"The papers presented in this report are the proceedings of the project's final review workshop, held in December 2000 at Can Tho University, Vietnam. The twelve papers describe the results of the various components of the project. The results of this study have provided new insights into the key factors affecting sustainability of rice-shrimp farming in the Mekong Delta. The integration of dry season shrimp farming into rice fields has raised incomes for many farmers in the region over several consecutive seasons"--Summary Web page.

This open access book is about understanding the processes involved in the transformation of smallholder rice farming in the Lower Mekong Basin from a low-yielding subsistence activity to one producing the surpluses needed for national self-sufficiency and a high-value export industry. For centuries, farmers in the Basin have regarded rice as “white gold”, reflecting its centrality to their food security and well-being. In the past four decades, rice has also become a commercial crop of great importance to Mekong farmers, augmenting but not replacing its role in securing their subsistence. This book is based on collaborative research to (a) compare the current situation and trajectories of rice farmers within and between different regions of the Lower Mekong, (b) explore the value chains linking rice farmers with new technologies and input and output markets within and across national borders, and (c) understand the changing role of government policies in facilitating the on-going evolution of commercial rice farming. An introductory section places the research in geographical and historical context. Four major sections deal in turn with studies of rice farming, value chains, and policies in Northeast Thailand, Central Laos, Southeastern Cambodia, and the Mekong Delta. The final section examines the implications for rice policy in the region as a whole.

Published in Cooperation with THE WORLD AQUACULTURE SOCIETY Shrimp is the most important commodity, by value, in the international seafood trade. The shrimp industry has grown exponentially in the last decades, and growth is expected to continue for years to come. For future success in the shrimp industry, shrimp farmers and aquaculture scientists will find a thorough knowledge of the economics, market, and trade as important as an understanding of disease management or husbandry. Shrimp Culture: Economics, Market, and Trade brings together recent findings of researchers from around the world working in various aspects of the economics of shrimp farming. This volume covers all major aspects of the economics, trade, and markets for shrimp worldwide, with chapters written by experts from major consuming countries such as the U.S.A. and major providers such as China, Thailand and Brazil. The book has been carefully edited by PingSun Leung and Carole Engle, both well known and respected internationally for their work in this area. Shrimp Culture is an essential purchase for everyone involved in this massive industry across the globe.

The Mekong Delta Environmental Research Guidebook comprehensively covers the Mekong Delta and presents new evidence on unsolved environmental issues. Key experts from around the world offer suggestions for the implementation of more effective mitigation and adaptation measures, especially in the context of climate change and upstream hydropower dam development. This book will help guide students and scientists, both juniors and seniors in their journey of the Mekong Delta Environmental Research, by presenting them with all the necessary information and detailed case studies for a more in-depth understanding of each issue so they can make informed decisions. - Presents a multi-scale viewpoint about the Mekong Delta from a global, to regional and local scale so that readers will gain a more holistic understanding of the issue from the root cause to solutions - Includes case-studies as empirical evidence to help researchers implement more effective mitigation and adaptation measures - Offers the most updated knowledge on strategies in halting environmental pressures, i.e., halting sinking delta and salinity intrusion

This book analyses the risky behavior of farmers in the Mekong Delta, Vietnam, in their shift from rice to shrimp farming, as well as the role of social capital in these farmers’ economic activities. Emphasizing the rationality of the market does not fully explain the nature of farmers’ economic behavior. Therefore, this book explores farmers’ risk mitigation and dispersion, so as to provide a systematic outlook on the issue. It finds that “food security” and “subsistence margin” influence farmers’ behavior to some extent. In the context of current social relations, farmers do not completely avoid risks, but they have different risk-taking strategies. As the book shows, social reciprocity in terms of capital, labor, and land allows poor farmers to participate in shrimp farming in a risky manner.

Viet Nam is one of the top producers and exporters of farmed shrimp. More than 80 percent of the total production comes from small intensive farms, which occupy less than 10 percent of the land area devoted to shrimp farming. It is the main source of income for many rural households in the Mekong Delta provinces. This study examines the characteristics of small intensive shrimp farms and socio-economic status of the farm households, and farming practices and performance that are associated with the strategies and preferences for managing production risks. The analysis was based on primary data from a survey of farms raising the whiteleg shrimp (Penaeus vannamei) conducted in Bac Lieu, Ben Tre and Ca Mau provinces from September 2017 to February 2018.