Can Ecological Farming Systems Positively Affect Household Income from Agriculture? A Case Study of the Suburban Area of Hanoi, Vietnam

Abstract

From 1995, Vietnam started building safety standards for agricultural products divided into three labels, “safe”, “VietGAP”, and “organic” to deal with environmental problems and health issues resulting from the intensification of farming methods and increasing awareness of food safety. This research examines the reasons for government support of agricultural production according to those standards instead of conventional methods. To this end, we characterised the current farming systems, identified factors affecting the generation of cash income from agriculture, and investigated the influence of the farming system on farm income in the suburban area of Hanoi. Data collection involved a survey based on a structured questionnaire, key informants’ interviews, and focus group discussions conducted in 2015 with a sample size of 312 respondents. Three forms of farming systems: conventional, safe, and organic were identified. Literature suggested that ecological farming systems that are safe and organic are supported by stakeholders in Vietnam to maintain agricultural sustainability. A multiple linear regression model was applied to identify factors that affect cash incomes from agricultural activities. This research found a direct correlation between the ecological factor of farming systems and respondents’ cash income from agricultural activities. Additionally, the amount of family labour and respondents’ higher-level education and farm experiences appeared to positively influence the cash incomes from agriculture. On the other hand, farm size and membership in a farmers’ association were identified as the major factors that negatively affect agricultural cash income in the study area.