Enhancing smallholders' sustainable livelihoods through cassava value chain: a study in Central Highlands, Vietnam

Abstract

Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) stands out as a remarkably multipurpose crop, playing a pivotal role in sustaining the livelihoods of small-scale farmers and bolstering their income. This study delves into the cassava value chain in Vietnam's Central Highlands, aiming to pinpoint avenues for amplifying production efficiency and refining the overall value chain dynamics. Employing a comprehensive approach, the analysis combines a survey-based questionnaire distributed to 330 smallholder farmers, focused group discussions across three provinces and in-depth interviews with key informants. The primary goal is to unearth strategies that enhance the value chain, elevate stakeholders' incomes, and ensure enduring livelihoods for households. The findings underscore that while farmers contribute significantly to the value chain by generating the highest value added, intermediaries tend to reap the most substantial profits. The intricate web of relationships among stakeholders, spanning from input providers to end-users-primarily starch and ethanol factories-is explored. The study identifies local linkages between farmers and input suppliers, encompassing both spot-market transactions and enduring partnerships. Furthermore, an imbalance in the distribution of gross profit and net profits, favoring middleman and processors disproportionately, is revealed. Nevertheless, the study emphasizes the indispensable role played by intermediaries, asserting that farmers wouldn't fully capitalize on their efforts without this crucial support.