AJAD Volume 15 Issue No. 2 December 2018

Agricultural production in the face of climate change requires a climate-smart transformation and reorientation at multiple scales. Vietnam is one of the developing countries that is agriculture-based and severely affected by climate change; therefore it is crucial that the agricultural system advances toward this transformation. While climate-smart agriculture has gained a significant attention in global fora, context-specific evidence is still scarce in Vietnam. This study examines climate-smart agriculture potentials in tea production systems in the northern mountainous region of Vietnam. Since the climate-smart agriculture concept is multidimensional, which includes food security and adaptation and mitigation, an interdisciplinary analytical framework is employed in this research to assess the economic and biophysical dimensions. Enterprise budgets and representative farms (i.e., farms or households having one or more activities or enterprises) are developed for tea and alternative crops, as well as livestock production, to analyze the productivity dimension of food security. In evaluating the adaptation potential of tea production, local farmers’ perceptions and experiences of extreme weather events are combined with ERA-Interim data (1989-2013) and household survey data on income levels (reanalysis dataset taken from the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts; ERA stands for ECMWF Reanalysis). Greenhouse gas emissions and carbon sequestration potentials are estimated through partial Carbon Footprint Life Cycle Assessment. Results show that tea production systems generate net margins, returns to capital, and family labor higher than the alternatives. Farmers, therefore, have high incentives to switch from other crops to tea production. In the face of climate change, tea has shown a strong biophysical adaptive capacity compared to other crops in the northern mountainous region. Tea production systems have a high capability for carbon storage. Evidence of strong synergies between food security and mitigation and adaptation is demonstrated for tea production systems in the northern mountainous region, and potential tradeoffs were highlighted, where relevant.

A simulation of crop choice was performed to examine the feasibility of introducing diversified farming systems, coexisting with seasonal floods, as an alternative to triple rice cropping system in the flood-prone Mekong Delta in Vietnam. A combination of 1.78 to 1.88 ha of double rice cropping and 0.12 to 0.22 ha of upland cropping can achieve an equivalent income or profit from 2 ha of triple rice cropping. Farmers evaluated the full-dike system positively in terms of both economic aspects and living conditions. Some farmers recognized that full flood control might have worsened the natural environment and reduced soil fertility resulting in declining rice yields. To establish a smart flood control system as an adaptation strategy against expected climate change, the following measures must be undertaken: (1) sensitize farmers to the increasing climatic risk in the near future and long-term adverse effects of intensive triple rice cropping; (2) offer alternative environmentally sound and economically profitable farming systems; and (3) develop institutional design for well-coordinated gate and pumping operations both at dike units and in canal network systems.

Smallholder farmers are the main stakeholders in agricultural development in China. Their agricultural knowledge (indigenous knowledge) influences their decisions and behaviors both directly and indirectly. However, the importance of smallholder-farmers’ indigenous knowledge is often ignored and not considered by influential actors, such as the government and scientists. This paper examines smallholder-farmers’ perspectives of agricultural knowledge use and acquisition, including their indigenous knowledge and scientific knowledge disseminated by government’s extension system. Both questionnaire and interview methods are applied. This study sheds light on smallholder-farmers’ perspectives on agricultural knowledge. We strongly argue that farmers should not be treated as passive followers in the development of agricultural knowledge.

Global efforts to improve malnutrition have regained considerable momentum. Enhancing cross-sectoral and multilevel coordination for accelerating progress in reaching global nutrition goals has been a key focus. These efforts have recast how the international development community plans for and implements agriculture policy and programming.

While creating and maintaining political momentum for improved nutrition in high-burden countries must be a priority, building the institutional capacity of donor countries to orient investments for enhancing nutrition outcomes is key to this overall vision.

From 2013 to 2015, the Australian aid program made significant progress in aligning its agriculture policy and programming to be more nutrition-sensitive. During this period, multiple influences converged to create the conditions for change. This paper takes a retrospective analysis of the shifts that transpired over this period, and the broader policy environment, which made these possible.
The important role played by the Food Systems Innovation (FSI) initiative, a partnership between three Australian research and development players in driving this process, is highlighted.

The lessons shared here are offered in the spirit of supporting other donors and organizations working in international agriculture development to undertake similar organizational-level action towards greater nutrition-sensitivity. In doing so, agriculture development programs will be better aligned to meet Sustainable Development Goal 2, which seeks to improve nutrition and sustainable agriculture globally. The paper concludes by highlighting the key priorities for sustaining momentum and converting this to results at the ground level.

Land-related conflicts in Cambodia have been garnering much attention. The Cambodian government, through the Prime Minister, pledged to resolve land-related disputes, as they not only hurt the people but negatively impact on the national development agenda. Land disputes are estimated to involve 200,000 poor Cambodians. The government has been urged by international aid agencies to solve land problems to aid rural development and alleviate poverty. This paper evaluates the determinants of land conflict and its impact on land productivity, and provides recommendations on land governance in Cambodia, using an extensive 2004 nationwide household survey data consisting of 15,000 households in 600 rural and 300 urban villages.

In the face of a growing landless population, primarily with loss of ownership by female-headed households, this study finds evidence that suggests other approaches for policymakers in preventing a growing landless population and land conflict prevention. It was also found out that modalities of acquisition are not a dominant cause of land conflict, while posessing land title reduces the probability of getting one's land into dispute.

The analysis finds evidence of negative impact of land conflicts on farm productivity. This finding supports the hypothesis of the study and confirms the downward spiral events of conflicts that impact on farm productivity. The most involved in land-related conflicts are agricultural lands, which may signify the community’s risk for low land productivity. The numerous land grabbing incidents in Cambodia may also lead to land conflicts. There is urgent call for the Cambodian government to solve land conflicts or improve land governance not only for agricultural development, but also for Cambodians’ rights over their lands. The impetus of resolving land issues, especially in rural Cambodia, will contribute to more effective poverty reduction efforts.

This article highlights bilateral investment and trade between Australia and Vietnam. Through analysis of the situation of trade and investment in agriculture and addressing strengths and weaknesses in agriculture of each country, opportunities and threats in fostering trade and investment in agriculture between the two countries are demonstrated. Results show that geographic, climate conditions, government interests, stable socioeconomic environments, and potential benefits are key opportunities to enhance trade and investment in agriculture between the two countries. However, both countries have to deal with obstacles in requirements of food security, food safety, the competitiveness of the agriculture sector, and issues in trade policies.

Indonesia possesses a vast amount of forest resources. However, this condition has degraded and has triggered ecological and social problems. Many researches, especially forest governance researches, have been conducted in Indonesia and these have covered wide aspects of forest governance. Research findings are suspected to be neither adopted nor implemented in the policy process because there is no summary of the research findings in a simple and an easy-to-understand form. A systematic review method enables a more comprehensive search and presentation of these research findings. This paper presents a protocol map in conducting researches related to forest governance. A data extraction template with 13 keywords was used to assess articles included in the study. Based on the findings, determining keyword/s is a crucial step in conducting a systematic review.

This book attempts to capture the challenges faced by Indian agriculture through the post Green Revolution period and assesses its readiness to face emerging challenges. Through 14 chapters, the book weaves together the passage of the Indian agriculture through its various achievements, and emphasizes on the past five decades. Each of the chapters can also be read in isolation with ample references for further readings. Overall, it is well written and can be used as a good study material for both undergraduate and graduate level courses on agricultural development in India.