
Beijing, China, August 16-22, 2009.
Cao Thi Cam Van. 2008. Urban and Rural dimensions of income inequality in Vietnam.
GSIR Working paper. Economic development & policies EDPO8. International
University of Japan
Dieu. P. Quang. 2006. Agriculture sector of Vietnam Policies and performance.
International Congress on Human development in Mandrid. 2006.
Dinh, D.N., B.T.Sinh., C. Dzung., D.N.Quang., D.B.Diem., N.M.Cuong., V.C.Mai. 2006.
The emerging Civil society: An initial assessment of civil society in Vietnam.
CIVICUS civil society Index Report for Vietnam.
FAO. 2012. The state of food insecurity in the world: Economic growth is necessary but
not sufficient to accelerate reduction of hunger and malnutrition.
GSO (2012). General statistical data of Vietnam. Statistical publishing house
20
Hung. P.T. L.T.Q.Nga and D.T.Trang.2011. The strategy role of private sector in
agriculture and rural development. Working paper in Vietnam.
Luong.N.D. 2013. Report of trading and commercial activities of Dien Bien province
2013.
National institute nutrition 2012. Statistical Data on the Nutrition Situation of Children
over the Years
Statistical book 2012. General statistic book Dien Bien province 2012. Statistical
publishing house
Statistical book 2012. General statistic book Lai Chau province 2012. Statistical
publishing house
Statistical book 2012. General statistic book Lao Cai province 2012. Statistical publishing
house
Statistical book 2012. General statistic book Son La province 2012. Statistical publishing
house
World Bank, 2006a. Vietnam Development Report 2006 – Business. Retrieved
October 20,
2006,
from
the
World
Bank
Web
site:
http://www.worldbank.org/reference
World Bank. 2012. Vietnam poverty assessment : well begun, not yet done - Vietnam's
remarkable progress on poverty reduction and the emerging challenges (English)
CENTRE FOR AGRARIAN SYSTEMS
RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT (CASRAD)
---------- o 0 o --------
REPORT
PRODUCTION SYSTEMS IN THE NORTH WEST OF
VIETNAM
21
Implemented by:
Nguyen Van Son
Hoang Thanh Tung
Hanoi, 12/2013
22
CONTENT
Agricultural Produce .................................................................................................... 23
1.
1.1.
Main crops ............................................................................................................. 23
1.2.
Livestock ............................................................................................................... 24
1.3.
Tree Crops ............................................................................................................. 25
1.4.
The Use of Agricultural Products in NW .............................................................. 25
1.5.
Economic effectiveness of main crops .................................................................. 26
2.
The Effect of Topography ............................................................................................ 28
2.1.
3.
Sloping Land ......................................................................................................... 28
Technology used in production system ........................................................................ 32
3.1.
Machinery ............................................................................................................. 32
3.2.
Breeding ................................................................................................................ 33
3.3.
Use of agrochemicals in production system in NW .............................................. 33
3.4.
Large Commercial Farms ...................................................................................... 34
4.
Gender discussions ....................................................................................................... 34
5.
Policies for production systems in NW ........................................................................ 35
6.
Conclusions and recommendations .............................................................................. 36
ANNEXES ........................................................................................................................... 38
A Note on Vietnam Specific Nomenclature
In Vietnam a distinction is drawn between larger commercial farms (>2.1 ha) and smaller
farms owned by a single household. In this report, the larger commercial farms will be
refered to as "large farms" ("Trang trai " in Vietnamese), and the smaller household farms
will be referred to as "farms" or "small holdings" (XXXX in Vietnamese).The smaller
household farms are by far the most common in the North West region.
1.
Agricultural Produce
1.1.
Main crops
Maize and rice paddy are two main crops in the North West Vietnam region, as measured
by production areas and income contributions. Both crops cover an average land area of
around 900 m2 per person, which can create the revenue of 1.4 and 1 million
VND/person/year for paddy and maize respectively (Table 1 - Appendix). Cassava is takes
up the third largest area with more than 200 m2/person on average, and is a major
contribution to income in regions where it is grown. Annual crops such as soybean and
peanut, and perennial crops such as tea and coffee generate significant sources of income
and are the most commonly gorwn cash crops. Fruits and vegetables also play notable roles
in average income, contributing 150,000VND/person/year although the land area occupied
is relatively small. Figure 1 shows the land area and income generated for each major
products in the region, and Table 1 shows average crop yield data for each province.
23
Figure 1 Average area and income for main agriculture products in NW
Source: VHLSS 2010
Son La has the largest production area and volume produced for maize and paddy Maize
yields are also the highest in Son La. In addition, Son La province which has diversified
climate conditions, ecosystems and infrastructure has comparative advantages for
agriculture productions with many famous products such as mango in Yen Chau district,
plum and vegetables in Moc Chau and Van Ho districts, Son Tra in Bac Yen, Thuan Chau,
Taro in Thuan Chau
However, Lao Cai followed by Lai Chau have comparatively higher rice yields; with
average production of 4.7 and 4.1 ton/ha respectively (Table 4 - Appendix).The main
purpose of agriculture production in Lai Chau is for household consumption except for
Cardamom and tea which are main cash crops in this province (Table 2, 3 - Appendix).
Lao Cai has the potential to further develop vegetables and temperate fruits. The total areas
of vegetable in 2012 was more than 10 thousand ha which produced above 100 thousand
tonnes (Provincial statistic yearbooks 2012). Bac Ha and Sapa districts are main vegetable
producing areas which cultivate not only in the winter season but also off-seasonal
vegetables. Temperate fruits, namely plum, peach, pear and longan are developed well in
the province, especially in Sapa and Bac Ha (where new variety of pear created by Lao Cai
DARD was recognized by MARD in 2013). Tea is also a priority product; Oolong tea is
exported to markets such as China, Japan and Taiwan. Income from cardamom is still the
main source of cash income for ethnic minority (not Kinh or Thai) people living in upland
areas, such as the H’Mong people in Sapa and Bat Xat districts (Provincial DARD’s report
2012).
Dien Bien is well-known for aromatic rice varieties which are cultivated mostly in Muong
Thanh field – Dien Bien districts (Key informant interview (KI)). The total area of rice
field in Dien Bien is second highest in 4 provinces at more than 48 thousand ha producing
about 160 thousand tons of rice in 2012. Coffee is main crash crop with approximately
3700 tons produced in 2012 (Yearbook 2012).
1.2.
Livestock
Pig raising is the most important source of cash cash income from livestock for farmers in
NW by number of pig in four provinces. Pig production is greatest (at more than 450
thousand animals) in Lao Cai and Son La where the hybrid varieties of pig are most
commonly used. There are also several large pig farms in Mai Son (3 farms) and Moc
Chau districts – Son La province (KI).
Table 5: Livestock in NW (head of animal)
Lào Cai
Sơn La
Lai Châu
Điện Biên
24
Buffaloes
123,743
156,350
Cattles
16,350
156,350
Pig
453,298
453,480
Goats
23,678
135,680
Horse
11,303
16,910
Poultry (1000 heads)
3,029
5,210
Source: Provincial statistic yearbooks 2012
97,270
14,950
170,430
25,530
8,300
929
116,194
42,031
298,573
50,947
9,457
2,593
Cattle and buffalos are raised for meat, and not commonly used for traction power in the
past. The supporting programs for cattle in Son La province lead to high numbers, and
especially dairy programs promote the herd of milk cows,aiming to increase the herd by
2,000 heads by 2020. There are also some projects working on improving the beef value
chain for Son La such as ACIAR projects to increase the livelihood for cattle raisers in
Thuan Chau and Mai Son districts.
Poultry raising has developed steadily in recent years due to high demand from Hanoi and
other markets. This results in high number of poultry in Son La and Lao Cai with more
than 5 and 3 million of poultries for each province respectively.
On the other hand, the livestock industry in Lai Chau and Dien Bien is mostly for
provincial consumption. Meat production does not satisfy demand within the provinces.
According to slaughterhouses in the region, at peak times (Tet holiday for example), pork
and beef are transported from other provinces in to Lai Chau and Dien Bien to sell. There
are some market channels to sell limitted quantity of local pigs and chickens from these
provinces to Hanoi.
Overall, animal raisers have to face difficulties in the high cost of feeds, weak veterinary
services and unstable markets. It requires more supports from governments or other
organizations to develop livestock in the NW of Vietnam.
1.3.
Tree Crops
Son Tra and cardamom are typical non-timber products that have been exploiting from
forests. While Son tra has been produced mostly in Son La, Yen Bai, Lao Cai and Dien
Bien provinces cardamom grows well in the high altitudes under the canopy of natural
forest in Lao Cai and Lai Chau provinces. These fruits can be used for medicine or direct
consumption in Vietnam and China. China also is a large imported market of a number of
agricultural goods from Vietnam such as cardamom, plum, banana and rubber.
1.4. The Use of Agricultural Products in NW
Table 6 shows the proportions of commodities are used for different purposes, on average
for the whole region. The table was developed based on the focus group discussions and
the household survey conducted for this report.
Rice, vegetables, and some fruits are the crops most commonly consumed in the
household. Maize is generally used as animal feed or sold into domestic markets, cassava,
tea coffee, cardamom and rubber are almost exclusively sold, and a variable proportion of
fruits and vegetables are also sold. Overall, most of agricultural produce is for sale rather
than for household use. The quality of meat from local animals is high, so that traders have
been transporting them to city markets for sale as special products. Chickens are eaten
regularly, pigs for special occasions and cattle are generally sold for out-of-province
markets.
25
Table 6: Estimated purposes agricultural products in NW (Percentage)
Household
Domestic
consumption
Feed
Medicine
market
Paddy
80
10
0
10
Maize
3
47
0
50
Cassava
1
15
0
84
Soybean
30
10
0
60
Peanut
55
0
0
45
Sugarcane
1
0
0
99
Sweet potatoes
50
15
0
35
Vegetables
40
10
0
45
Mango
45
0
0
55
Orange
40
0
0
60
Apple
70
0
0
30
Longan
20
0
0
80
Plum
3
0
0
37
Banana
10
0
0
50
Coffee
5
0
0
95
Tea
4
0
0
70
Rubber
0
0
0
30
Son Tra
10
0
20
70
Cardamom
5
0
15
20
Pig
40
0
0
55
Poultry
70
0
0
27
Cattle
5
0
0
85
Source: Household survey and Focus group discussion 2013
1.5.
Export
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
5
0
0
0
0
60
40
0
26
70
0
60
5
3
10
Economic effectiveness of main crops
Using information from the Focus Groups and Household Survey the profit average from
major crops was calculated, and is presented in Table 7. The profit margins change greatly
between upland crops (above 800m) and lower land crops (below 800m).
For example, the net profits from one hectare of lower land maize is more than double that
from one hectare of upland maize. Yields of maize in upland areas are generally lower,
which may be due to poor soils and climate, but may also be due in part to the lower levels
of input used by in the traditional cultivation methods of ethnic people such as H’Mong..
Although paddy and maize are most widely planted crops the economic effectiveness (net
profit) of these are not high as other crops. For example, paddy can create more than 30
billion VND/ha as revenue for producers but they have to pay for a large number of input
costs such as seeds, fertilizer, pesticides. As a consequence, the net profit of a ha is around
5 million compared with approximately 20 million VND for shan tea or more than 40
million VND for plum. The cost of inputs for establishing and maintaining some crops can
be preventative to poorer groups and should be considered.
Nevertheless, the priority policies for agriculture in mountainous areas of Vietnam aim to
ensure food security so that paddy and maize are production are encouraged. In addition,
some provinces have supporting policies for the development of special local varieties of
paddy rice , creating high value rice crops such as Seng Cu, DS1, Tau Bay in Lao Cai, and
Bac Thom No 7 in Dien Bien.
The greatest profit can be generated from vegetable production, at more than 60 billion
VND per ha (calculating for 1 ha of green gourd). Even bigger profits may be possible for
26
some off-season vegetables in Moc Chau (Son la) or in Bac Ha and Sa Pa (Lao Cai).
However, producers have to face the risks presented by unstable markets and prices as well
as the requirements for food safety. Therefore, there should be plans for vegetables
production and marketing strategies for them.
Temperate fruits also be relatively very profitable - more than 40 billion VND per ha.
However, most of fruit gardens are scattered so that the economic benefits per household is
not so high. Furthermore, perennial crops such as shan tea and coffees have comparative
advantages due to their yield and quality.
The income from non-timber products is an important source of income, especially for the
ones who live in high altitudes such as H’Mong and Dao people. They usually do not
invest in producing these crops but exploit from natural forest (Cardamom) or planted
forest (Son Tra). However, the income contribution of them are indispensable at around 20
million VND per ha per year, and, crucially, there is very little investment required in
terms of inputs..
There are some examples of intercropping maize with pumpkin or peanuton sloping land
in the uplands. This may, or may not, be in response to the declining fertility of steep land.
Table 7: Economic effectiveness of main crops
Total
Investment/all inputs income/turnover
Profits
Farming system
(1000 VND/ha)
(1000 VND/ha)
VND/ha)
< 800 m
Maize 2 crops
20,155
28,000
Maize monocrop
22,300
34,800
Rice
26,220
31,500
Vegetables (green
gourd)
31,000
95,000
Sugar cane
37,620
47,500
Mango
12,580
14,000
Plum
24,906
66,439
Coffee (3rd year)
18,120
25,000
Coffee (4th year)
40,200
55,000
14,900
12,500
Maize & peanut
14,100
22,400
Cassava
15,710
21,250
> 800 m
Upland rice
8,250
15,400
Maize monocrop
10,955
15,000
Cassava
16,380
22,500
10,305
14,400
Maize & Pumpkin
1,375
2,400
8,250
10,800
Upland rice &
H’mong cucumber
575
1,000
Son Tra
0
15,000
Cardamom
0
24,000
Shan tea
13,000
32,000
Source: Household survey and Focus group discussion 2013
(1000
15,690
12,500
5,280
64,000
9,880
1,420
41,533
6,880
14,800
5,900
5,540
7,150
4,045
6,120
5,120
2,975
15,000
24,000
19,000
27
Table 8: Economic effectiveness of livestock (VND/household/year)
Chicken
chicken/year
Cattles (3-5 cattle)
(50
Pig (5 pigs/year)
158
4,260
10,870
Revenue
2,700
9,000
12,250
Income
2,542
4,740
1,380
Cost
Source: Household survey and Focus group discussion 2013The net profits from livestock
were also calculated and are shown in Table 8. Livestock can generate a notable income;
but are not high in comparison to some of the cash crops. .Chicken raising at the scale of
50 chickens/year can produce under 5 million VND/household cattle around 2.5 million
VND and pigs more than 1 million VND per household. However, the revenue from
livestock sales that is relatively high after the longtime of raising is commonly used for
important lump sum purposes such as house building, wedding or purchasing expensive
assets.
2.
The Effect of Topography
2.1.
Sloping Land
Figure 2 Transect map for a village in NW
28
Land use
Slope
Species
Natural,
plantation and
regenerated
forest
Steep
(> 15o)
Cultivated area
(upland crops)
Moderate
(5–15o)
steep
Paddy field
Flat (< 5o)
Flat
Son
Tra,
Cardamom,
Cassava, maize, Paddy
regenerated
tea
vegetable
shrubs
Home garden
Plums, longan
mango,
and
avocado,
coffee… around
home garden
Rich soil mixed
with
gravel, Red soil, no
Rich soil
Soil status
black colour, red gravel.
layer beneath.
20–30 cm
30–40 cm
50–60 cm
Soil layer
Forest
quality Water scarcity, Limited area for
Difficulties
low
high soil erosion paddy
Forest
Build irrigation
regeneration and Tree-based
Potential
system;
add
enrichment with farming system
Solutions
manure
hybrid acacia
Focus group discussion 2013 and ICRAF report 2012
Rich soil, flat
with
high
content humus.
50–60 cm
Intercropping
timber or fruit
tree species and
coffee
The terrain can be summarised into 4 areas according to the slope of land. The highest,
steepest, rocky land has areas of natural and planted forests, as well as the profitable tree
crops cardamom and Son Tra.
The greatest part of the cultivated area has moderately steep slope where maize, cassava
and tea are grown on the 30-40 cm of soil layer. However, after any years of intensively
grown monoculture crops the quality of land is degraded due to erosion and depletion, and
inappropriate use of agro-chemicals. The problem of degraded soil on sloping land is
particularly pressing in Son La province. In addition, the irrigation systems are usually
inadequate to supply the needs of the crops, and the water holding capacity of the soils is
too poor due to the degradation.
There is a major need to need to develop farming systems that can improve the quality of
soil on these sloping areas.
29
Thirdly, the flat area in valley bottoms of highly sloping lands has the best quality of soil.
It is mainly used for paddy and vegetables which require good water resources. However,
the total area is small. It may be possible to increase production in these areas by squeezing
in a second crop of vegetables on the paddy land during the winter season (Sep – Dec) and
off season from June - August. Off season vegetable crops are already produced in Moc
Chau district – Son La and Bac Ha, Sapa districts – Lao Cai province.
In some districts such as Sa Pa (Lao Cai), these precious flat regions are being lost to
hydroelectric dams and reservoirs.
Finally, the area with less steep slope is used for house building, animal’s houses and
gardens. Fruits and coffee are usually cultivated in this area of rich soil and high content
humus. Fruits trees can be intercropped with coffee to increase the economic efficiency of
the farming system.
Most small holding farms have lands in all 4 category of slopes.
AltitudeTable 9 Farming systems in the study villages, by elevation
Elevation Topogr Site
Ethnicity Dominant farming systems
aphy
Flat land Chieng Ly, Thai
• Maize monoculture
Thuan Chau,
• Paddy rice 2 crops and a vegetable
Son
La
crop in winter
province
• Upland rice monoculture
• Taro monoculture (Khoai so Cu
Cang)
• Cassava monoculture
• Beans intercropped with maize and
cassava
•
Coffee
monoculture
and
intercropped in home garden
Under
• Home fruit garden (mango, longan)
800 m
• Pig and cattle raising
• Poultry
Moderat Nhop village, Thai
• Coffee intercropped with fruit trees,
e slopes; Chieng Bom,
native Canarium
a
bit commune,
• Cassava monoculture
rocky;
Thuan Chau
• Upland rice monoculture
water
district, Son
• Paddy rice: one crop/year
scarcity La province
• Maize monoculture (very little)
• Eucalyptus hybrid
• Cattle, chicken and local pig
Sloping Cha village, Thai
• Maize monoculture rotated with
land;
Quai
Nua
peanuts within a year
water
commune,
• Cassava monoculture
scarcity Tuan Giao
• Paddy rice (one crop/year) in
district, Dien
rotation with peanuts after harvesting
Bien
• Newly established coffee plantation
province
(two years ago)
• Fruit trees: longan, plum, mango
• Livestock: buffaloes, pigs, poultry
Sloping Nong Coc A, Khang
• Upland rice rotated with cassava
land;
village, Long
and fallow
water
He
• Son tra monoculture with high tree
30
scarcity
commune,
Thuan Chau
district, Son
La province
Co
Ma H’mong
village, Co
Ma
commune,
Thuan Chau
district, Son
La province
density
• Son tra and beans
• Livestock: buffaloes, cattle, pigs,
poultry
Sloping
• Maize intercropped with pumpkins
land;
• Maize monoculture
water
• Upland rice rotated with cassava
scarcity
and fallow
> 800 m
• Upland rice intercropped with
H’Mong cucumber
• Terraced rice
• Livestock: cattle, pigs, poultry
High
Ta Phin 2 H’mong
• Maize intercropped with beans and
sloping
village, Ta
pumpkins
and
Phin
• Upland rice monoculture
rocky
commune,
• Terraced rice
land
Tua
Chua
• Shan tea
district, Dien
• Cardamom under natural forest
Bien
canopy
province
• Scattered fruit trees: peach, plum,
pear
• Livestock: buffaloes, cattle, pigs,
poultry
Focus group discussion 2013 and ICRAF report 2012
It is also useful to categorise the land by altitude. Table 9 summarises the different
production systems at different altittudes and for the differing degrees of slope.
Land under 800m elevation has a greater production potential because farmers can grow
two crops of paddy rotated with winter vegetables for flat area or maize, cassava
monoculture or even beams intercropped with maize and cassava in sloping area. Besides,
some indigenous vegetables are grown in this area, for example taro produced in Thuan
Chau (Son La). For the region with moderate slopes and water scarcity, maize is cultivated
as a monoculture crop and in some provinces and it may be rotated with pumpkin, beans or
peanut. Home gardens are used to grown fruits such as longan, plum, mango, as well as
coffee; these gardens are well developed in Son La and Lao Cai. .
Livestock is also more productive at lower altittudes because of greater feed availability.
Farmers change from raising local animals to hybrid animal to reduce the time of
producing and increase income. In some regions, particularly Mai Son and Moc Chau (Son
La), industrial feeds are used commonly for pigs and the cattle market is well developed.
The characteristics of land above 800m are more steeply sloping and rocky land with poor
irrigation systems. Main crops cultivated are terraced upland rice paddy and maize which
does not require as much water. Shan tea is a special product produced in all 4 provinces
with large area. The quality of tea is highly appreciated and there are many tea processing
companies in the region to produce exported products. Temperate fruits also grow well
above 800m.
Local varieties of pigs, chickens and cattle are the major animals raised above 800m. The
difficulties in infrastructure lead to high costs for raising livestock. Therefore, producers
try to take advantages of local feeds and the adaptability of local animals. There is almost
no industrial or semi-industrial livestock raising. Instead, local pigs and chicken are raised
by free range and cattle, buffaloes are taken into the forest in the day time and caught back
31
at night. The lack of feed sources in winter is a serious problems for livestock in the region
which may result in many of animal deaths in cold weather.
The common timings for agricultural activities are shown in a crop calendar in Table 10
(appendix). There is only one crop for each kind of product in the upland area except
maize, paddy and beans in some flat land. March and April are the planting months for
almost crops in the NW a part from peanut which have 2 crops/year and starts growing in
January for first crop. The harvesting seasons are usually from August to the end of
October or begin of November each year. The land will stop producing in winter due to
cold weather in the NW, especially in Lai Chau and Lao Cai provinces where the
temperature may decrease to 0oC in some high land districts.
3.
Technology used in production system
3.1.
Machinery
The cultivation of lower land rice paddy is partly mechanized, and small tractors are used
as well as buffalos or cattle. Otherwise, most land preparation and harvesting is done using
man power or animal power (See Table 11 in the Appendix).
Post-harvest technology, and crop storage technology, is a major weak point for gaining
added value from crops (Casrad report 2012). With the exception of rice threshing
machines, processing technology is rarely if ever owned by small farmers. There are
examples of companies opening up crop processing plants and contracting farmers to
produce the required crops (for example Cassava in Son La).
Crop and Livestock Varieties
Table 12 Varieties for main crops
Product
Main varieties
Special varieties
IR 8423 (CR203); San ưu 63; Nếp Nương;
Séng Cù, ĐS1, gạo Tàu
Khau nhoi; Khang dân 18; IR 64; Iri 352; Tẻ
Bay sapa, Gạo tám
nương Mộc Châu; Q5; lúa lai F1; Bắc Thơm,
Paddy
Điện Biên, Gạo Dâu,
Hương Thơm; VL20, LC212, LC270, LC25,
nếp Ngọc Chiến
Bio404,TH3-3, TH3-4, HT1, Syn6…
LVN 184 và LVN 14, C919, LVN 25, CP 333,
LVN10, LNV61, LVN8960, LVN45, LVN14,
LVN99, NK54, LVN 25, DK8868, AG59,
Maize
LVN 885 Bioseed 9698, B06, CP888, CP3Q,
DK9901, DK9955, NK4300, NK66, NK54
KM94, KM140, KM98-5, KM98-1, SM937Cassava
26, KM98-7, SVN
ĐT 84,90,96,99, 2001, 2008, AK02, 03, M103
Soybean
Tomatoes, Cai Meo, Bap Cai Xoe, kohlrabi,
Chayote, Khoi tu, cai
cabbage, cauliflower, chayote, Khoai tang,
meo, bap cai xoe,
Vegetables
pumpkin, green gourd, Cai xoong, Khoi Tu,
Thuan Chau taro…
Tam Bop, herbs, taro, Rau Sang
French peach, pears Lao Cai, apple, plum,
Yen Chau Mango, Hau
mango, longgan, King banana, Son Tra,
Fruits
plum, local pear
Orange, lemons, pineapple, persimmon,
Cardamom, Attiso, Giao Co Lam, Tam that,
Non-timber
honey, asparagus,
products
Source: Provincial DARD’s report 2013 and KI
32
There are a large number of varieties for each crop produced in the region. For grain crops,
most of varieties are modern hybrids, desirable because of the high yields produced..
Simultaneously, the resotaation and development of special (local) products such as Seng
Cu rice, Bac Thom No 7 rice, sticky rice of Thai people is encouraged.
A large proportion of the maize grown is high-yield varieties provided by international
seed companies, namely Syngenta, CP (Charoen Pokphand), VinaSeed, Maize research
Institute. Cassava and soybean are increasingly cultivated by hybrid varieties instead of
traditional ones. They are supplied through Research Institutes of cassava, soybean through
agriculture extension systems in provincial levels and processing company such as Cassava
Powder processing company in Son La.
Apart from normal varieties of vegetables including cabbage, kohlrabi, cauliflower
cultivated in winter season, the NW is famous for a number of special vegetables that are
difficult to grow in other areas such as Khoi Tu, chayote, Cai meo, and Bap cai xoe. Some
safe vegetable production areas have been established in Lao Cai and Son La to supply to
high-quality markets in cities or even export to China. In addition, Tam Hoa plum, pear
VH6, French peach is key fruits of the region.
In addition, there are somespecial non-timber products which have great values in terms of
medicine and food preparation such as cardamom, attiso, Giao Co Lam.
3.2.
Breeding
The technologies used for livestock are not very well developed (Table 13 in Appendix).
There are not any breeding companies or agents to supply the quality young animals for
farmers in the region. As a result, they are cross-bred by locals to provide for household
demand; breeding animals can be bought in local markets of uncertainty of the quality.
Moreover, livestock rising is rarely implemented according to aa technical protocol but by
the experience of the farmer, and animal housing is low quality so that producers have to
face extensive ranges of diseases for animal. However, the veterinary systems at local level
usually do not meet the demand for raisers; therefore, the death percentage of animal is at a
high rate.
3.3.
Use of agrochemicals in production system in NW
The more hybrid varieties used in production systems, the more agrochemicals used for
crops. According to the household survey, 100% respondents except Hmong people say
that they use or have used chemicals for their cultivations. Paddy, maize and tea are main
systems used pesticides with large amount due to monoculture. Chemicals are used to
protect plants from weeds in paddy and maize fields and diseases for all crops except some
H’Mong households in Dien Bien and Lai Chau who grow local paddy without using any
pesticides.
Pesticides are used from 2 – 3 times per crop for paddy and maize, depending on diseases.
The frequency of using chemicals for normal vegetables such as cabbage and cauliflowers
is weekly from 2 weeks after planting to 3 - 4 weeks before harvesting. This also happens
for other kinds of leaf-vegetables including normal tea (not shan tea) but is not applied for
local and special vegetables including Cai Meo, Bap Cai xoe… which grow naturally.
The biggest challenge for using agrochemical is awareness of producer about the effects of
chemicals for crops. When there are any diseases occurring on the plants, farmers
immediately go to the nearest local agent to buy pesticide. The decisions made through
consultants of sellers who normally do not have any experiences in disease preventions.
Some farmers even do not ask for consulting, they just buy chemicals that are similar to the
ones the neighbor bought. Therefore, there is more than 90% of respondents do not know
33
about the name of chemicals they used for crops. Instead, they remember the color of the
bag covering pesticides. As a result, the effectiveness of disease preventions is limited.
There should be a statement on CHEMICAL FETILISER use. Check the marketing report
for detail. The main point is that fartilisers are often over applied or under applied; and that
training is inadequate, farmers often do not follow protocol (Table 14 in Appendix)
The results from Focus Group Discussion indicates that:
- The positive trend observed is that the farmers use NPK instead of nitrogenous,
phosphate and potash fertilizers in isolation.
- Majority of farmers do not use the inputs as recommended by technical officers,
especially in terms of volume, frequency and time of application.
- Farmers have had the chance to be trained with the process and techniques to use
inputs, including fertilizers and plant protection drug but their application is mainly
affected by previous habit.
- Participation in trainings on use of inputs is limited. Participants are mainly
technical officers and commune leaders. Dissemination and transfer of knowledge from
those training courses to farmers remain limited. For instance, farmers in Thuan Chau, Son
La have never been trained in vegetable farming techniques.
3.4.
Large Commercial Farms
In Vietnam, there is a special category of larger commercial farm, as opposed to familyowned small holding. The criteria for a large farm, or Chang Cha in vVietnamese, is that
the land area must be over 2.1 ha of production area for cultivation and aquaculture and a
turnover of 700 million VND a year; or 1 million VND for a livestock farm. Farm in this
category can apply for special subsidies and benefits, and are also taxed differently.
These type of farms are not common in the North West region; there are only 12 in Lao
Cai, 29 in Son La and almost zero in Dien Bien and Lai Chau.In Lao Cai, there were 12
farms in 2012, in which 3 farms raising livestock and remaining ones are aquaculture
production (Provincial Statistics Yearbooks 2012). Pig raising farms are located in Lao Cai
city while aquaculture ones are located in Sa Pa and Bat Xat district to feed salmon and
sturgeon fish. In Son La, besides, 10 aquaculture farms located along Da river and the lake
of Son La Hydropower Plant, major farms produce dairy cows in Moc Chau district. The
average size of pig raising is 150-200 pigs/producing circle so that the total revenue is
from 1 -1.5 billion compared with dairy cows farms having size of 50 - 100 cows which
generate from 1 – 1.5 billion of revenue. Especially, there are some dairy cows farms
having from 150 – 180 cows and the farms is located in the area of 5-7ha and invested with
trucks and other machines for milk production and transportation. Therefore, the income of
those farms can achieve around 100 million VND per month.
4.
Gender discussions
Women play an important role in production system, including making many major farm
decisions; but usually do not attend training workshops or other interactions with outside
the village. Firstly, they are in charge of preparing inputs and material for planting season.
The decision making process of choosing the volume and varieties of crops and animals is
based on agreement between both wife and husband in a household. Then women are taken
to buy seeds, fertilizers or breeding animals for a new production period. Works required
strength such as land preparation or pesticide spray usually belong to men. However,
women involve dominantly in taking care of all plants or animals although men are usually
received production information through participating in the training, workshop or meeting
to discuss about technical process of cultivation or raising livestock. These lead to the
34
problems of applied new technical protocols for their productions. These also resulted from
the high rate of illiteracy of ethnic women, especially for Hmong and Dao people whom
female are in charge of all housewife works so that they normally have to stay at home
instead of going to school as male. Harvesting works belong to both men and women but
transportation of agriculture product is men’s role. Interestingly, selling and marketing
activities are mostly for women who are highly appreciated by bargaining skills.
5.
Policies for production systems in NW
There are a number of policies at national level that support for agriculture development in
NW. According to Decision No. 2331/QD-TTg, farmers can get partial subsidies from the
Government through providing hybrid seeds, fertilizers, machinery (tractors, threshing
machine). These policies do not meet all the demands from the poorest people as H’Mong
people who lack motivations and knowledge to take advantage of the subsidy.
Decision No. 800/QD-TTg aims to enhance the role of agriculture extension, apply new
technical processes into production through trainings and increase investment in postharvest technology to reduce losses through reorganizing production from small holder
producers to collective groups, cooperatives or companies so that the living standard of
farmers will be improved and the poverty is gradually eliminated.
Recently, Ministry of Science and Technology issued 2 Decisions No 1847/QĐ-BKHCN
in 01/7/2013 and 1746/QĐ-BKHCN in 28/6/2013 to build the program “Science and
Technology for sustainable development for North West Vietnam”. These create legal
frameworks and funding for agriculture research and development.
At provincial levels, each province has supporting policies for two aspects: strengthening
local commercial products having comparative through trainings or providing inputs; and
supporting subsistence crops through providing advice services.
Table 15 Products having provincial policy supports
Lao Cai
Paddy, corn,
soybean, sweet
potato, potato.
Grains
Tea
Tropical
and vegetables and
fruits (plum,
pears)
Industrial plants
Vegetables
fruits
Son La
Hybrid
paddy, pure
paddy, potato,
cassava, corn.
Rubber
Dien Bien
Lai Chau
Paddy, corn,
potato.
Hybrid paddy,
pure paddy,
corn, soybean.
Tropical
vegetables
and fruits
Types of
vegetables,
banana
Buffalo, cow,
pig
Rubber
Livestock
Cattle
Buffalo
Aquaculture
3 blood hybrid
carp, tilapia
Green
crayfish, carp, tilapia
Non-timber
Cardamom
Son Tra
products
Source KI, provincial level documents 2013
Cardamom
Rubber, tea
Fruit trees
(orange,
tangerine,
peach)
Big cattle
Fish living in
cold water
environment
Cardamom
These policies normally achieve excellent results at the beginning due to the scale of
application. However, it is hard for farmers, especially poor households to fully follow
35
technical process which require high investments and techniques. Therefore, the number of
producers benefit from supporting policies are still limited.
Provincial governments also provide incentives for private companies to set up contract
farming models which provide small holders with seed, inputs and training; contract to buy
the products; and processing plants are set up in the province. For example tea companies
in Lao Cai, Son La, Lai Chau, and cassava in Son La.
6.
Conclusions and recommendations
The main findings are:
 A diverse range of crops can be grown in the area, including staple crops, cash
crops, vegetabels, fruits, livestock and NTFPs.
 The farming systems can be conceptualized as above 800m and below 800m; and
belonging to four degrees of slope.
 Soil erosion, and degradation on sloping land and the weakness of irrigation
systems are critical issues which lead to a reduction in yield for crops in the NW of
Vietnam.
 Food security is promoted in the region, and high volumes of rice and maize result.
 The main cash crops come from perennial trees such as tea and coffees and
temperate fruits; as well as vegetables.
 Livestock contributes a relatively small parts of income for producers, and the
vetinary system is inadequate.
 The income from non-timber products is important for ethnic people who live at
high altitude.
 The use of chemicals in production system without instructions and training may
result in inefficiency in plant protection.
 Hybrid varieties are grown for the higher yields
 Many local varieties exist and some are already successful in the market.
Recommedations
 Expand cash crops to increase producers’ income by technical trainings and credits
supports.
 Encourge bulding the production areas for procesing companies such as tea in Son
La, Lao Cai and Lai Chau, coffee in Son La..
 Provide techniques of cultivation on sloping land and encourge crops integrations
to reduce soil erosion and land degradation.
 Develop endegenous and local special products to take comparative advantages of
geographic and biology conditions in the NW region
 Increase crop rotation to enhance economic effectiveness of production systems
 Promote collective actions to strenthen power for small scale farmers and reduce
the cost of production
 Support the role of women in production system through providing education and
trainings
References
1.
2.
3.
4.
Son La Statistics Yearbook 2012, Statistical Publisher, 2013
Lao Cai Statistics Yearbook 2012, Statistical Publisher, 2013
Lai Chau Statistics Yearbook 2012, Statistical Publisher, 2013
Dien Bien Statistics Yearbook 2012, Statistical Publisher, 2013
36
5. Investigation on Agriculture, Rural and Aquaculture in Son La 2011, General
Statistics Office of Vietnam, 2012.
6. Investigation on Agriculture, Rural and Aquaculture in Lao Cai 2011, General
Statistics Office of Vietnam, 2012.
7. Investigation on Agriculture, Rural and Aquaculture in Lai Chau 2011, General
Statistics Office of Vietnam, 2012.
8. Investigation on Agriculture, Rural and Aquaculture in Dien Bien 2011, General
Statistics Office of Vietnam, 2012.
9. ICRAF 2012, ‘Diagnosis of farming systems in the Agroforestry for Livelihoods
off Smallholder farmers in Northwestern Viet Nam project’, AFLI Technical
Report No. 2
10. CASRAD 2012, ‘value chains research on temperate fruits, maize and other crops
based on maize and temperate fruits systems’, ACIAR project - AGB 2008.
11. CASRAD 2011, ‘Increasing the safe production, promotion and utilisation of
indigenous vegetables by women in Vietnam and Australia’, ACIAR project CP/2006/112
12. CASRAD 2013, ‘Son La beef value chain research’, ACIAR project.
13. CASRAD 2013, ‘Farming systems in Hoang Lien National Park – Lao Cai’, Project
of enhancing biology tourism and capacity building for Hoang Lien National Park,
2013.
37
ANNEXES
Table 1: Summary information about North West
Item
Unit
No of household surveyed
Household
No of people
Person/household
Labour
Person/household
Rice consumption
kg/person/year
Rice production
kg/person/year
Total revenue
1000 VND/person/year
Area of annual crops
m2/person
Area of perennial crops
m2/person
Area of garden
m2/person
Area of forestry
m2/person
Area of aquaculture
m2/person
Source: VHLSS 2010
Table 2: Production area of main crops in NW in 2012 (ha)
Lào Cai
Sơn La
Lai Châu
Paddy
30,580
60,470
28,790
Maize
33,659
168,740
21,410
Cassava
9,305
28,100
4,360
Soybean
4,910
3,595
Peanut
1,497
1,718
Sugarcane
302
4656
58
Sweet potatoes
888
417
410
Vegetables
10,032
5,518
2,229
Mango
345
3,033
253
Orange
236
149
Apple
54
Longan
1,402
7,438
253
Plum
2,552
Banana
1,287
276
Coffee
9,717
Tea
4,075
3,499
2,802
Rubber
583
6,666
9,741
Son Tra
2,192
Cardamom
8871
5,000
Source: Provincial statistic yearbooks 2012
Quantity
348
4.7
2.7
162.0
168.4
9,916.9
1,927.3
93.7
83.6
3,053.0
21.2
Điện Biên
48,231
29,246
7,036
6,573
1,750
27
592.4
4,274
289
214
54
299
3,708
521
3,640
38
Table 3: Volume of main crops in NW in 2012 (tons)
Lào Cai
Sơn La
Lai Châu
Điện Biên
Paddy
146,203
178,960
119,277
161,865
Maize
115,619
667,350
57,978
71,622
Cassava (fresh)
115,056
352,610
35,547
54,406
Soybean
5213
4,621
8,810
Peanut
1,692
1,750
2,146
Sugarcane
7,813
313,488
2,650
560
Sweet potatoes
5,067
2,564
2180
6,508
Vegetables
105,954
71,597
14,083
64,803
Mango
844
11,687
320
591
Orange
670
339
923
Apple
246
270
Longan
3972
17,827
320
907
Plum
18,381
Banana
25902
3,153
Coffee
9,969
4532.3
Tea
13708
23,903
19,599
61
Cardamom
1254
1000
Source: Provincial statistic yearbooks 2012
Table 4: Yield of main crops in NW (tons/ha)
Lào Cai
Sơn La
Lai Châu
Điện Biên
Paddy
4.781
2.959
4.143
3.356
Maize
3.435
3.955
2.708
2.449
Cassava
12.365
12.548
8.153
7.733
Soybean
1.062
1.285
1.340
Peanut
1.130
1.019
1.226
Sugarcane
25.871
67.330
45.690
21.132
Sweet potatoes
5.706
6.149
5.317
10.986
Vegetables
10.562
12.975
6.318
15.161
Mango
2.446
3.853
1.265
2.046
Orange
2.839
2.275
4.313
Apple
4.556
5.000
Longan
2.833
2.397
1.265
3.033
Plum
7.203
Banana
20.126
11.416
Coffee
1.026
1.222
Tea
3.364
6.831
6.995
0.116
Source: Provincial statistic yearbooks 2012
39
Table 10 Seasonal calendar of key species at the study sites
No.
of
Elevation
Plant
Location
crop
Jan
Feb
Mar
(masl)
species
seasons
Maize
1
Peanut
1
C1
Bean
2
< 800
Son La
> 800
< 800
Dien Bien
Hill rice
Cassava
Sugar cane
Coffee
Paddy
Arrowroot
Maize
Hill rice
Maize
Peanut
Bean
Hill rice
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
2
1
1
Paddy rice
2
P
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
C2
P
C1
C2
C1
C2
C1
Maize
1
Peanut
1
Hill rice
1
> 800
cassava
1
Coffee
1
P
P
Shan tea
1
P
P
P
Note: P= planting; C1 = first crop season; C2 = second crop season Source:
C2
KI, Focus group discussion 2013
40
Jan
Table 11: Technology used in cultivating
Land
Product
Growing
Post-harvest
preparation
Mainly use fertilizers and
Use buffalo and
pesticide, use very little of
cattle for traction
Paddy
manure
Partly
use
Apply traditional cultivation
machine
method
of
processing
Mostly use fertilizers and Lack
technologies
pesticide
In some region, no use of any Mainly dry in the field
Maize
Labor
and store by hanging
fertilizer
Not strictly apply Technical over the kitchen
Protocol (TP) for hybrid maize
Cassava, Use buffalo and
Partly apply TP
soybean, cattle for traction
Use fertilizer
vegetable + labor
Use fertilizer
Produce by experiences
Fruits
Some
processing
cooperatives
Tea,
Labor
Mainly apply TP, use fertilizers
coffee
Source: Focus group discussion 2013
Table 13: Technology used for livestock
Product
Breeds
Raising
Raising by experiences, veterinary services provided
Self-breeding
or
but there are many diseases
Cattle
buying in local
Mainly using animal’s house
Using animal’s house + free raising
Local pigs
Self-breeding
Hybrid pigs
Mostly
buying Using animal’s house + industrial feeds and other feeds
young pigs
Not strictly apply Technical Protocol
Using available feeds
No use of industrial feeds
Poultry
Self-breeding
By experiences
Source: Focus group discussion 2013
Table 14: Actual use of inputs for some key crops (on 1 hectare)
Rice
Maize
Item
Unit
Recom
Actual mended**
Actual Instructed*
Seeds
Kg
40-50
30-35
15-20
15-20
Nitrogenous
400fertilizer
Kg
500
360-400
Chayote
Actual
Instructed*
300-320
300-500
400
41
Phosphate fertilizer
Potash fertilizer
NPK
(basal
dressing)
NPK (top dressing)
Micro-organic
fertilizer
Pesticide
(ready for use)
Kg
Kg
Ton
Ton
150200
0
1
0.6-0.7
0.6
0.6-0.7
500-600
250
180-200
130
0.9-1
0.8-1.0
Ton
Litre
0.3-0.4
0.4-0.5
50100
25-50
1.5-2
0
150-180
Source: Survey results by FAVRI in 2013
* http://baovecaytrong.com/kythuatcaytrong.php?caytrongkythuat=%
** Rice growing technique instruction by Syngenta Agricultural Medicine Company.
-
-
-
-
-
Key findings of production systems
Main crops
+ Grain crops: mostly for subsistence purpose except for maize in Son La
+ Cash crops: mostly perennial crops plus maize in Son La
Agriculture zones: Slopes and altitudes
+ Diversified crops (in low, middle, high elevation)
+ Potential to increase crop rotation
+ Specially, local varieties are priority for development
 Erosion problems
 Water scarcity/irrigation issues
 Negative climate change impacts
Technologies
+ use machines for land preparation
+ applied hybrid varieties to increase yield
 Lack of processing techniques
 Inappropriate chemical uses
Economic effectiveness
+ Some crops are high profitable
 Cost of inputs is also high
Farms: + the number of farms are small
Number of policies support for production systems (through subsidies, trainings)
Women are main actors in the systems but men involve more in the training/education
Proposed maps
1 Agro-Ecological Zones: Altittude and Slope
3 altitude categories : above 1500m , 1500<800m, <800m
4 slope
Steep
Moderate steep
Flat
Flat (< 5o)
o
(> 15 )
(5–15o)
42
Also try to include ethnic minority locations.
2. Main Commodities
Main Cropping Systems.
Include special examples such as off season vegetables and desired systems like fruit tre
es, dairy cattle, safe vegetables…
3. Yield Map
Map Yields for some key crops – e.g. Maize and Rice Paddy
Useful in site selection for interventions – choose low yielding locations.
4. Varieties (crops and possibly livestock?)
Where are modern hybrid varieties grown
Where are special local varieties grown
MARKETS & INSTITUTIONS
The topic of this section is a general picture about the consumption, supply of inputs and
services, and distribution for agricultural, forest and aquatic products. The participation of State
officials and market institutions in setting and implementing marketing policies is also
documented.
III. RESEARCH RESULTS
3.1. Market demand and structure
By observing market, visiting traditional markets and reviewing households’meals the
research team find that essencial commodities of researched provinces are rice, vegetable, fruit,
pork, chicken, beef, shrimp, fish, tea and alcohol. They are indispensable foods in daily meals of
households in 4 provinces. See Table 1 for the latest statistics of year 2012: consumption of
fruits and vegetables is low whereas average per capita consumption of alcohol is relatively high;
alcohol is considered as a staple in the household food basket in the provinces under study.
Table 1: Level of consumption of key commodities in four provinces studied
(Average per capita per month) (2012)
Name of products
Units
Lao Cai
Dien Bien
Lai Chau
Son La
Rice
Kg
12.27
11.13
12.83
13.07
Vegetables
Kg
1.73
1.28
0.83
1.28
Fruits
Meat
Shrimp, fish
Tea, coffee
Alcohol, beer
Kg
Kg
Kg
Kg
Litre
0.37
0.35
0.22
0.99
1.81
1.52
1.34
1.35
0.79
0.73
0.65
0.93
0.1
0.07
0.06
0.06
0.79
0.97
0.99
1.1
Source: Statistical yearbook of provinces in 2013
The balance between quantity of production and consumption is reflected in figure 2 (and
in Annex1). We see that rice and products from livestock (except cows and buffaloes) produced
43
are just sufficient to satisfy consumption. For other products such as fruits, vegetables, tea,
coffee, they can sell to other provinces and export to other countries. For aquatic products, they
are also deficiency for consumption in the provinces, especially for Son La province.
Figure 2: Map of four provinces with differences in demand and production for rice,
vegetable, meats, aquaculture, tea-coffee.
In addition to the essential commodities above, many other products are known as
speciality of the areas, as detailed below.
For paddy-rice products
Rice is main feeding crop therefore all the 4 provinces pay much attention in developing
rice field and follow the government policy of stabilizing planting area and improving
productivity and quality.
In recent periods, production of rice in 4 provinces has mostly increased. Rice produced ensures
consumption needs in Dien Bien, Lai Chau and Lao Cai Provinces. The quantity of rice produced
in Son La province lacks consumption by about 60,000 tons per year. Indigenous households
lack rice in 2-3 months each year. It must be purchased from delta region for consumption.
Particular, in Dien Bien province, there is famous rice products in Dien Bien district that are sold
in market: “Bac Thom number 7”, “nep tan” (sticky), “te dau”…Main markets of these products
are Son La, Hanoi, Hai Phong… However, nowadays, there are numerous traders who take
advantage of Dien Bien reputation and mix Nam Dinh rice and Southern rice to sell to market;
Tourist in Dien Bien could buy about 30% the right rice products produced in Dien Bien.
Therefore, the problem is how to protect rice products with a label referring to the Dien Bien
geographical area.
For vegetable products
Son La and Lao Cai province have great potentials for vegetable production.
Recently, thanks to support from some projects of ACIAR there, number of safe
vegetable production areas with high quality are establish to supply for Lao Cai, Son La, and
Hanoi, focused on cross-season and indigenous vegetable. Therefore, there are two marketing
channels for vegetables: normal and safe (with lower quantities of chemical pesticide used)
vegetable chains. Especially, Moc Chau district, Son La province has successfully established
linkage between vegetable producers and distributors- shops/stalls and supermarkets in Hanoi;
that is potential to develop vegetable industry in Son La and NorthWest; and from these two
areas, establishing group, collectives of safe vegetable production, however they are mainly in
small scales. These models operate more efficient than normal households’production in same
area thus vegetable’s price is 1,000–2,000 vnd/kg higher for safe vegetables (depend on types of
vegetable). Actors participate in vegetable value chain are mostly producing households and
indigenous traders; these traders take responsibility of vegetable collecting, wholesaling, and
transporting. Transportation agencies are normally private and use a normal truck; no one use
refrigerated trucks. Introducing products to large market is easier than in the past because the
highway system has improved a lot; however, there is difficulty in packaging that makes
vegetable crushed. Currently, farmers have not participated in training on harvesting technique
and products preservation, therefore, in summer, leafy vegetable products like H’mong mustard
or choysom transported to Hanoi are withered and waning.
For fruit products
In 4 studied provinces, Son La is home of a large number of fruits with the high quality
and high yield. In that, mango and plum are strength products in Son La.
44
For livestock products
Breeding poultry and pigs is undertaken in the four provinces. In addition to that,
breeding cattle is also developed in Son La and Dien Bien provinces, especially for buffaloes and
cows, which are two strength products. Most products produced from livestock are not only
sufficient for consumption in the province, but also sold to other provinces.
For maize products
For all of 4 provinces, farmers develop production of maize, especially in Son La
province. Son La is the highest maize production of the studied provinces, about 6 times higher
than Lao Cai, Dien Bien, and Lai Chau. Maize products produced in Son La are mainly supplied
to enterprises in livestock sector in the province such as CP Thailand joint venture company and
some food enterprises in Hung Yen and km 29 on the Ha Noi–Son La road. For 3 other
provinces, maize production has increased slightly through recent periods, maize products
produced meet local consumption demand for domestic animal feed.
For tea products
Tea is also one of strength commodities of the studied provinces, especially Lao Cai and
Son La has tea products for export. Around tea production area, there are processing
companies/factories nearby raw material area. Despite of main distribution channel through
company, producers also sell tea to local collectors and mini kiln. Tea products from company
are consumed domestically; a small proportion is exported to main market like Central Asia,
Taiwan, Japan.... Products from mini kiln are often of lower quality and are consumed within and
outside provinces.
For cardamon products
Cardamon production in Lai Chau has the highest increase: 13,39%/year due to the
province having stable export market in China.
Cardamon selling mainly depends on provincial agencies, and this channel handles 45%
of cardamom exported to China. These amount of cardamom were dried by producers, then the
provincial agencies have purchase them for export. Cardamon consumed in other provinces are
mainly dry (90%), fresh cardamom are also sold within provinces.
A summary of the different distribution channels of agricultural products is shown in
Figure 3.
45
Producers
Consumers
Chart 1: Direct
distribution channel
Prod
ucers
Retailers
Wholesale
rs
Retailers
Collectors/age
ncies
Wholesalers
Co
nsu
mer
s
Retailers
Chart 2: Indirect distribution channel
Producer
Collect
ing
agenci
es
Provinci
al
collectin
Processi
ng
Exporting
Consumer
s
Figure 1: Summary of product distribution channels in North-West region
Thus, products locally distributed through short channel such as rice, vegetables, fruits,
maize, cassava and tea have given the producers the chance to sell their agricultural products
directly to the consumers. Producers have a higher income while the consumers are better
informed of the product origin. For this direct channel, there are two types of customers. They
are (i) local people and (ii) tourists. According to a research on “Potential assessment of
production of commercial vegetables in Son La and Dien Bien province”, these consumers are
credited with “promoting” Northwestern vegetable products and they are the very persons who
have brought vegetable products home and made them known to others. This means as long as
the customers are provided with quality products, they will help raise the products’ reputation
and vice versa. Products sold through long channels, from a social perspective, have attracted a
lot of agents, including collectors at commune, district and provincial level, food processing
establishments or retailers of rice, maize, fruits, tea and coffee etc. This form of sale benefits
more actors and helps meet the needs of more customers outside the province or outside the
country. For example, safe vegetable channel has catered to the need of safe and quality food of
Hanoi people; collectors and retailers also make profit out of sales of these products and
producers enjoy a more regular and stable income. However, the fact is that the division of
benefits among agents is normally not fair (Source: Research results of the AGB/2006/112
46
project, 2011). The most beneficial is too often the intermediaries while the producers take the
least proportion of benefit. In order to give the producers more benefit in terms of value and
stability in sales, the connection between producers and processing companies and factories and
retailing businesses such as supermarkets and convenient shops is essential.
There is no bartering of agricultural commodity in the study sites at this time.
Table 2 shows the different markets of the product value chains of the four provinces
studied in the Northwest Vietnam.
Table 2: Market for Vietnamese North-western products
Products
In-province
Rice
x
Vegetables
x
Fruits
x
Corn
x
Cassava
x
Tea
x
Coffee
Milk
x
Buffalo, Cow
x
Fish
x
Cardamom
Note: x: small rate; X: Mainly
Market
Out-province
Export
X
Few
X
Few (Laos)
X
China (Green plum)
X
X
China (Cassava starch)
X
Japan, Taiwan, Central Asia
X
X
X
X
X
China
Map of 4 provinces showing locations and numbers of official market places (cho’)
Regarding the domestic market, most market activaties takes place in the market on
market days. Sale in supermarkets and Commercial centers has been lately introduced in the
provinces studied and only focuses in major cities and towns. Number of supermarkets and
Commercial Centers is limited: only 4 in Son La, 2 in Lai Chau, 2 in Dien Bien and 2 in Lao Cai
meet the standard. Distribution of local products mainly takes place in markets while household
goods and appliances see bigger sales in supermarkets and shopping centers. At the moment, no
supermarkets or Commercial Centers sell fruits and vegetables in the provinces under study.
Points of collection of farming produce such as maize, cassava, vegetables and fruits are formed
right in the production area, independent of market days.
Price trend of major products of the localities
According to a survey on the price change of some commodities in the provinces, the
price of common commodities such as rice does not change much or fluctuates slightly. Price of
other commodities tends to increase, especially that of vegetables and fruits. Pork has witnessed
a more complicated development of price change and the price disparity is also the biggest (at
least 1.5 times from 2010 to 2012). Between 2010-2011, beef price increased slightly and soared
between 2011-2012. The price of beef fillet is about 240,000 VND/kg and such price is high in
comparison with that of imported beef. Price of maize, cassava, tea and coffee is unstable and on
a declining trend. Price of maize increases early in the harvest season but goes down at the end
of harvesting season. The coffee price is under the impact of international and national market
and tends to go down.
3.2. Provision of inputs and services, key players and their roles
3.2.1. Participants in supply of inputs and services in four provinces
47
According to informations collected from discussions with function departments in local
and observations in fact, we see that there are many different objects involved in supply activities
of materials and inputs for agricultural production (Table 3).
Table 3: Main actors participating in supply chain of inputs and services in four
provinces studied
Actors
Lao Cai
Dien Bien
Lai Chau
Son La
State enterprise
x
x
x
x
Private enterprise (registered)
x
x
x
x
Research Institution, University
x
Programme, Project
Private enterprise (non-registered)
Total
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
168
125
NA*
350
NA*: no data
Source: Report of Sub-department of Plant Protection in 4 provinces, 2012
For inputs of production, farmers have some problems of accessing good quality at
village level and main objects supplying inputs to farmers are State enterprises and
private enterprises in all of 4 provinces. And for good quality, packaging is not
appropriate for smallholder’s needs.
3.2.2. Role of the State and other officials in managing supply of inputs and services to
agriculture
The Department of plant protection of the provincial Department of agriculture and rural
development are in charge of distributing inputs and services to farmers like extension advice on
which inputs to use. However, their staff’s number and capacity is low.
3.3. Commodity policies and legal environment
Table 4 presents various activities undertaken by public bodies to develop agricultural
value chains in the four provinces under study.
Province
Lao Cai
Table 4: Public policies and development activities related to trade promotion in
agriculture, forestry and aquaculture in 4 provinces studied
Building
Trade promotion
Designing scheme/project/plan to
brandname of
develop trade
agricultural
commodity
Develop trade activities based on the
advantage of ‘linkage’ location of Lao
Cai in economic corridor of KunmingHanoi - Hai Phong.
Vegetable, fruit, Organize 14 trade fairs in
tea, cardamom, province; 71 upland fairs;
fish
Participate in 4 national
trade fairs;
Develop
48
cardamom and tea chain.
Provincial program of trade promotion in
2013-2015; Attract investor to build
trading centre, supermarket to promote
consumption and to sell local products.
Son La
Đien
Bien
Support
organizations,
individuals
participating in trade promotion activities
to expand production scale and market
Lai Chau
Develop convenience store, supermarket
and trading centre that sell agricultural
products; Establish agricultural products
wholesale market; Develop direct
distribution channel of agricultural
products that trading is built by contract
among famers, merchants and consumers
with great consumption demand.
Vegetable, milk, Organize 5 agricultural
crataegus, taro… fairs
with
17
300
participants.
Print and publish 78 000
production & market
newsletters with
260
numbers of newsletters
provided to communes,
extension club in the
province.
Dien Bien rice
Cardamom
In 2013, organize 7 trade
fairs;
participate
in
frontier trade fair between
Vietnam
–
Laos;
participate in trade fair to
introduce products in
Tuyen Quang, Lang Son
and Lao Cai.
In 2011 – 2013 period:
Organize 36 trade fairs at
district and commune
level; Participate in 3 fairs
in Lao Cai, Dien Bien and
Bac Ninh.
Source: Survey and desk review result
Sources of credit for agriculture are limited in each province. Therefore, lending is low
and does not meet production needs, especially for livestock activities (Decision 32/2007/QĐTTg). Support policies are mainly focused on production. Policies on trade promotion and
market expansion are still limited and not well targeted: they are organized at the provincial level
for larger agribusinesses rather than for smallholder farm households and small and medium
enterprises in rural communities.
Their capacity on business management is inadequate. Current marketing system includes private
collectors come to farm gate and pay cash, so convenient. They would like capacity building to
set up marketing collective groups more successful in inputs supply because can pool funds to
buy inputs together. Expand on value chain with success stories of niche value chain.
About policy of exporting products: Analyze why some products have managed to
export, does bring more income than local markets. Export by big companies, so it creates the
stable channel for farmers. But in these exportings, they also need to follow quality criteria of
49
products. Informal export market to China, farmers can distribute their products with large
quantities but risky. Statistics don’t show internal trade.
3.4. Farmer Groups, collective forms and the role of gender
3.4.1. Farmer groups and collective forms
Box 1: Dairy value chain vertical integration – the Moc Chau dairy breeds joint stock
company
This dairy firm in Son La Province plays a key role in the investment in cow breeds, capital,
breeding techniques, ensuring the market to distribute products and organize overall chain
management. This is a model of closed chain of the production, processing, marketing and
delivery for dairy products. Thus, this model will be successful if enterprises have good
organizing methods and products with a stable market. Farmers participating in the enterprise
contribute shares equal to the value of land use rights they hold.
Box 2: Collaboration of actors in the agricultural sector
New models of horizontal integration by farmers have appeared recently; these are
complemented by long-term business links between producers and agribusinesses. Typically,
these are new models of cooperatives and cooperative groups such as the 19/5 agricultural
cooperative in Moc Chau, Son La, Hoa Dao cooperative in Lao Cai, Quyet Tam cooperative
in Than Uyen, Lai Chau, etc. These cooperatives undertake to provide production services
including inputs for farm households such as supplying materials, fertilizers, feed ingredients
for breeding animals, plant protection chemicals and vaccination for livestocks, poultry.
These cooperatives are also the bridge between enterprises and farmers; they represent and
protect the rights of the farmer members in contracting to supply raw materials for processing
enterprises and to export agricultural products. For many cooperatives, their level of revenue
currently is ten billion VND per year. Through the support of cooperatives, economic
conditions of households always develop and the lives of farmers are improved. In the
movement of new rural construction at present, the role and contribution of agricultural
service cooperatives are very meaningful.
The farmers’ collaborative groups described in Boxes 1 and 2 achieve good results in
terms of production and marketing but these have only been established in some localities.
Formal cooperatives mainly operate in the field of supplying inputs and services for production
(Table 5).
Table 5: Number of collaborative farmers’ groups and cooperatives operating in the field
of agriculture and agricultural services in the provinces under study
Province/Form
Lao Cai
Dien Bien
Lai Chau
Son La
Collaborative farmers’
groups
733
138
143
Cooperatives
45
57
83
50
Source: Final report of 5 years cooperation from 2006 to 2010. Orientations and tasks for 20112015 period in association with the construction of new rural areas in Lao Cai province,
Report on farm economy in Son La province in 2013,
http://thoibaokinhdoanh.vn/441/news-detail/720876/tin-hop-tac/phat-trien-htx-trong-xay-dungnong-thon-moi-o-lai-chau.html
Collaborative farmers’ groups and cooperatives in the study sites have taken their roles
very well. They bring many benefits to individuals and society: creating jobs, increasing income
and suggesting new forms of organizations in production and distribution of products.
However, collaborative farmers’ groups and cooperatives have still many limitations:
- Cooperatives and collaborative farmers’ groups have developed slowly and are
unevenly distributed across the provinces. Collaborative action has often appeared and is
currently concentrated in a few key districts that develop agricultural products; there are few
such collective activities in districts that are less developed.
- The number of cooperatives operating effectively are very limited: only about 30%.
Approximately 10% of cooperatives operate badly and are overly formal (Vietnam Cooperative
Alliance).
- Revenue and profit of many cooperatives are very low so the income of cooperative
members is low and encouragement for cooperative officers and employees equally low to
commit to the cooperative in the long-term.
- Organizing ability of administrative personnels is limited, they are not trained fully.
- Generally, cooperative economy has not confirmed its role and position in the economy
markedly at present
3.4.2. Role of ethnic minorities in markets and institutions
The participation of different ethnic groups in value chain activities in four provinces is
tabulated in Table 7.
Table 6: Participation in chain activities by ethnicity
Products
Chain activities
Production
Collected in
Collected in
village/commune
district/agent
(Sold in
village/commune
center*)
Rice
- Kinh
- Kinh (majority)
- Kinh
-Ethnic
- Ethnic minority
minority
(small percentage)
- Kinh (large - Kinh (majority)
- Kinh
scale,
Vegetables majority)
-Ethnic
- Ethnic minority
minority
(small percentage)
(Small scale,
small
percentage)
Fruits
- Kinh (large - Kinh (majority)
- Kinh
scale,
Collected in
province/provi
ncial agent
Export
- Kinh
- Kinh
- Kinh
- Kinh
- Kinh
- Kinh
51
majority)
Ethnic - Ethnic minority
minority
(small percentage)
(Small scale,
small
percentage)
Maize
- Kinh
- Kinh (majority)
- Kinh
- Kinh
- Kinh
-Ethnic
minority
- Ethnic minority
(small percentage)
- Kinh
- Kinh (majority)
- Kinh
- Kinh
- Kinh
Cassava
-Ethnic
minority
- Ethnic minority
(small percentage)
- Kinh
- Kinh (majority)
- Kinh
- Kinh
- Kinh
Tea
-Ethnic
minority
- Ethnic minority
(small percentage)
- Kinh
- Kinh (majority)
- Kinh
- Kinh
- Kinh
Coffee
-Ethnic
minority
- Ethnic minority
(small percentage)
- Kinh
- Kinh (majority)
- Kinh
- Kinh
- Kinh
Cardamom -Ethnic
minority
- Ethnic minority
(small percentage)
Source: Results from focus group discussions, household surveys and market visits.
As can be seen in the table, the participation of ethnic minority people mainly goes
around production and collection stage in village/commune. The collection of products at district
and provincial level and export agents are dominated by Kinh people. Such collection at higher
level and at agents requires larger capital. Among ethnic minorities, Thai people are more active
and effective in production and collection of vegetables and fruits. This facilitates their being
better engaged in different stages of the chain.
3.4.3. Women and Youths
Youth is an integral part of the workforce. The State of Vietnam always has had priority
policies for knowledge development of youth in the mountainous area. As a large force and
having the highest capacity, youth groups are active in developing the province. In all of 4
provinces studied, there are also youth movements such as Youths producing well, Youths
actively participating in poverty reduction, Youths building new rural areas, etc. All activities
have been performed within the mandate of the Youth Union. However, there is no form of
youth organization of agricultural production and business on a larger scale.
52
Besides youths, women are always priority and interested subjects in all of fields. Not
only playing the role of caring for their family, but also women participate in productive
activities, social activities ... Women involved mainly in vegetables and maize production.
However, for women from ethnic minorities, their participation in the manufacturing sector is
limited, their life was confined by many obsolete procedures. In production, the participation
rates of men and women are equal in Son La and Dien Bien. However, in phases such as
preparing land, the participation of men is twice that of women. Only in Thuan Chau, where the
force of men focuses on other jobs or families with special circumstances, the women still have
to take on a major role in all stages of production. During harvest, the roles of men and women
are the same, the participation rate of men is 43.79%, women’s is 56.21% (Source: Results of
group discussions - Research on scope of the commercial vegetable production in Son La and
Dien Bien, 2013 (sponsored by AVRDC) (Belongings Humidtropics Project). Due to
characteristics of gender, the distribution of agricultural products is largely undertaken by
women. Many women involved in small-scale marketing. Participation rate of women in this
stage is nearly 4 times more than the one of men. Thus, the average level of total time involved
from production to distribution by women is about 2 times higher than by men. From that, we
can see the important role of women in agricultural production.
Women also play the important role of preparing daily meals for their family. Women
make decisions in choosing foods (about 78%) and fully prepare daily meals for their family.
However, with about 22% of the remaining part, men also make decisions in choosing foods
such as decisions on slaughtering chicken, purchasing beef, drinking alcohol, etc. However,
women still face many difficulties due to the general condition of the Northwest region,
especially women from ethnic minorities. The latter are still bound by many obsolete customs;
their skills of communication using the language of the dominant Kinh ethnicity are limited; they
have difficulties in expanding their social relationships.
The distribution of activities in the agricultural value chains across men, women and young
persons is showed in Table 7.
Table 7: Role of gender in distribution of agricultural value chain activities in the four provinces
studied.
Production
Village collection and sales District collection
Province level Export
Different products
Ethnicity
Activities
Kinh (n=20)
Minority ethnicity (n=20)
Average
Men
Women
Men
Women
Men
Women
1. Production
70.00
30.00
28.33
71.67
49.17
50.83
- Soil
preparation
90
10
30
70
60
40
- Planting
70
30
25
75
47.5
52.5
- Cultivating
50
50
30
70
40
60
2. Harvesting
50
50
50
50
50
50
3. Selling
50
50
0
100
25
75
Average
56.67
43.33
26.11
73.89
41.39
58.61
From the table above, we see that the participation of men and women in production activities
for each ethnicity is very different. For Kinh ethnic group, the "equality" is performed more,
53
ame of
roduct
s
particularly men are responsible for strenuous works. For minority ethnic groups, women are still
main labors in the household.
Great potential to build institutions and organizations arsured niche value chain of specific local
products.
Specialized organizations such as the Youth Union and the Women's Union have
groomed talented individuals and achieved successes in all of fields of development.
REFERENCES
1. Final report of 5 years cooperation from 2006 to 2010, orientations and tasks for 2011-2015
period in association with the construction of new rural areas in Lao Cai province.
2. Report on farm economy in Son La province in 2013.
3. Report of Industrial and Trade Department in Lao Cai.
4. Report of Industrial and Trade Department in Dien Bien.
5. Report of Industrial and Trade Department in Lai Chau.
6. Report of Industrial and Trade Department in Son La.
7. Report of Sub-department of Plant Protection in Lao Cai.
8. Report of Sub-department of Plant Protection in Dien Bien.
9. Report of Sub-department of Plant Protection in Lai Chau.
10. Report of Sub-department of Plant Protection in Son La.
11. Statistical yearbook of provinces in 2013.
12. Statistical yearbook of Lao Cai in 2012, 2013.
13. Statistical yearbook of Dien Bien in 2012, 2013.
14. Statistical yearbook of Lai Chau in 2012, 2013.
15. Statistical yearbook of Son La in 2012, 2013.
16. http://baovecaytrong.com/kythuatcaytrong.php?caytrongkythuat=%.
17. http://baodientu.chinhphu.vn/Home/Hoi-nghi-toan-quoc-danh-gia-chinh-sach-vung-dan-tocva-mien-nui/20134/166166.vgp).
18. http://thoibaokinhdoanh.vn/441/news-detail/720876/tin-hop-tac/phat-trien-htx-trong-xaydung-nong-thon-moi-o-lai-chau.html.
ANNEX 1
Balance of production and consumption in of agricultural products in the four provinces
studied (2012)
Lao Cai
Dien Bien
Lai Chau
Units
1000
ce
tons
egetabl 1000
tons
1000
uits
tons
Dema
nd
Outpu
t
Differenc
e
95.45
97.619
*
2.17
13.46
105.95
2.88
-
Deman
d
Output
Differen
ce
69.36
105.793
*
36.43
92.49
7.98
64.8
56.82
-
2.18
Deman
d
Outpu Differen
t
ce
Dema
nd
62.08
76.782
*
11.47
177.9
4.02
14.09
10.07
17.42
1.06
13.48
54
ypes of
eat
hrimp,
h
ea,
ffee
cohol,
er
1000
tons
1000
tons
1000
tons
1000
litre
14.08
29.72
15.64
9.47
14.3
4.83
6.48
6.9
0.42
18.38
6.15
3.624
-2.52
4.55
1.6
-2.95
3.14
1.51
-1.63
12.66
0.78
14.1
13.32
0.44
4.5
4.06
0.29
19.6
19.31
0.82
6145.6
-
-
6.04
-
-
4.79
-
-
14.97
Section 4: Natural resource management and the environment
Truong Quoc Can, Hoang Quoc Chinh and Nguyen Trong Khanh
The Northwest of Vietnam is a mountainous region which comprises of steep mountain ranges,
highland, and dense river system. Most mountain ranges run diagonally from north-west to
south-east, turning the land into scattered fields and valleys. With a dispersing network of small
rivers and streams running through high mountains forest, it functions as the upstream of major
rivers in the country. The Northwest region is also located on the tropical monsoon belt. The
complex topography condition and the typical tropical climatic definition, with four distinctive
seasons basically determine rich natural resources of the region.
This section presents utilization of natural resources in agriculture and forestry, as well as
discussion on the interaction between agricultural practices and natural resources and
environment, identifying the issues relating natural resource management and draw initial
recommendations for sustainable used/interventions.
1. Land and soils
Vietnam possesses a total agricultural land area of 26.226 million hectares, of which 10.12 ha is
used for agriculture production and 15.37 million for forestry, a small proportion is for
aquaculture (GSO 2012, using MONRE 2011 data). The four studied provinces have 2.5 million
hectares of agricultural land which accounts for 9.7% of the total agriculture land in the country.
Noticeably, forest land accounts for a largest proportion of available land in the region, in
particular approximately 80% in Lai Chau, Dien Bien, Son La, and 70% in Lao Cai. A land
available for perennial and annual crops (including rice) accounts to smaller proportion of the
regional land as well as compared to the overall country’s average level. The land belonging to
Aquaculture is also small in the region.
55
100%
90%
80%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
2,050
970
540
327,760
602,480
401,240
2,450
689,810
624,380
15,366,480
Aquaculture land
Forest land
35,430
3,688,510
Perennial crop land
Annual crop land
19,350
64,600
11,170
143,380
13,180
75,940
226,010
6,437,590
Lai Chau
Dien Bien
Son La
Lao Cai
Country
total
2012
2015
0
Figure 4.1. Types of agricultural land
Thousand s hectars
Source: national GSO 2011
450
400
350
300
250
200
150
100
50
0
400
350
300
250
200
150
100
50
0
2012
2015
2020
Dien
Lai Chau
500
Thousand hestars
2020
Rice crop
250
450
400
200
Perennial
plants
150
Protection
forest
100
Special use
forest
350
300
250
200
150
100
Production
forest
50
50
0
0
2012
2015
Son La
2020
2011
2015
2020
Nonagriculture
land
Urban land
Lao Cai
Figure 4.2. Land allocation for different crops in the master plan
Source: Land use master plans of Son La, Dien Bien, Lai Chau and Lao Cai (2011)
56
The Northwest provinces contains of major mountain ranges with latitude, the topography
condition is highly sloppy. As the consequence, 60% of the land of the region is at the sloping
degree of 15% and above (MARD and APPI, 2005). This shows a high potential for soil erosion,
and requires critical consideration of an appropriate cropping system and cultivation practices.
With regards to the soil fertility, the classification of the Soil and Fertilizer Research Institute
(SFRI) in 2005, divide the land in sloping location into 5 grades (from 2-6), based on the soil
fertility and potential utilization. According to this classification, Northwest region has a very
small portion (only 2.7%) of the total available land which is classified at grade 2. This land is
appropriate for agriculture cultivation,. 9.6% of the land belongs to grade 3-5 which is suitable
for Agro-forestry system, and the rest belongs to the grade 6 which is only suitable for forestry.
According to the master plans for land use of 4 provinces until 2020 (Fig 1), there is a projected
increase for production forest and protection forest. The increase mostly comes from unused
land. Special use forest, paddy field, perennial crop land, and non-agriculture land increase
slightly. Urban land also increases, and eventually stabilizes for Lai Chau and Dien Bien.
Assuming the projection is rational, it will utilize the unused land more effectively.
2. Water and irrigation
Sources of Water
The North West contains the upstream of major rivers system in the north, including Hong river
(running through Lao Cai), Da river (running through Lai Chau, Dien Bien and Son La) and Ma
river (starting from Dien Bien). The Hong river system provides a total yearly water amounting
to 83.5 billion cubic meters, of which 31% comes from Da river (Ngo Thi Kim Lan, 2012). These
upstream rivers not only provide major source of water for consumption and irrigation, but also
enrich the soil on the river banks, for paddy field. A dispersed network of streams and creeks
also provide water source for crops.
Another source of water comes from rain. Vietnam has an average rainfall at the level of 15002000 mm annually (http://www.nchmf.gov.vn/web/). Among the four studied provinces, Dien
Bien has an annual rainfall of 1200 – 1450 mm, which is slightly lower than the country’s
average. In Son La and Lao Cai, rainfall level ranges from 1600 – 2500 mm; and the highest
rainfall level is in Lai Chau which ranges from 1800-2800 mm annually. The distribution of
rainfall is not equal throughout the year. Normally, almost 2/3 of the rain fall in these provinces
comes during June to Sept with average rainfall often higher than 300 mm/month, while there is
much lesser raining during the other months in the year, especially, rainfall during October to
February in these provinces often less than 100 mm/month. Unequal distribution of the rainfall
throughout the year cause the surplus of surface water during rainy season and severe shortage of
water during December to February, consequently affects the cropping pattern and seasoning.
Steep terrain also causes strong river flow, so the sediment deposit is unstable. Table 3.1 and 3.2
in the Appendix detail the average annual rainfall and river watermark in 4 provinces. There is
no clear trend in change of annual rainfall and river watermark. However, changes in raining
pattern are mentioned by local farmers that the rainy season is now shorter with heavier rain, but
raining water become more sacred during the dry season.
57
3,000
annual rainfall
2,500
2,000
Lai Chau
Dien Bien
Son La
Lao Cai
1,500
1,000
500
0
2009
2010
2011
2012
Figure 4.3: Annual rainfall in the four province in last three years
Source: provincial GSO 2012
Utilization of water resources in Agriculture:
The government has paid major attention in developing the irrigation system in the four
provinces. In Son La, there are 2,572 irrigation constructions; this number in Dien Bien is 815.
The system of irrigation could cover 70 - 90% of the rice land areas in the provinces. However,
irrigation system yet to be sufficient; for example in Lao Cai, there is always 800 - 9.000
hectares of rice land is under frequent water shortage (Lao Cai statistical yearbook 2012).
According to the assessment of water resources in Dien Bien (Dien Bien DONRE, 2011), the
canals are insufficient for channeling water to the field. The province and districts build the main
canals, but communes do not have budget for in-field canals. There is no budget for land
clearance and exploitation of unused land. Land use management is also weak, causing difficulty
in irrigation planning Due to the lack of budget, there are not many water pump stations
available, and not all are operating effectively (key informant interview, DARD Dien Bien). In
Muong Cha district, most people grow only one rice crop during rainy season, due to water
shortage during dry season. In Dien Bien district, the irrigation system seems better, providing
sufficient water for 4000 ha crop (Dien Bien district Bureau of ARD, 2012).
The quality of irrigation system is also a question. In Lai Chau, irrigation system operates at only
75% of capacity (Lai Chau statistical yearbook 2012)., due to quality of technical design and
construction, incorrect hydro-meteorology calculation, and insufficient training for technical
staff. Especially, the lack of adequate staff at commune level is an issue. There are about 254
irrigation staff at commune level, but most do not receive sufficient training.
Water contamination
In the four studied provinces, concern on water contamination has been recorded in all the
interviews and focus discussion with relevant stakeholders. There is, however, very little
58
published official data on the issue. Among the four provinces, the DONRE of Dien Bien has
conducted a study of its water resource in 2011. According to the results of this assessment (Dien
Bien DONRE, 2011), in the Appendix Table 3.3, a majority (27 – 100%) of water samples has
chemical substance and bacteria beyond A1 limit, and some even beyond B2 limit. This clearly
indicates a high level of surface water contamination in Dien Bien. The increasing risks of water
contamination have been attributed to urbanization, industrial, processing activities. Districts do
not have proper waste management planning. Many hospitals and pulp paper factories do not
have waste treatment facilities.
In addition, lack of proper water treatment at community and household level is another cause of
contamination. In 3 provinces, number of communes having waste collection service and
wastewater discharge system is very low. At household level, the figures are also striking. More
than 70% of households in Lai Chau have no toilet, and 80% have no bathroom. In Dien Bien,
the situation is similar, with 45% has no toilet and 70% has no bathroom (Lai Chau and Dien
Bien GSO, 2012).
% communes having waste
collection service
% communes having wastewater
discharge system
Son La
% communes having water
supply station
Dien Bien
% households without toilet
Lai Chau
% households without bathroom
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
Figure 4.4. Coverage of essential hygienic facilities
Source: provincial GSO 2012
3. Forest
Forest area of 4 provinces accounts for 13% of total forest in Vietnam. Provincial figures show
an upward trend in forest area in recent years. Per district, the trend is also generally up, but
some districts show fluctuation in forest area. Forest coverage is higher than the 40% of the
country average, particularly Lao Cai at 51% and Son La at 47.7%. Provincial figures show a
prevalent natural forest in all 4 provinces. Natural forest accounts for more than 90% of forest
area, except for Lao Cai having less than 80%. That means planted forest is less than 10% of
forest area. Of planted forest, Son La and Lao Cai have more trees older than 3 years, more than
the 80% national average. Dien Bien has many trees younger than 3 years. In Lai Chau, about
25% of planted forest is rubber trees.
59
700,000
600,000
500,000
400,000
Lai Chau
300,000
Dien Bien
Son La
200,000
Lao Cai
100,000
0
2010
2011
2012 est.
Forest area (ha)
Figure 4.5: Forest area in the last three years
Source: provincial GSO 2012
Provincial forest master plans to 2020 put an emphasis on protection forest and production
forest. Protection forest would be largest of the 3 types. Special use forest would be maintained
at current level.
The provinces have set ambitious target for forest development. Lai Chau plans to increase forest
coverage to 45% in 2015 and >50% in 2020. Forestry sector growth projected at 7-9% annually.
Likewise, Lao Cai plans to raise coverage to 53% in 2015 and 55% in 2020. However,
deforestation still exists in the region. There are several causes of deforestation, of which shifting
from forest to agriculture land is a major issue. As population grows and agriculture production
expands, there is a need for more land, exerting more pressure to forest. In Muong Cha, where
65% local population is H'mong, slash and burn happens frequently.
Another major cause of deforestation is illegal logging. Due to large forest area and insufficient
law enforcement, it is difficult to monitor and prevent all illegal logging activities. Issues such as
limited number of forest rangers, poor equipment, low compensation, uncomfortable working
condition... have been mentioned as a big challenge for the task of law enforcement. Rubber
expansion also impacts forest quality greatly. In Thanh Nua commune, interview with forest
patrol villagers revealed the controversy between local villagers and rubber company. Before the
rubber plantation programme implemented, the forests were protected by the community.
Although they were not provided with any type of land use rights document (Redbook), they
could access to harvest non-timber products. Few year back (2009) the government allocated 490
ha of forest land for a rubber company to plan rubber trees. Villagers were given “red books” for
the land, which already planted with rubber trees. Surprisingly, the people receive “red book”,
but do not know where their forest land is. They has been banned from accessing the forest,
though they are the “red books” holders. In Na Sang commune, due to recent rubber expansion,
local households have to walk further to collect fire wood. Rubber currently accounts for 70% of
forest area in Na Sang.
As part of the national wide project on rubber development, both Lan Chau and Son La plan for
a sharp increment in rubber plantation. This could be considered a potential risk to reducing the
functional value of forest in the region, in terms of biodiversity and natural resource protection.
60
Rubber masterplan of Lai Chau
35,000
Rubber plantation in Son La
25,000
30,000
20,000
25,000
20,000
15,000
15,000
10,000
10,000
5,000
5,000
0
0
2008 - 2010 2011 - 2015 2016 - 2020
2010
2011
2012
2015
Figure 4.5. area under rubber plantation in lai Chau and Son La
Source: DARD rubber plantation reports of Lai Chau, Son La
4. Genetic resources and bio-diversity
Locating with in the tropical belt, Vietnam is considered very rich in biodiversity. It is estimated
that the country possesses 12 000 plant species, among those 2 300 species are used as food, 3
300 used as medicine, feed, oil or other products (MONRE and WWF 2012). In regards to the
fauna diversity, Vietnam possesses 210 species of animals, 840 sp. of birds, 296 sp. of reptiles,
162 sp. of Amphibian and 2 742 sp of fish (MONRE, 2005).
In the northwest region, Hoang Lien Son is one of the major centre of bio-diversity in Vietnam,
running through Lao Cai and Lai Chau. The four provinces also lay in the heart of the Terrestrial
ecosystem of Vietnam, which is considered the richest biodiversity ecosystem.
According to the genetic resource maps published by the National Plant Genetic Resource Center
(http://www.pgrvietnam.org.vn/), Lai Chau and Son la is a major center of Root and tuber crops,
while Son La, Lao Cai is home for Graminaceous plants. Son La also has a high density of
genetic resource centers of vegetable species, while the entire four provinces possess significant
diversification of legumes species.
So far, there are more than 30.000 samples of 490 species of crop have been collected and
conserved (MOST, December 2013), almost all of them are being conserved using ex-situ
techniques. Insitu conservation of crop genetic resources in Vietnam has still not received
adequate attention. There have been different projects with activities implemented by 20
agencies, including initial surveys, designing of the conservation location or forming farmers
groups for insitue conservations, so far there is not any program or activities has gained the full
results of the 5 contents of on-farm conservation, and there are no conservation areas/ sites of
which is maintained and sustained operation (Vu Manh Hai et al 2011).
Forest plays a significant part in conserving the regional ecosystem and biodiversity. In the
region, even though forest quantity is increasing, forest quality is being degraded. Hunting and
illegal wildlife trade also threatens valuable species, affecting the ecosystem. Some agriculture
practices, such as shifting cultivation, cause great danger to the forest and ecosystem. Thousands
of hectares of forest have been destroyed, with it the loss of habitat. In addition, illegal logging
also threatens the valuable tree species and reduces forest quality.
61
Infrastructure development causes another major impact on the forest and ecosystem. The region
has largest hydropower damps in Vietnam, including Hoa Binh and Son La hydro electric damps,
there are also many hydropower plants has been constructed including small and mini plants.
While being considered important to socio-economic development in government plan,
hydropower damps create negatively impacts on the ecosystem and biodiversity, such as causing
losing, fragmentation of the habitat, and impediments for species migration or invasive species
propagation… (ICIEM and Bird Life International, undated).
Monoculture practice, with high external inputs is another strong driven source of biodiversity
deterioration, soil erosion and environment degradation. The household survey and focus group
discussion revealed that, there are only 2-3 varieties of rice and 2-3 varieties of maize are used in
the productions of these crops. A recent research by Hoang Thi Lua et all (2013) also concluded
that, the dominant farming system in all agro-ecological zones in the three northwestern
provinces was mono-cultivation of staple crops (maize and rice) on sloping land. This trend is
predicted to further increase with the strong orientation from government towards promoting
high yielding and unified agricultural products, including maize, rice, tea for exporting. In the
forestry sector, according to the master plan for rubber plantation, only in Sonla 50 000 hectares
of natural forest will be converted to rubber, by 2020, Dien Bien and Lai Chau also target to
plant 30 000 ha of rubber in each province.
5. Indigenous knowledge and local practices
The changes in living style and the adoption of new modern agricultural techniques resulted in
number of changes in terms of production practices in the region. Previously, local people did
not use fertilizer, but they do now, in face of lower productivity. Excessive use of fertilizer,
coupled with mono-cropping practice, cause significant long term impact to the soil and water.
According to the feedback from the extensions officers during the interview with key informants
in Dien Bien district Bureau of ARD, the use of plant protection chemicals and pesticides by
local people is uncontrolled. Farmers do not follow the guidance of plant protection staff and
extension staff. In addition, plant chemicals and pesticides of unknown origin are smuggled to
the local. Empty bottles of chemicals and pesticides are mainly disposed on the field, or thrown
into canals, rivers and streams. Statistic from Dien Bien and Lai Chau revealed that less than
5% of the used bottled are collected for proper treatment (Dien Bien and lai Chau Statistical
Yearbook 2012).
The agriculture and animal waste is another source of environment contamination. In Dien Bien
and Lai Chau, only 50 - 60% of the agriculture and animal waste is treated to make fertilizer, the
rest is discharged directly in to the environment. Recently, some processing plants have been
operated in some localities, one of the popular examples is the processing of edible canna to
obtain starch; waste from processing edible canna is not handled in accordance with regulation,
and pollutes the water.
Though there has been little literature on the use of indigenous knowledge, the terrace cultivation
of Thai people was recorded. According to Nguyen Thi Hong Vien in 2009, Thai communities
have established their own human culture ecosystem. Milpa cultivation system played important
role in Thai daily life. They implement series of traditional technological methods, including
land selection, land clearance, firing, turning land up, cultivation, crop rotations… in milpa
production. It is concluded that the milpa cultivation system of Thai communities has many
positive features in land management and protection.
62
Another example of applying indigenous knowledge on environment protection is the tradition of
Ha Nhi people in Lao Cai province, documented by Tran Huu Son (2009). The Ha Nhi
communities used the combination of supernatural power and construct the forbidden forests of
the community; on the other hand, the strictly punishment help to reinforcement of the rules.
The forest protection system of Ha Nhi ethnic minority was illustrated in the formula, which a
combination of 1) building people belief on supernatural power, operation of a monitoring and
management system with representative of community as the “assignments of gods”, and 3) a
strict rule for punishments of violations.
Recently, there have been emerging initiatives to utilize and preserve endogenous resources,
such as using herbal medicine, raising local endogenous pig and chicken, good buffalo breeds in
Lai Chau, rice, mango, orange, or red pomalo in Dien Bien.
6. Related laws and policies
Vietnamese government has issued number of laws and decrees to protect bio-diversity and
environment. Some of the major relevant laws and polices include:
1. Environment Protection law, number 5/2005/QH8 issued by the parliament on 29
November 2005. This Law provides for activities of environmental protection; policies,
measures and resources for environmental protection; rights and obligations of
organizations, households and individuals in environmental protection. The subjects of
application applies to state agencies, organizations, households and individuals in the
country; overseas Vietnamese, foreign organizations and individuals carrying out
activities in the territory of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.
2.
Law on protection of water Resources: number 17/2012/QH13 issued on 21/6/2012.
The Law defined that water resource comes under the ownership of the entire people
under the unified management of the State; organizations and individuals are entitled to
exploit and use the water resource for life and production. At the same time they have the
responsibility to protect the water resource; prevent, combat and overcome the harmful
effect caused by water as prescribed by law. The State protects the legitimate interests of
organizations and individuals in the exploitation and use of the water resource. Under this
Law, the water resource comprises surface water, rain water, underground water, sea
water in the territory of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. The Law regulates the
management, protection, exploitation and use of the water resource and the prevention,
combat against and overcoming of the harmful effect caused by water.
3. Bio-Diversity Law: Issued on 13 November 2008, effective on 01 July 2009. This Law
provides for the conservation and sustainable development of biodiversity; rights and
obligations of organizations, households and individuals in the conservation and
sustainable development of biodiversity. The Law applies to organizations, households
and individuals in the country, overseas Vietnamese, foreign organizations and
individuals carrying out activities of or related to the conservation and sustainable
development of biodiversity in Vietnam.
4. Law on Forest protection and development: issued on the 03rd December, 2004, effective
01 April 2005; This Law provides for the management, protection, development and use
of forests; and forest owners’ rights and obligations. The Law applies to State agencies,
domestic organizations, households and individuals, overseas Vietnamese as well as
63
foreign organizations and individuals involved in forest protection and development in
Vietnam. In cases where international agreements which the Socialist Republic of
Vietnam has signed or acceded to contain provisions different from the provisions of this
Law, the provisions of such international agreements shall apply.
5. Land law 2003: Issued on December 10, 2003. This Law governs the powers and
responsibilities of the State as representative of the ownership of land by the entire people
for uniform administration of land and the regime for administration and use of land; and
the rights and obligations of land users. The Law applies to the following entities: 1)
State bodies exercising rights and discharging responsibilities as representative of the
ownership of land by the entire people and carrying out the task of uniform State
administration of land; 2). Land users; and 3). Other entities involved in the
administration and use of land. The Land Law was reviewed and passed by the
parliament in November 2013.
Programme
The largest and most impacts program in forest development and protection 5 million hectare
forest targeting 43% coverage in 2010, approved in 1997, this is also called project 661.
•
Payment for Environment Service – PFES: In 2004, the government of Vietnam,
drawing on the concept of PES (Payment for Environment Service), laid the foundations
for nationwide program of Payment for Forest Environmental Service (PFES), set out in
the revised of Law on Forest Protection and Development. In 2008, Decision No.38
established conditions to support PFES pilot projects in Lam Dong and Son La, and in
2010, Decree No. 99 mandated the implementation PFES nationwide.
•
The development of Rubber plantation, in this plan, each province of Son La, Lai Chau
and Dien Bien has been assigned to develop 10 000 ha of rubber plantation per provinces.
•
Some small projects and programs of donors and NGOs (ADB, GIZ, ACIAR, Care, Plan,
AAV, Helvetas, Oxfam, CCD…)
References
1. Dien Bien Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD), Report on
planning for irrigation development to 2020 in Dien Bien
2. Dien Bien Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dien Bien master plan for
land use.
3. Dien Bien Department of Natural Resources and Environment (DONRE), Report on
assessment of water resource in Dien Bien 2011.
4. Dien Bien General Statistic Office, Dien Bien statistical yearbook 2012.
5. Dien Bien district Bureau of Agriculture and Rural Development (BARD), Dien Bien
district, Dien Bien Province, Agriculture Sector Annual Report, 2012
6. Forest Inventory and Planning Institute and FPD,
7. Hoang Thi Lua, Elisabesth Simelton, Ha Vu Tiep, Vu Duc Toan, Nguyen Thi Hoa,
Nguyen Van Chung, Phung Quoc Tuan Anh, Diagnosis of Farming system in the Agroforestry for Livelihood of smallholder farmers in Northwestern Vietnam project, ICRAF
working paper, 2013.
8. ICIEM and Bird Life International, Biodiversity and development of the hydropower
sector: lessons from the Vietnamese experience, a Briefing paper (undated)
64
9. Lai Chau Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, Rubber plantation reports
of Lai Chau.
10. Lai Chau Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, Lai Chau master plan for
land use.
11. Lai Chau General Statistic Office, Lai Chau statistical yearbook 2012.
12. Lao Cai Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, Lao Cai master plan for
land use.
13. Lao Cai General Statistic, Lao Cai statistical yearbook 2012.
14. Lê Thái Bạt Vietnam soil science association, Report on planning for effective shifting
cultivation in the Northern mountainous region, 2005.
15. MONRE and WWF, Biodiversity; Climate change and biodiversity conservation in a
changing climate for Vietnam, 2012.
16. MOST, December 2013,
17. National Center for Hydro-meteorological Forecast , http://www.nchmf.gov.vn/web/ .
18. National General Statistic Office, National Statistic yearbook 2011.
19. National General Statistic Office, Results of the 2011 rural, agriculture and fishery
census, 2012.
20. Ngo Thi Kim Lan, assessment and analysis on the current situation of Da river water
via Hoa Binh province and recommendation for protecting the water environment, an
MsC thesis, 2012
21. Nguyen Thi Hong Vien, Thai traditional knowledge in milpa cultivation in of Son La city
suburban areas – Science and Technology Journal of VNU, volume 25, 2009 pp132 –
137).
22. Son La Department of Agriculture and Rural Development: Son La master plan for land
use.
23. Son La General Statistic Office, Son La statistical yearbook 2012.
24. The Plan Genetic Resources Center (PGRC), website http://www.pgrvietnam.org.vn/
25. Tran Huu Son, Indigenous knowledge of the Ha Nhi ethnic minority in forest protection
in Vietnam (undated).
26. Vu Manh Hai, Nguyen Thi Ngoc Hue, La Tuan Nghia, Pham Thi Sen, Vu Van Tung, Vu
Linh Chi, Vu Xuan Truong, Luu Quang Huy, In-situ conservation of crop genetic
resources in Vietnam, current status and solutions (undated).
Map 1: Land distribution by different topography and soil types
Map 2: Forest distribution and forest quality
Map 3: Biodiversity map
65
Appendix 1: Land use status
Table 1.1: Agriculture land use in Vietnam, categorized by users (ha)
Category
Total
By users
Households,
individuals
Commune PCs
Agriculture
10,126,100
9,053,600
230,900
production
Forestry
15,366,500
4,414,800
140,200
Aquaculture
689,800
569,400
49,200
Other
26,100
9,300
9,600
Source: national GSO 2011
Table 1.2: Agriculture land use in four studied provinces (ha)
Province
Total
Annual crop land
Lai Chau
413,810
Dien Bien
758,050
Son La
490,940
Lao Cai
888,410
Total four
2,551,210
provinces
Country total
26,226,410
Source: national GSO 2011
Table 1.3: Lai Chau
Category
2008
Agriculture production land
Forest land
Special used land
Homestead land
Source: Lai Chau statistical yearbook 2012
Table 1.4: Dien Bien
Total
64,600
143,380
75,940
226,010
509,930
Rice
23,630
60,820
33,250
37,270
154,970
6,437,590
4,120,160
2009
-
-
2010
90,024
402,485
8,494
4,233
Domestic
economic
organizations
643,200
Other domestic
organizations
63,600
9,200
2,241,000
38,300
2,900
4,991,800
18,600
2,900
16,700
3,000
900
Perennial
crop land
Forest land
Foreign
organizations
Aquaculture
land
19,350
11,170
13,180
35,430
79,130
327,760
602,480
401,240
624,380
1,955,860
2,050
970
540
2,450
6,010
3,688,510
15,366,480
689,810
2011
89,742
418,699
9,798
4,374
2012
84,209
422,299
12,032
3,827
66
Category
2008
Agriculture production land
120,487
Forest land
623,616
Special used land
9,457
Homestead land
3,350
Source: Dien Bien statistical yearbook 2012
Table 1.5: Son La
Category
2008
Agriculture production land
Forest land
Special used land
Homestead land
Source: Son La statistical yearbook 2012
Table 1.6: Lao Cai
Category
2008
Agriculture production land
Forest land
Special used land
Homestead land
Source: Lao Cai statistical yearbook 2012
2009
154,845
602,566
9,148
4,667
2010
154,547
602,478
10,357
4,661
2011
154,419
602,073
10,358
4,638
2012
154,093
602,021
10,748
4,671
2009
-
2010
261,439
624,380
18,431
7,351
2011
261,484
624,564
19,130
7,352
2012
287,251
633,717
19,438
7,358
-
2010
84,003
324,321
18,045
3,755
2011
83,396
333,605
19,899
3,825
2012
84,181
334,301
20,404
3,893
2009
Table 1.7: land use for shifting cultivation in the four studied provinces (ha)
Province
Annual crop land
Total
Shifting
Shifting cultivation
cultivation land
land per capita (m2)
Lai Chau
71,000
37,100
1,278
Dien Bien
114,300
65,400
1,563
Son La
214,800
170,900
1,855
Lao Cai
59,200
32,500
607
Source: report on planning for effective shifting cultivation in the Northern mountainous region 2005
67
Appendix 2: Provincial master plan for land use
Table 2.1: Lai Chau
Category
2012
Agriculture land
- Rice crop
- Perennial plants
- Protection forest
- Special use forest
- Production forest
- Aquaculture area
Non-agriculture land
Urban land
Unused land
Source: Lai Chau master plan for land use
Table 2.2: Dien Bien
Category
507,243
26,230
18,204
338,172
32,019
52,107
707
36,965
362,670
2012
Agriculture land
- Rice crop
- Perennial plants
- Protection forest
- Special use forest
- Production forest
- Aquaculture area
Non-agriculture land
Urban land
Unused land
Source: Dien Bien master plan for land use
Table 2.3: Son La
757,140
60,412
12,585
376,499
46,334
179,187
961
24,087
175,062
Plan to 2015
581,986
34,526
31,595
364,422
37,701
72,323
623
38,398
18,816
286,495
Plan to 2015
824,712
58,907
24,224
407,156
46,781
209,832
1,227
27,494
19,286
104,084
Plan to 2020
633,132
35,570
38,444
377,477
41,300
100,040
677
42,328
19,556
231,419
Plan to 2020
893,011
57,340
33,517
423,113
47,581
257,413
1,470
34,652
21,208
28,627
68
Category
2012
Agriculture land
- Rice crop
- Perennial plants
- Protection forest
- Special use forest
- Production forest
- Aquaculture area
Non-agriculture land
Urban land
Unused land
Source: Son La master plan for land use
Table 2.4: Lao Cai
Category
Plan to 2015
944,167
36,943
45,056
404,699
50,469
205,638
2,443
68,396
14,928
404,881
2011
1,008,333
36,351
59,559
418,689
54,778
247,174
2,436
72,096
21,266
337,015
Plan to 2015
Plan to 2020
1,076,470
35,600
83,916
429,657
59,000
277,433
2,425
77,038
31,472
263,936
Plan to 2020
Agriculture land
420,665
464,491
- Rice crop
22,376
23,215
- Perennial plants
19,346
19,422
- Protection forest
150,475
161,097
- Special use forest
45,014
45,268
- Production forest
138,812
171,743
- Aquaculture area
2,115
2,352
Non-agriculture land
37,512
42,406
Urban land
25,278
33,455
Unused land
180,211
131,491
Source: Lao Cai master plan for land use
Table 2.5. Level of land slope in the northern mountainous region
507,660
23,700
22,902
170,000
46,000
201,700
2,488
50,072
50,005
80,657
Level of slope (%)
Region/sub-region
Level I (0 –
80)
Level II (8 – 150)
Level III (15 – 250)
Level IV (> 250)
69
Regional
5
38
31
26
- North West
3
37
30
30
- Central
6
40
35
19
- East West
7
43
35
15
Table 2.6. Land classification land by fertility
The northern mountainous region (million ha)
Rank
Total
Total
North West
Central
North East
Score
Area
Score
Area
Score
Area
Score
Area
- Level 2
3,33
39
0,41
16
0,09
11
0,21
12
0,11
- Level 3
1,60
50
0,52
9
0,05
21
0,14
20
0,33
- Level 4
0,91
21
0,28
6
0,02
7
0,05
8
0,21
-Level 5
2,06
72
0,76
28
0,25
25
0,38
19
0,13
- Level 6
16,93
152
7,88
60
2,90
45
3,27
47
1,71
Total
24,83
334
9,85
119
3,31
109
4,05
106
2,49
Source: MARD and NAPPI, 2005
Table 2.6. Characteristics of soil in Lai Chau and Dien Bien (layer 0 – 25cm)
Property
Soil Code
Clay (%)
Organic
matter (%)
PHKCL
CEC
Cu
Zn
Co
Mn
70
Hs
Hv
Hq
Fs
Fv
Fq
Fa
28  30
22  25
30  35
26  32
8  12
8  10
26  28
22  25
28  34
26  30
7  10
69
8  13
1,34 1,50
0,80 1.20
3,3  3,8
3,2  3,6
1,5 1,8
1,2 1,4
0,6  1,0
0,4  0,6
1,0  1,6
0,6  1,0
4,0  4,6
3,8  4,2
1,2  2,0
0,8  1,5
4,2  4,8
4,0  4,5
0,4  0,6
0,3  0,4
0,5  0,8
3,8  4,0
3,6  3,8
3,2  3,5
3,2  3,4
3,6  3,8
3,4  3,6
3,2  3,6
14  18
12  16
16  20
14  18
68
57
10  12
8  10
12  14
10  12
57
46
58
26
4  10
8  10
68
1 2
1 2
26
1 4
8  10
68
1 2
1 2
-
1,5  2,0
 1,0
0,6  1,0
0,6  0,8
23
2
24
1 2
5  40
 40
VÖt
VÖt
VÖt
VÖt
0,4  1,0
0,2  05
0,2  0,5
0,1  0,2
0
0
0
0
20  50
40  110
3 4
23
VÖt
VÖt
0
0
-
0,6  0,8
0,4  0,6
VÖt
VÖt
-
VÖt
VÖt
-
Source: Lê Thái Bạt, Vietnam soil science association
71
Appendix 3: Water resource
Table 3.1: annual rainfall (mm)
Province
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2,150
1,841
2,554
Dien Bien
1,624
1,416
1,975
Son La
1,210
1,176
1,405
1,786
1,743
1,785
Lai Chau
2,924
2,205
2,150
Lao Cai
Source: provincial GSO 2012
Table 3.2: river watermark (mm)
Province
Station
Lai Chau
Dien Bien
Son La
Lao Cai
2009
2010
2012
2011
Muong Te
28,203
28,186
28,205
28,209
Nam Giang
20,567
20,574
20,826
33,839
Ta Gia
35,718
35,698
35,698
35,676
Nam Nua
47,132 - 47,362
47,130 - 47,404
47,132 - 47,472
47,143 - 47,496
Nam Muc
22,654 - 22,964
22,647 - 22,881
22,653 - 23,112
22,647 - 23,070
Song Da
-
10,777
10,858
11,628 - 27,964
Song Ma
-
27,790
27,795
10,805 - 27,757
Song Hong
75,700 - 78,450
75,570 - 80,380
Song Chay
67,750 - 71,490
67,750 - 75,260
Source: provincial GSO 2012
72
Table 3.3: substance measurement of surface water in Dien Bien
Category
Sample measurement
2006
Note
2007
5 - 18
2008
9 - 100
2009
6 - 352
NO2 (mg/l)
0 - 0.96
0.01 - 0.713
0.003 - 0.566
NO3 (mg/l)
NH4 (mg/l)
P (mg/l)
Fe (mg/l)
0.395 - 5.419
0.041 - 8
0.011 - 0.117
2.2 - 4.5
0.009 - 0.214
39% samples
have over 1
mg/l
3.5 - 5.2
0.74 - 5.079
0.096 - 0.257
0.074 - 0.117
6.13 - 6.76
3.21 - 5.31
BOD (mg/l)
3.2 - 14.6
3.5 - 18.4
2.1 - 6.2
COD (mg/l)
6 - 31
6 - 30
4.2 - 13.6
0.15 - 1.9
0.6 - 0.9
TSS (mg/l)
DO (mg/l)
Oil (mg/l)
E Coli
Coliform
9 - 38
100% samples
have over 1 mg/l
3 - 320 MNP/100ml
110 - 2000 MNP/100ml
0.05 - 0.32
27% samples over A1 limit
20% samples over B2 limit
20% samples over A1 limit
6.7% samples over B2 limit
All samples within A1 limit
33% samples over A1 limit
All within A1 limit
0.5 mg/l is considered the
threshold
100% over A1 limit
40% over A2 limit
6.7% over B1 limit
100% over A1 limit
80% over A2 limit
6.7% over B2 limit
60% over A1 limit
13.3% over A2 limit
6.7% over B2 limit
100% over A2 limit
53.3% over B1 limit
6.7% over B2 limit
98 - 4,826
MNP/100ml
Source: report on assessment of water resource in Dien Bien 2011
73
Appendix 4: Irrigation
Table 4.1: Irrigation area in Dien Bien 2004 (ha)
Demanded irrigation area
vs
Actual irrigation area
"Chiem" crop
"Mua" crop
"Chiem" crop
"Mua" crop
18,160
25,167
7,676
12,632
Table 4.2: Irrigation capacity in Dien Bien 2004 (ha)
Item
Units
Designed irrigation capacity
Dam
Pump station
Reservoir
Temporary irrigation
work
Total
vs
Actual irrigation capacity
293
1
11
495
"chiem" crop
8,128
270
895
2,240
"mua" crop
10,429
270
957
3,493
"chiem" crop
5,670
95
446
1,464
"mua" crop
8,222
95
507
3,808
800
11,533
15,149
7,676
12,632
74
Appendix 5: Forest
Table 5.1: Change in forest area in Vietnam (ha)
Year
Forest area
Cover
Total
Natural forest
1943
14,300,000
14,300,000
1976
11,169,300
11,169,700
1980
10,683,000
10,180,000
1985
9,891,900
9,308,300
1990
9,175,600
8,430,700
1995
9,302,200
8,252,500
2000
10,915,600
9,444,200
2002
11,784,600
9,865,000
2003
12,095,000
10,005,000
2004
12,306,900
10,088,300
2005
12,616,700
10,283,200
Source: Forest Inventory and Planning Institute and FPD
Table 5.2: Forest area of four studied provinces (ha)
Province
Total area
Forest area
Natural
forest
Per capita
Planted forest
92,600
422,300
583,600
744,900
1,049,700
1,491,400
1,919,600
2,090,000
2,218,600
2,333,500
43.2%
33.7%
32.1%
30%
27.8%
28.2%
33.2%
35.8%
36.1%
36.7%
37%
0.57
0.31
0.19
0.14
0.12
0.12
0.14
0.14
0.14
0.15
0.15
Planted forest
Total
More than
3 years
Of which
Less than 3
years
Cover
(%)
Lai Chau
906,879
403,081
371,825
31,256
16,319
6,806
Rubber &
special
plants
8,130
Dien Bien
956,290
393,344
377,120
16,223
7,571
8,653
-
40.2
1,417,444
635,231
611,636
23,596
21,081
1,168
1,347
44.7
638,390
334,893
261,484
73,409
64,720
8,181
508
51.2
33,098,208
13,862,043
10,423,844
3,438,200
2,765,793
398,443
273,963
40.7
Son La
Lao Cai
Country total
43.7
75
Table 5.3: Change in forest area in four studied provinces (ha)
2012 est.
Province
2010
2011
Lai Chau
383,890
390,759
393,987
Dien Bien
347,225
349,461
384,691
Son La
586,193
625,786
633,687
Lao Cai
327,755
333,612
334,893
Table 5.3: Provincial master plan for three types of forest to 2020 (ha)
Province
Lai Chau
Dien Bien
Son La
Lao Cai
Plan to 2020
680,299
760,450
885,000
417,934
Type of forest
Protection
360,893
424,199
423,992
170,089
Special use
41,275
46,516
62,978
46,070
Production
278,131
289,733
398,028
201,775
76
Table 5.4: Provincial master plan for forest protection and development to 2020 (ha)
Category
Lai Chau
2011 - 2015
2016 - 2020
Son La
2011 - 2015
2016 - 2020
409,902
479,145
724,730
770,000
- Special use forest
29,038
31,078
50,653
55,000
- Protection forest
244,719
269,887
348,446
380,000
- Production forest
136,144
178,179
325,631
335,000
Reforestation
119,080
51,500
182,500
4,000
- Special use forest
5,400
5,000
18,400
4,000
- Protection forest
95,180
7,500
88,207
- Production forest
18,500
39,000
75,891
Newly planted forest
20,340
34,100
41,050
41,878
Forest protection
- Special use forest and protection
forest
- Production forest
6,350
10,400
15,750
4,737
13,990
23,700
25,300
37,141
Timber harvest
20,740
71,100
540,000
700,000
- Protection forest
15,000
46,200
- Production forest
5,340
23,500
400
1,400
- Bamboo
77
Appendix 6: Rubber plantation
Table 6.1: Lai Chau provincial master plan of rubber plantation (ha)
2016 - 2020
2008 - 2010
2011 - 2015
Newly planted area
5,797
~14,000
~10,000
Total accumulated area
5,797
~ 20,000
~ 30,000
Table 6.2: Son La rubber plantation (ha)
2010
Total rubber plantation
5,400
2011
6,394
2012
6,755
2015
~ 20,000
78
Appendix 7: Genetic resource maps
Genetic resource map of Lai Chau and Son La
Genetic resource map of Son La and Lao Cai
79
80
Appendix 7: Treatment of livestock waste
Table 7.1: Lai Chau
District
Type of treatment
Biogas
Lai Chau town
Tam Duong
Fertilizer
20.69%
0.84%
Muong Te
48.74%
56.52%
Sin Ho
55.36%
Than Uyen
98.32%
Average
Discharge
into river,
creek
6.96%
Other
65.52%
49.58%
0.84%
34.78%
1.74%
40%
24.11%
14.29%
3.57%
2.68%
1.68%
0.87%
88.7%
2.61%
0%
61.0%
6%
Table 7.2: Dien Bien
District
7.83%
3%
13%
17%
Type of treatment
Biogas
Dien Bien Phu
Discharge
into lake,
pond, field
3.45%
60%
Phong Tho
Tan Uyen
Discharge
into
sewage
10.34%
3.33%
Fertilizer
Discharge
into
sewage
73.33%
Muong Nhe
8.96%
Muong Cha
23.33%
20.15%
Discharge
into lake,
pond, field
23.34%
34.32%
Discharge
into river,
creek
Other
30.6%
5.97%
21.67%
55%
81
Tua Chua
0.68%
69.18%
30.14%
Tuan Giao
1.67%
55%
15.83%
2.5%
2.5%
22.5%
68.33%
21.11%
0.56%
0.56%
9.44%
42.66%
9.79%
2.8%
41.95%
2.1%
Dien Bien
Dien Bien Dong
0.7%
Muong Ang
4.2%
95.8%
Average
0.50
53.13
14.31
6.15
Appendix 8: Discharge of used case/bottle of plant protection chemicals
Table 8.1: Lai Chau
District
13.21
12.70
Manner of discharge
On the field
Collect, bury, burn
57.85%
Dump into canal, river,
creek
38.86%
52.1%
42.86%
18.99%
81.01%
63.2%
36.8%
Phong Tho
56.25%
33.93%
9.82%
Than Uyen
57.26%
41.88%
0.85%
Tan Uyen
86.84%
10.53%
2.63%
Lai Chau town
Tam Duong
Muong Te
Sin Ho
Table 8.2: Dien Bien
District
3.29%
5.04%
Manner of discharge
82
On the field
Dien Bien Phu
26.67%
Dump into
canal, river,
creek
33.33%
Muong Nhe
90.98%
6.02%
Muong Cha
57.65%
14.12%
Tua Chua
Collect,
bury, burn
Dumpster
Others
40%
3%
27.06
1.17
100%
Tuan Giao
97.85%
2.15%
Dien Bien
51.52%
32.12%
16.36%
52%
40%
8%
42.74%
57.26%
Dien Bien Dong
Muong Ang
Appendix 9: Use of agriculture inputs
Table 9.1: Application of inputs on major crops in the Northwest
Input
Paddy
Maize
Practice
In theory
Practice
In theory
Seeds (kg)
30 - 35
40 - 50
15 - 20
15 - 20
Organic fertilizer (kg)
0
800 - 1000
0
800 - 1000
Fertilizer (kg)
1,500 - 1,700
840 - 980
1,435
1,040 - 1,200
Pesticide, herbicide (kg)
0.4
1.2
Table 9.2: Supply of rice varieties in Dien Bien
District
Self supplied
Chayote
Practice
In theory
450
600
0.3
170
780
Supply
Supply
Extension
Cooperative
Supply agent
Others
83
company
58.62%
service
Dien Bien Phu
41.38%
Muong Nhe
38.78%
Muong Cha
85.83%
Tua Chua
95.95%
Tuan Giao
33.66%
30.69%
Dien Bien
26.01%
65.9%
0.58%
90%
0.67%
4%
87.39%
0.84%
Dien Bien Dong
Muong Ang
61.22%
0.83%
5%
0.58%
5%
3.33%
2.03%
2.03%
26.73%
8.91%
2.31%
4.62%
4.67%
0.67%
5.88%
5.88%
84
Appendix 10: Living condition of households
Description
Lai Chau
Dien Bien
Son La
94%
93%
94%
% households using coal stove
-
0.06%
-
% households using LPG stove
5.5%
5%
4.5%
% households using biogas stove
-
0.54%
0.3%
% households using electric stove
-
0.32%
0.4%
% households using other types of fuel for cooking
-
0.47%
1%
% households having built-in bathroom
9%
12%
20%
% households having other types of bathroom
9%
18%
35%
% households without bathroom
82%
69%
45%
% households having built-in toilet
2.5%
2.8%
3.6%
% households having outdoor toilet
4.4%
3.5%
10%
% households having other types of toilet
20%
47%
71%
% households without toilet
74%
46%
15%
% communes having water supply station
80%
82%
76%
% communes having wastewater discharge system
15%
3%
2.7%
2%
4%
6.4%
% households using fire wood for cooking
% communes having waste collection service
85
Appendix 11: Programs / projects on natural resource management
Table 11.1: Lai Chau's spending on environmental related programs (million vnd)
Amount of fund
Program
National Target
Program on Clean
water and Rural
environmental
sanitation
New Rural
Development Program
Program on forest
protection and
development
DANIDA program
(ARD-SPS)
Program 661 (5 million
ha of forest)
Program on rubber
expansion
Program on sustainable
forest development
Program on
reforestation, and forest
protection contract with
households
20042008
80,982
2009
2010
26,667
24,118
2011
2012
2013 est.
38,300
30,300
27,203
18,000
15,821
15,250
38
2,000
10,000
45,000
16,565
6,688
26,305
10,000
80,230
21,864
116,344
64,194
85,972
20,001
87,508
391,776
462,236
456,129
202,829
297,444
17,917
16,565
3,883
74,540
Table 11.2: Son La's biogas program
Newly constructed bio-digester
2009
238
2010
200
2011
145
2012
191
2013
85
86
Write up of ‘Conclusions’ Session, 25th Jan 2014
Through the work done in this report, and through discussion with all section authors, the major
problems in the region were identified. Drivers of these problems were also identified, as were
potential solutions.
The problems are:
The large disparity between different sections of the population; namely between urban and
rural populations, and between the rural Kinh (and to a lesser degree Thai) and the other
ethnicities in the region. The disparity is in terms of income, of education, and of opportunity.
There is a lack of data in this report about the ethnic minorities, which is symptomatic of highly
marginalized people. In addition, there is a disparity in education and opportunity between men
and women.
The poor productivity, and sometimes poor quality, of agricultural crops. This is driven by soil
degradation and erosion on sloping land, caused by excessive monocropping and intensive
cultivation of maize, as well as cassava and upland rice. Another driver is forest degradation,
sometimes due to rubber plantations, but also due to other deforestation.
Malnutrition levels are still far too high, and could be improved with interventions that
promote dietary diversity, including diversification of production. Increased diversity, quality
and quantity of vegetables and fruits could be grown in the region (and are in some places); an
additional barrier to improving nutrition is changing local cooking and eating habits to better
utilize locally available diversity.
Low prices and low market access for rural products make it difficult for many farmers to
increase their incomes. There is great uncertainty for both the farmers as to what products they
will be able to sell, and uncertainty for the buyers as to what the farmers will produce. The
explanation for this is that value chains are, in general, poorly managed and fragmented. There
are however some examples of successes . Note that the challenging terrain and long transport
times exacerbate this problem, and that some transport infrastructure is currently being upgraded
(highway through Son La to China).
The pollution of waterways with sewage, manure effluent and agrochemicals (both from
excessive use in fields and inappropriate disposal of packaging) was identified as a problem, but
perhaps not as immediate as the above four points.
An overarching problem, and compounding factor of other problems, was the poor understanding
and poor implementation of the policy framework (by whom?) designed to protect the natural
environment, promote improved farming techniques, facilitate trade, and conserve natural
resources.
Towards Entry Themes
Many of these problems play out on the degraded sloping land that covers much of the region.
Improving the management of sloping land was identified as a major entry theme. Another
theme identified was to ‘diversify, intensify and integrate farming systems’.
The development of entry points should focus on: the slope and altitude defined eco-zones
identified; special indigenous products; farmer training and inputs provision; value chain
development; improving dietary diversity.
87
Considering the four agro-eco zones, initial suggestions for intensification options were:
Forest/rubber Land: NTFPS, integrate forage, fodder grass and livestock. ( There is a major
opportunity in two provinces which plan to boost rubber plantations)
Upland Crops: Integrate temperate fruit and nut trees with staple crops
Lowland Valleys: Off-season rotation of vegetables in paddy land
Diversification of Home Gardens (called VACs in Vietnam): Traditional and Local
vegetables, Fruit and nut Trees, Aquaculture.
Farming Interventions should aim to halt and even reverse land degradation; on slopes that often
includes erosion; and to curb the excessive use of agri chemicals.
Main agricultural training techniques suggested were: Composting and Manure Composting
(which may help address the issue of polluted waterways); Advise on Chemical Input use;
Intercropping.
There are a number of good examples of well organised value chains in the region already: Good
examples already, namely: Dairy Farming Contract Model, Dien Bien aromatic rice, Safe
Vegetables, Green Plum to China, Cassava processing company(?), Tea exporters. It should also
be noted that the local government representatives were very keen to develop value chains for
indigenous products.
Regarding the improvement of nutrition a few key issues were identified: to improve dietary
diversity through improved access to diversified crops and animal speciesimprove food safety,
improve food preparation techniques (in home and for value added sales), and to really change
behaviour – not just to grow other crops, but to actively use them.
The targeting of interventions towards different groups needs consideration. The rural Kinh and
Thai generally have more and bigger farms, using higher inputs; and so may have a bigger
environmental impact. They also have more traction in value chains.
Interventions targeting the Rural H’Mong, other ethnic minorities, will have a greater affect upon
poverty alleviation and disparity.
Women of all ethnicities are generally more disadvantaged compared to men due to poorer
education, sometimes a poor grasp of Vietnamese language, poor inclusion in value chains and
poor uptake (what about access) of subsidies and extension opportunities.
It was agreed that the Youth should not be actively targeted, although successful interventions
might discourage out migration.
The wider problem of poor policy implementation may be possible to address through capacity
building or inclusion in platforms addressing some of these topics.
88