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• Characterizing Beef Consumption Behaviors of Households in Dien Bien Province, Vietnam

  Pham Van Hung, Nguyen Thi Duong Nga, Bui Van Quang, Duong Nam Ha, Tran The Cuong, Pham Kieu My, Adhikari Rajendra, Le Thi Thanh Huyen, Ives Stephen

  Received: Apr 27, 2022 / Published: Sep 30, 2022

   Abstract PDF

  The basket of meat consumption has changed during the last decade in Vietnam, including increased consumption of beef. This paper analyzes the beef consumption behaviors of households in Dien Bien province, located in Northwest Vietnam. Data were collected from a survey of 108 consumers and three focus group discussions. It was evident that the preferences of beef consumers were varied between different ethnic groups. The important criteria used in selecting meat were color, freshness, and tenderness. Consumers mentioned, but had little concern, for meat packaging, nutritional information, or quality certification, while they showed almost no concern for animal welfare in purchasing beef. As the consumers’ choice of purchasing beef was very much influenced by meat appearance, improving the conditions of butcher counters is suggested as an immediate measure. There exists an opportunity to introduce ‘cold’ beef widely as a longer-term measure.

• Ethnic Minority Farmers’ Perceptions of Climate Change and Its Effects on Crop Production in Northwest Vietnam: A Case Study of H’mong Farmers in Pa Lau Commune, Tram Tau District, Yen Bai Province

  Nguyen Thi Bich Yen, Tran Nguyen Bang, Pham Thi Hai Luyen, Giang A Tu, Tran Duc Vien

  Received: Feb 09, 2023 / Published: Jun 30, 2023

   Abstract PDF

  This study aimed to assess the perception of H'mong farmers in the northwest mountainous region on climate change, its impacts on crop production, and their adaptation strategies. Reports on natural disaster events and their damages for the period ranging from 2012-2021, together with meteorological data including daily temperature and precipitation for 1991-2021, were collected. Fifty households among the H’mong farmers were randomly selected from four villages of Pa Lau commune for interviews based on structured questionnaires. The results showed that most H’mong farmers know that the climate is changing. However, their perceptions of the trends of these changes in terms of rainfall, temperature, and extreme weather events were not consistent with the analysis of meteorological data. The results also revealed that this is because the farmers evaluated the changes mainly based on their observations of short-term climate changes and the associated impacts that directly affect their livelihoods. The farmers perceived that soil erosion and hot and extreme cold weather have tended to increase their impacts on the production of some major local crops. Other types of natural disasters such as droughts, floods, landslides, pests, and strong winds have tended to have more or less impacts depending on the crop type. Adaptation measures taken by farmers to mitigate the effects of climate change are mainly simple, flexible, seasonal and low-cost measures. This study provides basic information for authorities at all levels to mitigate the negative impacts of climate change.

• Production Efficiency Analysis of Indigenous Pig Production in Northwest Vietnam

  Tran Ba Tuan, Tong Yin, Tran Huu Cuong, Nguyen Cong Tiep, Sven König

  Received: Jun 18, 2020 / Published: Dec 31, 2020

   Abstract PDF

  This research was conducted to investigate the production efficiency of Ban pig production in northwest Vietnam between October 2016 and January 2017. Primary data obtained from 171 producers were analyzed by applying cost-benefit analysis and stochastic frontier production function. The benefit-cost ratio per litter was 1.24, indicating that the enterprise was profitable. Compared to other farms, the farms focused on farrow-to-finisher attained the highest net return (EUR 213.71/litter), while inputs were used most effectively by the mixed farms. The results from the Cobb-Douglas production function revealed that labour, feeding costs, stocking density, and pigpen structure had positive effects on the production output. Additionally, farms with the phase of farrow-to-nursery obtained less total revenue, while farms focused on the farrow-to-finisher phase achieved higher production outputs than the mixed farms. The level of technical efficiency for each farm ranged between 0.62 and 0.98, with a mean of 0.88. The number of live-born piglets and depreciation cost had positive effects, whereas the nursery interval had a negative impact on the technical efficiency. Ban pig producers could increase technical efficiency by efficiently utilizing available resources and improving managerial skills.