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Factors Influencing Smallholder Rice Farmers’ Vulnerability to Climate Change and Variability in the Mekong Delta Region of Vietnam

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Abstract

This study analyzed the effects of climate change on rice farmers’ livelihoods vulnerability by using primary data elicited from 405 rice farming households in Can Tho, Dong Thap, and Tien Giang provinces in the Mekong Delta Region (MDR) of Vietnam. The Livelihood Vulnerability Index (LVI) showed that Can Tho province was the most vulnerable to climate change, followed by Dong Thap and Tien Giang provinces. In particular, the social index sub-indicator showed high vulnerability. The beta regression analysis identified seventeen significant factors influencing the susceptibility of rice farming households in the study area, such as weather information, flood occurrence, drought occurrence, access to extension services, access to credit, and cooperative membership as well as demographic variables and livelihoods related factors. The LVI result suggests the need for the government to consider raising the priority on households in Can Tho province through adaptation support to improve the resilience and adaptive capacity, especially by enhancing the social network in this area to stimulate support from local authorities and farmer groups. The regression results imply that extension services should provide adequate and timely weather information to equip the farmers to be more prepared for climatic shocks. Moreover, credit facilities with low interest rates should be made available, especially to those who are members of agricultural cooperatives.

Résumé

Cet étude analyse les effets du changement climatique sur la vulnérabilité des subsistances des agriculteurs de riz au Vietnam, utilisant des données primaires obtenues auprès de 405 ménages d’agriculteurs de riz aux provinces Can Tho, Dong Thap, and Tien Giang de la région du delta du Mekong (en anglais : Mekong Delta Region, MDR). L’indice de vulnérabilité de la subsistance (en anglais : Livelihood Vulnerability Index, LVI) montre que la province du Can Tho est la plus vulnérable au changement climatique, suivi par les provinces Dong Thap et Tien Giang. Le sous-indicateur de l’indice sociale montre notamment une vulnérabilité élevé. L’analyse de régression beta identifie dix-sept facteurs significatifs qui influencent la susceptibilité des ménages d’agriculteurs de riz dans la zone d’étude, tels que les informations météo, l’occurrence d’inondations et de sècheresses, l’accès aux services de conseil et développement agricole et au crédit, l’adhésion a une coopérative, ainsi que des variables démographiques et d’autres relationnes a la subsistance. Les résultats LVI suggèrent qu’il est nécessaire que le gouvernement considère augmenter la priorité des ménages dans la province du Can Tho en proposant des aides à l’adaptation afin d’améliorer la résilience et capacite adaptive, notamment en renforçant le réseau sociale dans cette province, pour stimuler le soutien des autorités locales et des groupes d’agriculteurs. Les résultats de la régression impliquent que les services de conseil et développement agricole devraient fournir des informations météo opportunes et adéquates afin que les agriculteurs soient plus préparés aux chocs climatiques. Par ailleurs, des facilites d’emprunt avec des taux bas devraient être mises à disposition, en particulier aux membres des coopératives agricoles.

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Acknowledgements

This research was funded by the Asian Institute of Technology Vietnam’s 25th Anniversary Scholarship (AITCV Silver Anniversary Scholarship). The authors acknowledge the support provided by the staff members and students of Tien Giang University, Vietnam, who participated in the field activities. The authors also thank the farmer respondents who kindly agreed to answer survey-related questions.

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  1. Department of Food, Agriculture and Bioresources, School of Environment, Resources and Development (SERD), Asian Institute of Technology (AIT), Klong Luang, Pathumthani, 12120, Thailand

    Tien D. N. Ho, John K. M. Kuwornu & Takuji W. Tsusaka

  2. Department of Agricultural Economics, Agribusiness and Extension, University of Energy and Natural Resources, Sunyani, Ghana

    John K. M. Kuwornu

  3. Department of Development and Sustainability, SERD, AIT, Klong Luang, Pathumthani, 12120, Thailand

    Takuji W. Tsusaka

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  1. Tien D. N. Ho
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Ho, T.D.N., Kuwornu, J.K.M. & Tsusaka, T.W. Factors Influencing Smallholder Rice Farmers’ Vulnerability to Climate Change and Variability in the Mekong Delta Region of Vietnam. Eur J Dev Res 34, 272–302 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1057/s41287-021-00371-7

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