System dynamics modelling for defining livelihood strategies for women smallholder farmers in lowland and upland regions of northern Vietnam: A comparative analysis

Tuan M. Ha, Ockie J.H. Bosch, Nam C. Nguyen and Chung T. Trinh

Agricultural Systems, 2017, vol. 150, issue C, 12-20

Abstract: This study aims to compare the main determinants of the quality of lives and livelihood options for women smallholder farmers between the lowland and upland regions of northern Vietnam. A systems approach and relevant systems tools were used to develop rich pictures (systems models) that depict the current situations and interrelationships amongst different factors within the systems. The comparative analysis showed similar and distinctive characteristics of the farming systems and women farmers in the two regions. Patterns of relationships and interplays amongst different variables reflect the complexity and multidimensional nature of the lives of the women, who are part of and influenced by the interwoven social, economic, cultural and environmental systems. The study provided insights and practical guidance for making “strategic decisions” towards sustainable agricultural systems and livelihoods of the target group in the respective regions. The systems approach, framework and process steps employed in this study are of a generic nature and can therefore be applied to solve complex problems in various other contexts around the world. Theoretical and practical contributions of using systems approaches in agricultural research and development are discussed.

Keywords: Agricultural systems; Livelihoods; Systemic interventions; System dynamics modelling; Women smallholder farmers (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2017
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

Downloads: (external link)
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0308521X16305406
Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:agisys:v:150:y:2017:i:c:p:12-20

DOI: 10.1016/j.agsy.2016.09.008

Access Statistics for this article

Agricultural Systems is currently edited by J.W. Hansen, P.K. Thornton and P.B.M. Berentsen

More articles in Agricultural Systems from Elsevier
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Catherine Liu ().