Profitability and Sustainability of Peri-Urban Vegetable Production Systems in Viet Nam

摘要

The change from centrally planned and collective systems to a market economy in Viet Nam has led to significant increases in peri-urban vegetable production. Farms are small (on average about 0.8 ha), two-thirds which are de facto owned with about half dedicated to vegetables. Most vegetable farmers also grow rice and/or groundnut, while cabbage is the most commonly grown vegetable crop. Vegetables provide about $ 1,000 gross income, or $ 650 net income (returns to family labour and land) per year per farm. Returns per labour per day per hectare of vegetables are double or more than those for rice, providing employment for five or more times the number for rice, despite very high labour use. Major input costs relate to organic materials, chemical fertilizers and pesticides, although much variability exists between crops. Pests, and low and variable vegetable prices, were the most commonly cited constraints. The latter is subject to previously unknown market forces, while for the former some IPM isunder way. There is a clear trough in vegetable supply during August to October following the hot-wet months, and an apparent overuse of chemical fertilizers. Lack of communal purchase of inputs and marketing limit the success of market-oriented vegetable farms.