Fruit Tree-Based Agroforestry Systems for Smallholder Farmers in Northwest Vietnam—A Quantitative and Qualitative Assessment

Do Van Hung, Nguyen La, Rachmat Mulia, Göran Bergkvist, A. Sigrun Dahlin, Nguyen Van Thach, Huu Thuong Pham and Ingrid Öborn
Additional contact information
Do Van Hung: World Agroforestry (ICRAF) Vietnam, 249A Thuy Khue Street, Thuy Khue Ward, Tay Ho District, Hanoi, Vietnam
Nguyen La: World Agroforestry (ICRAF) Vietnam, 249A Thuy Khue Street, Thuy Khue Ward, Tay Ho District, Hanoi, Vietnam
Rachmat Mulia: World Agroforestry (ICRAF) Vietnam, 249A Thuy Khue Street, Thuy Khue Ward, Tay Ho District, Hanoi, Vietnam
Göran Bergkvist: Department of Crop Production Ecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), P.O. Box 7043, 750 07 Uppsala, Sweden
A. Sigrun Dahlin: Department of Soil and Environment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), P.O. Box 7014, 750 07 Uppsala, Sweden
Nguyen Van Thach: World Agroforestry (ICRAF) Vietnam, 249A Thuy Khue Street, Thuy Khue Ward, Tay Ho District, Hanoi, Vietnam
Huu Thuong Pham: World Agroforestry (ICRAF) Vietnam, 249A Thuy Khue Street, Thuy Khue Ward, Tay Ho District, Hanoi, Vietnam
Ingrid Öborn: Department of Crop Production Ecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), P.O. Box 7043, 750 07 Uppsala, Sweden

Land, 2020, vol. 9, issue 11, 1-23

Abstract: Rapid expansion of unsustainable farming practices in upland areas of Southeast Asia threatens food security and the environment. This study assessed alternative agroforestry systems for sustainable land management and livelihood improvement in northwest Vietnam. The performance of fruit tree-based agroforestry was compared with that of sole cropping, and farmers’ perspectives on agroforestry were documented. After seven years, longan ( Dimocarpus longan Lour.)-maize-forage grass and son tra ( Docynia indica (Wall.) Decne)-forage grass systems had generated 2.4- and 3.5-fold higher average annual income than sole maize and sole son tra, respectively. Sole longan gave no net profit, due to high investment costs. After some years, competition developed between the crop, grass, and tree components, e.g., for nitrogen, and the farmers interviewed reported a need to adapt management practices to optimise spacing and pruning. They also reported that agroforestry enhanced ecosystem services by controlling surface runoff and erosion, increasing soil fertility and improving resilience to extreme weather. Thus, agroforestry practices with fruit trees can be more profitable than sole-crop cultivation within a few years. Integration of seasonal and fast-growing perennial plants (e.g., grass) is essential to ensure quick returns. Wider adoption needs initial incentives or loans, knowledge exchange, and market links.

Keywords: fruit tree-based agroforestry; economic benefits; ecosystem services; farmer perspectives; resource competition; systems improvement; uptake and expansion (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q15 Q2 Q24 Q28 Q5 R14 R52 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (5)

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