Abstract
This study aims to identify strategic actions towards climate resilient livelihoods and secure income for smallholder farmers in Thai Nguyen province of Vietnam using a systems approach and system dynamic modelling tools. Information and data for this research was collected through surveys, interviews, focus group discussions and workshops with relevant stakeholders and 187 farmers in two vulnerable districts during October 2019–April 2020. Findings of this study uncovered a number of shortcomings of the government policies and approaches in climate change adaptation. Local initiatives, community learning and ownership seem to be neglected. This research has substantiated the effectiveness and validity of systems approaches and tools in structuring and solving complex issues in agricultural research and development under the interwoven relationships between environmental and human factors. Climate resilient production models and practices are just part of the systemic interventions that need to be implemented in a coordinated manner towards a more resilient future of the farming communities. This study has addressed the current knowledge gap and the need for using integrated approaches and decision support systems for unravelling ill-structured and/or complex issues of climate change adaptation (CCA). It also provided practical recommendations for informed CCA policies and implementation.
Highlights
The growing global population together with the ongoing loss of arable soils lead to an increasing demand for agricultural production (Tilman et al, 2011)
There was an increase of precipitation during the period, the amount of rainfall was more focused during the rainy season with around 75–80% of the total annual rainfall (Thai et al, 2017), while drought has been more frequent in the dry season
The increased production risks together with low profitability of agricultural production have recently led to increasing number of young family members seeking off-farm jobs, in industrial zones in Thai Nguyen and adjacent provinces
Summary
The growing global population together with the ongoing loss of arable soils lead to an increasing demand for agricultural production (Tilman et al, 2011). This causes new challenges for agricultural systems worldwide (Azadi et al, 2019; Foley et al, 2011). To cope with these changing boundary conditions, agricultural systems of the future need to be shaped sustainably. This pathway of “Sustainable Intensification” includes the maintenance of agricultural production while minimizing environmental damage (Baulcombe et al, 2009). In developing countries like Vietnam, agriculture is an important contributing factor to economic growth and poverty alleviation, via providing food and employment opportunities. Agriculture is not always the means for poverty alleviation due to both economic and natural risks (Cuong, 2011; Ha, 2016)
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