The sustainability of traditional and modern agricultural land use : a case study of the Dien Bien district, Vietnam | |
| Author | Nguyen Dinh Thi |
| Call Number | AIT Thesis no.AS-01-09 |
| Subject(s) | Land use--Vietnam Agricultural systems--Vietnam |
| Note | A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science, School of Environment, Resoources and Development |
| Publisher | Asian Institute of Technology |
| Series Statement | Thesis ; no. AS-01-09 |
| Abstract | The low crop productivity in Dien Bien district over last decade is a considerable concern. It is a clear sign of unsustainable agricultural land use and it puts at risk the existence of ethnic minority in the district. Poor cultivation methods, low-input and ineffective cropping systems, and increasing soil fertility depletion lead to low living standards. This study focussed on the understanding of soil fertility practice management in the context of the existing socio—economic and environmental conditions. Two groups households, “traditional” and “modem" have been studied in Dien Bien district, a typical mountainous area in northern, Vietnam. A farm survey was carried out to describe typical socio-economic profiles focussing on major parameters of the cropping systems. Soil samples were analyZed to estimate the soil-fertility levels on slopping and terraced land for both “traditional" and “modern” households in the study area. Overall, soil-fertility levels were low. However, there were clear difference between “traditional" and “modern” households both in the terraced fields and on the upland slopes, but for both cases soil-fertility levels were much lower than in forest land. The agricultural land, therefore, heavily degrades under the existing crOp-cultivation practices, especially in the “traditional” households. The cropping systems in the study area are constrained by numerous limitations and factor, such as low household income, inappropriate farm equipment, low-yielding crop varieties and low application—levels of new production technologies. These conditions resulted in low input-low output cropping system, leading to a serious decline in soil-fertility. The study identifies conducive and constraining factor for agricultural land use in the study area. It suggests approaches and measures for a gradual change from the old low- productivity crop—production system to higher—level move intensive farming. The strategy also proposes to increase the cultivated areas using untapped resources of “unused" land. To achieve higher levels of sustainability of agricultural land use, a systems approach should be followed based on the analysis of the social and agronomic analytical frameworks A more sustainable crop the overriding requirement for the achievement of sustainability increase in soil fertility, linked to favorable general rural development in the study area and other regions in the country with similar conditions. |
| Year | 2001 |
| Corresponding Series Added Entry | Asian Institute of Technology. Thesis ; no. AS-01-09 |
| Type | Thesis |
| School | School of Environment, Resources, and Development (SERD) |
| Department | Department of Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources (Former title: Department of Food Agriculture, and BioResources (DFAB)) |
| Academic Program/FoS | Agricultural and Aquatic Systems (AS) |
| Chairperson(s) | Zoebisch, Michael Albert; |
| Examination Committee(s) | Ranamukhaarachchi, S.L.;Shivakoti, Ganesh P.; |
| Scholarship Donor(s) | Danish International Development Assistance (Danida); |
| Degree | Thesis (M.Sc.) - Asian Institute of Technology |