Abstract
Climate change poses an acute threat to the Vietnamese Mekong Delta (VMD). To respond to this threat, the structure of the delta’s agriculture-based economy must transform, becoming more adaptive to changing conditions. One adaptive livelihood option is the use of flood-based farming systems in the upper VMD. The present study examines local perceptions of such a system in Dong Thap Province, a lowland, flood-affected area of the upper VMD. Specifically, we explored lotus farming as a potential flood-based adaptive livelihood model for the region. The study advances the current literature by using historical research, embedded in narrative analysis applying the social construction of technology (SCOT) lens. We collected data through in-depth interviews and field surveys to qualitatively analyze the emergence and status of lotus cultivation in the study area, zooming in on how local society evolved with expansion of this farming model. The findings suggest that as an innovative idea, lotus farming initially emerged due to unfavorable natural conditions, and then was developed as an attractive nature-based livelihood, and thus received increased attention. It has been accepted and modified over time according to the new interests of further stepped-in stakeholders. Our findings echo the social construction of technology perspective as we found lotus farming to be a technological artifact that did not develop on its own, by was driven by different interpretations and re-negotiation process. This made more room for stakeholders to shape and reshape it in a way that fits their interests.
Highlights
Climate change poses an acute threat to the Vietnamese Mekong Delta (VMD)
In addition to providing a historical overview of the developments and changes affecting lotus farming in the VMD, we address three research questions: (a) Why is there so much flux in the lotus farming model as an innovation? (b) What features of lotus farming are working well? (c) Has lotus farming reached some degree of closure or stabilization that could confirm its suitability as a climate-adaptive innovation for the VMD; or is the search for an appropriate lotus technology still underway?
Within our UDW project, we conducted other studies exploring the roles of innovations in the strategic delta planning framework; the present study examined whether one specific innovation, lotus farming, could be viewed as successful in terms of its acceptance by relevant stakeholders
Summary
As the region’s economy is predominantly agriculture-based [1], the Vietnamese government today faces a dilemma of whether to continue pursuing the traditional model of farming or to explore farming systems better adapted to the changing climate. The MDP calls for planning processes to involve a broad spectrum of stakeholders, with grassroots actors playing a pivotal role in agricultural innovation. Other relevant social groups (RSG) in Vietnam are government, academia, and donors All of these stakeholders have played a role, whether active or passive, in shaping innovations in the country. Their varied interests and agendas, depending on how consensus was reached, have influenced the outcomes of planning processes. Recent studies by our project team (UDW—Urbanizing deltas of the word) point to a shift in mindset among Vietnamese political actors (an important stakeholder) toward recognition of the need for adaptation pathways to ensure a more sustainable future [8,9,10]
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