The Impact of the Renovation Policies on the Livelihoods of ... - RCSD

Table 3: Changes in cultivation system in <strong>the</strong> six case study villages since Doi Moi policiesCultivation type Before 1990s 20051. Food cropsPaddy riceFew traditional varieties with More varieties with high yieldsvery low yields for household Intensive investment in fertilizers,consumptionown consumptionUpland riceO<strong>the</strong>r crops (maize,beans, peanuts)2. Cash crops (tea, ThachDen- Grass Jelly)Most households had largeareas for own consumptionMany local varieties with verylow yields, householdconsumption onlyNoneFew households cultivating rice;small area for own consumptionMore varieties with high yields;intensive investment in fertilizers,own consumptionSmall to large plots, mainlycommercial3. Fruit trees None to few trees near houses New varieties/clones, mainlycommercial4. Commercial tree Noneplantation5. Animal husbandry Few traditional breeds(chicken, ducks, few cattle) forMany new plantations,commercialMany new breeds for householdand commercial usehousehold consumptionNote: No cash crops and commercial tree plantation in Ban Cam and Khau Qua because <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>restriction under special use forest - Ba Be National Park<strong>The</strong> transition from self-sufficiency to a free market has led to more diversification <strong>of</strong> agriculturaland forestry production in most upland villages. <strong>The</strong> main products are not only food crops, butinclude many different kinds <strong>of</strong> cash crops, both short-term and long-term crops and commercialtrees. In addition, animal husbandry has been developed for both household consumption andcommercial purposes. Moreover, upland people now have more freedom to trade forest products,including timber and non-timber from <strong>the</strong>ir own forests, in <strong>the</strong> market. <strong>The</strong>se products areimportant in terms <strong>of</strong> employment, food, fodder and income to <strong>the</strong> local people, for bothhousehold consumption and trade. <strong>The</strong> diversification <strong>of</strong> products presents opportunities to raiseincomes. This has been encouraged by <strong>the</strong> provision <strong>of</strong> both good information about <strong>the</strong> market,and incentives to participate in <strong>the</strong> market economy. However, diversification has been limited inthose villages located far from market centres like Nac, Khuoi Ken and Khau Qua.3.2 Income3.2.1 Income at provincial levelOverall, average income per person per month in <strong>the</strong> three provinces increased during 1995-1999and again in 1999-2003 (sees Figure 2). For example, in Thai Nguyen, <strong>the</strong> average incomeincreased considerably from 155,000 VND to 196,000 VND during 1995-1999 but only slightlyfrom 196,000 VND to 230,000 VND during 1999-2003. Similarly in Cao Bang, income increasedrapidly from 120,000 VND in 1995 to 209,000 VND in 1999 but more slowly average from209,000 VND in 1999 to 238,000 VND in 2003.Paper for International Conference “Critical Transitions in <strong>the</strong> Mekong Region”29-31 January, 2007, Chiang Mai6