Perception and Adoption of Food Safety Standards: A Case of VietGAP Sheep Farmers in the Ninh Thuan Province of Vietnam

Bui Van Loi, Xuan Ba Nguyen, Gia Hung Hoang, Thi Mui Nguyen, Ngoc Phong Van, Ngoc Long Tran, Mau Dung Ngo and Huu Van Nguyen ()
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Bui Van Loi: Hue University, 03 Le Loi Street, Hue City 49000, Vietnam
Xuan Ba Nguyen: Faculty of Animal Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Agriculture and Forestry, Hue University, 102 Phung Hung Street, Hue City 53000, Vietnam
Gia Hung Hoang: Faculty of Rural Development, University of Agriculture and Forestry, Hue University, 102 Phung Hung Street, Hue City 53000, Vietnam
Thi Mui Nguyen: Faculty of Animal Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Agriculture and Forestry, Hue University, 102 Phung Hung Street, Hue City 53000, Vietnam
Ngoc Phong Van: Faculty of Animal Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Agriculture and Forestry, Hue University, 102 Phung Hung Street, Hue City 53000, Vietnam
Ngoc Long Tran: Faculty of Animal Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Agriculture and Forestry, Hue University, 102 Phung Hung Street, Hue City 53000, Vietnam
Mau Dung Ngo: Faculty of Animal Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Agriculture and Forestry, Hue University, 102 Phung Hung Street, Hue City 53000, Vietnam
Huu Van Nguyen: Faculty of Animal Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Agriculture and Forestry, Hue University, 102 Phung Hung Street, Hue City 53000, Vietnam

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 11, 1-15

Abstract: To facilitate the adoption of a food safety standard by producers, it is essential to understand their perception of it. However, few empirical studies have examined how livestock farmers perceive food safety standards in Vietnam. This research examines sheep farmers’ attitudes towards Vietnamese Good Agricultural Practices (VietGAP), a type of a food safety standard in Vietnam. A sample size of 109 farmers was selected for interviews and a structured questionnaire was generated to collect data. Descriptive and bivariate analyses were employed. The study results show that sheep farmers were well aware of most VietGAP requirements. They perceived that adopting VietGAP requires practical changes in sheep farming systems, including: selecting breeding stock from clear sources to ensure sheep product traceability, collecting and treating wastes daily to protect the environment, and frequent sterilization of sheep cages. The farmers were changing several practices to comply with VietGAP. Key changed practices identified included: bought breeding stock from clear and reliable sources, frequent collecting and treating of sheep wastes, and used veterinary medicine according to instructions of veterinary medicine producers. Statistically significant relationships existing between the sheep farmers’ perceptions and their education level (Pearson = 0.229, p = 0.017), farm size (Pearson = −0.193; p = 0.049), gender (Eta = 0.173, p = 0.060), practice of using labours (Eta = 0.202, p = 0.028), training participation (Eta = 0.211, p = 0.022), credit participation (Eta = 0.177, p = 0.050), community-based organisations (Eta = 0.153, p = 0.087), and veterinary/extension contacts (Eta = 0.217, p = 0.019) were found. This means that a male sheep farmer who had a higher education level, possessed a smaller farm, practiced hired labours, participated in training/credit programs, was a member of community-based organisation, and had contacts with veterinary/extension workers likely perceived VietGAP better than their counterparts. Based on the findings of this study, it is recommended that the promotion of VietGAP for livestock farmers should be developed and carried out as joint attempts along the value chain actors. New food marketing practices and legal framework and policy for using safe food certifications are required to address to promote farmers’ adoption of VietGAP and facilitate transition towards a sustainable agri-food system in Vietnam. This study provides significant insights into safety food standard adoption by livestock farmers and highlights aspects that require to be considered when developing policies to improve the adoption of safety food standards in developing countries.

Keywords: food safety standards; sheep farmers; adoption; perception; livestock farming; Vietnam (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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