Over twenty years after the introduction of doi moi (innovation) reforms in the mid-1980s, Vietnam’s agricultural sector has undergone substantial changes. Growing integration in international markets, rapid economic growth and urbanization have had a significant impact on demand, especially for high-value food products such as fresh fruit and vegetables. This study explores the impacts of urbanization on three fruit-growing settlements in selected provinces of the predominantly agricultural Mekong Delta region. The aims are to:

Document changes in the livelihoods of the residents of settlements in the fruit production area, especially the ‘urbanizing’ villages and villages in the periphery of urban...

The area under fruit tree cultivation in Vietnam has doubled in the past 10 years, from around 360,000 ha in 1995 to more than 750,000 ha in 2005, with an average annual growth of 8.5%. Total fruit harvest has also doubled within the same period, from 3 million tons in 1995 to more than 6 million tons in 2005 (see Figure 1). Changes in land use, from low value-added paddy to intensive gardening and commercial production of high-value fruit, have contributed substantially to the expansion of the fruit area in the country.

The five most important fruits produced in Vietnam...

Fruits have long been important income sources for the three villages. The cultivation of Hoa Loc mango, Lo Ren milk fruit and Nam Roi pomelo trees in the settlements dates back more than half a century ago. It is believed that the fertile alluvial soil along the rivers and canals in the three villages makes a difference for the quality of fruits.

Population density in the three villages is much higher than the Mekong Delta’s average, especially in Vinh Thoi (Lo Ren milk fruit) village (see Table 15). On average, households in Hoa and My Thoi 1 villages have around...

Data from the household questionnaire survey show that migration is increasingly common in the three study settlements: of the 100 households interviewed in each location, 54 in Vinh Tho have at least one migrant member, as do 48 in Hoa village and 44 in My Thoi 1. Movement has increased over the years. Before Doi Moi (the Reform period) and during the following 5-6 years, out-migration was low; My Thoi 1 village had no out-migrants at all. The 1993- 1997 period saw a first increase and 12.4% of migrants from Vinh Thoi village left during that time. The highest percentage...

The current supply of Lo Ren milk fruit and Hoa Loc mango cannot meet domestic demand, hence prices are high and exports of these two fruits are negligible. In contrast, prices for Nam Roi pomelo are low due to the excessive expansion of pomelo gardens and production in and out of the province.

In general terms, Lo Ren milk fruit, Hoa Loc mango and Nam Roi pomelo have more or less the same players in their market chains (see Figure 13). Farmers can sell their produce through six possible channels:

1. Farmers ➔ collectors ― the small and mobile traders ➔...

In our household survey, we asked respondents what they perceived to be their difficulties in fruit farming. Respondents were asked to list up to three of their main difficulties. The results are fairly similar across the three settlements. Technical factors, especially pest management, are the main concern of farmers, followed by market prices and capital.

Fruit farming practices have improved significantly in the last 5 years. Farmers can learn from each other, and from pioneer farmers, traders, extension services, research institutes, input supply companies, and the mass media. Among these players, the roles of the pioneer farmers and the Southern...

In recent years, the proverty rate among fruit framers in the rural Mekong Delta has declined more rapidly than among all rural households in the region and in Vietnam. This is despite huge fluctuations in the fruit export markets in the last decade. The findings from this case study in three rural settlements in Tien Giang and Vinh Long provinces suggest that the main driver of rural development is a positive reciprocal relationship between urban centres and farming. There are two main aspects to this: first, the growth of urban incomes throughout Vietnam, resulting in high demand for fresh fruit,...