Overview of rice production system in the Mekong Delta-Vietnam

Abstract

Rice production is of major importance to Vietnam. It concerns 70% of labor force, the country holds at present around 10% of world rice market. Half of production and 70% of exported rice come from the Mekong Delta. Since the end of the decade of 80s, Vietnam has changed its economic policy to market-oriented economy and has got a rapid economic growth, particularly rice production has gained important achievements. From a food-deficit country, Vietnam becomes the second largest rice exporters in the world (since 1996, over 3 million tons per year has been exported). However, nowadays, rice production faces a lot of difficulties such as natural disasters, fluctuation of input and output prices, low export price, small farm scale, lack of capital, degraded equipment for pre- and post-harvesting. Furthermore, fluctuation of price in the world market influences directly on rice production in Mekong Delta. Besides, weakness of rice exporting system still restrains domestic production, and not only reduces profit of farming households but also loses national budget. In this context, like in other Asian countries, analysis and identification of production cost, paddy cost- price, economic efficiency of different agents in rice marketing channel are necessary and very important for the reliable and appropriate policy of Vietnamese authorities in short and long-run development.