Farmer adoptability for livelihood transformations in the Mekong Delta: a case in Ben Tre province

Farmer adoptability for livelihood transformations in the Mekong Delta: a case in Ben Tre province

Korbee, D. (TU Delft Policy Analysis)
Weger, Jacob (University of Georgia)
Hermans, L.M. (TU Delft Policy Analysis)
Evers, Jaap (IHE Delft Institute for Water Education)
Wyatt, Andrew (International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN))

2019

Sustainable livelihood development is an ongoing challenge worldwide, and has regained importance due to threats of water shortages and climate change. To cope with changing climatic, demographic and market conditions in Vietnam’s Mekong Delta (VMD) an agricultural transformation process has been suggested in the recent Mekong Delta Plan. This agricultural transformation process requires the implementation of alternative livelihood models. The majority of current agricultural livelihood models in the VMD have been introduced by the government in a top-down manner. In this study, we applied a bottom-up approach to understand the motivations and abilities of local farmers to adopt alternative livelihood models. It is based on the MOTA methodological framework, which is further tested with the use of multivariate analyses. The study was conducted in Ben Tre coastal province. Results showed that farmers’ motivations and abilities to apply alternative models vary substantially among different groups, driven by their perceptions on triggers and opportunities. Acknowledging this diversity is essential to the development of agricultural transformation plans. Furthermore, based on the analysis, a projection of the precise support that communities need to supplement their knowledge, skills and financial capacities, as well as interventions to reduce the risks of new livelihood models, is given.

delta plan
MOTA
plan implementation
livelihood transitions
Mekong Delta

http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:3a8e6c03-fb90-4a15-a9b3-262478eedca7

https://doi.org/10.1080/09640568.2019.1568768

0964-0568

Journal of Environmental Planning and Management (online), 62 (9), 1603-1618

Institutional Repository

journal article

© 2019 Hong Quan Nguyen, D. Korbee, Huu Loc Ho, Jacob Weger, Phan Thi Thanh Hoa, Nguyen Thi Thanh Duyen, Pham Dang Manh Hong Luan, Thi Tang Luu, Dang Ho Phuong Thao, Ngo Thi Thu Trang, L.M. Hermans, Jaap Evers, Andrew Wyatt, Xuan Quang Chau Nguyen, Ho Long Phi