1. Mediating factors of agroforestry changes
in Vietnam: implications for agroforestry
development
Nguyen Thi Hoa, Delia Catacutan, Nguyen Mai Phuong
The 3rd World Agroforestry Congress
New Delhi, India, 10-14 February 2014

2. Background
• Agroforestry has been practiced in Viet Nam since early
1960s--- garden/fish pond/livestock and forest/garden/fish
pond/livestock models in upland regions.
• Other AF practices were then adopted at landscape, farm
and field levels, including integrated AF systems.
• The literature on transition of agroforestry and its drivers is
very limited; main focus on perennial trees.
Observations:
• Apparent change in agroforestry over the past
decades
• Decreasing trend in AF since the government
launched its national forest protection and
development programmes
• No information on how government
reforestation and forest expansion programmes
affected areas under AF

3. Objectives and study sites
Through a mixed-method approach, the study examined:
• The spatial and temporal changes of agroforestry in Vietnam
• The drivers of these changes
• Agroforestry’s contribution to people’s livelihoods
Bac Kan
Ha Tinh
Dac Nong

4. Changes in agroforestry areas in 3 provinces (2000 to 2020)
Area (ha)
250,000
210,675
200,000
218,197
Perennial tree based AF
150,000
Bac Kan
124,556
Ha Tinh
102,861
Dac Nong
100,000
72,912
Parkland AF
50,000
-
38,668
Parkland AF, perennial
tree based AF, fruit tree
based AF
23,265
2000
2010
9,951
2,026
2020

5. 2000
2010
2020
2%
5.6% 0.09%
6.4%
Natural forest
0.14%
2%
5.9%
Planted forest
0.42%
Agroforestry
26%
15%
11 %
0.13%
0.05%
0.13 %
Annual crops
1%
0.05%
1.6%
0.02%
1%
0.06%
0.44%
1.8%
5%
0.03%
0.6%
Bare land
0%
0%
0.01%
0.04%
Pathway
analysis
of AF land
in Bac Kan
province
Water surface
Conversion of AF to other land uses
Changes in other land uses
Settlement &
Built up
Conversion of other land uses to AF
Increase in natural forest
Peason’s correlations with decrease in
agroforestry area (2000-2010)
0.094
Increase in planted forest
0.511**
Increase in shifting cultivation area
-0.007
Increase in paddy area
0.528**
Increase in other land uses (bare land and settlement area)
0.0061
*p<0.05, ** p< 0.01 and ***p<0.001.
Decrease in upland crop ~ Increase
in AF: Peason’s R: 0.498, p<0.001

6. 2000
2010
1.24%
1.9%
3.3%
1.4 %
0.92%
3.9%
0.57 %
Natural forest
0.87%
0.17% 0.05%
0.24%
6.54%
2020
Planted forest
1.66%
Agroforestry
Annual crops
0.29%
1.3% 0.03%
0.00%
0.03% 0.04%
0.00%
0.24%0.04%
0.06% Bare land
0%
0.06%
Pathway
analysis of
AF land in
Ha Tinh
province
0.00%
0.01%
Conversion of AF to other land uses
Changes in other land uses
Decrease in natural forest
Increase in planted forest
Increase in upland crop area
Decrease in paddy area
0.07%
0.35%
Water surface
Conversion of other land uses to AF
Peason’s correlations with increase in
parkland AF area
0.721**
0.711*** (spurious as correlating with decrease
in natural forest)
0.462**
0.023
Decrease in other land uses (bare land and settlement area) -0.083
*p<0.05, ** p< 0.01 and ***p<0.001.
Settlement &
Built up

7. 2000
2010
8.75%
1%
10.3 %
2.4%
1%
0.57%
15.8%
2020
1.95%
32.3%
1.8%
Natural forest
0.8%
22.3 %
Planted forest
33.5%
Agroforestry
3.5%
Annual crops
3%
Settlement &
Built up
1.2%
2.2%
8.74%
0.8% 0.8%
2.47%
0.28% 0.7%
0.42%
Bare land
0.28%
0.18% 0.08%
0.46%
Water surface
5.1%
Conversion of AF to other land uses
Pathway analysis of
agroforestry land in
Dac Nong province
Conversion of other land uses to AF

8. Drivers of agroforestry transition (2000-2010)
 Forest regeneration policies facilitated conversion of parkland
agroforestry to natural forest
---Allocated forest land for households and communities for forest regeneration
---Provided financial support for forest regeneration and protection
---Prohibited slash-and-burn on hillsides
Parkland agroforestry conversion to natural forest took place mainly on community
natural forests.
But, not in Ha Tinh and Dac Nong
• Government incentives is insufficiently
attractive to farmers
• Other economically lucrative land uses are
preferred (e.g., timber, perennial tree
plantations)
http://baogialai.com.vn/channel/722/201310/loi-ich-tu-giao-khoanquan-ly-bao-ve-rung-2270233/

9.  Government reforestation: conversion of parkland agroforestry
to plantation forest
---Reforestation programmes (327, 661 and 147) provided technical and material support
Rapid and expansive conversion in Ha Tinh province:
• Initial technical and financial supports before 2000 for forest plantation
• Favorable market conditions for timber tree plantation
Less popular in Bac Kan
province:
Ha Tinh province
Peason’s R with decrease in
• Limited market for
parkland AF
Number of seedlings supported for
timber
0.012
reforestation
Financial support required
Amount of money provided for reforestation
-0.087
Bac Kan province
Number of seedlings supported for
reforestation
Amount of money provided for reforestation
*p<0.05, ** p< 0.01 and ***p<0.001.
Small conversion in Dac Nong:
• High competition with perennial
trees
0.040
0.193*
http://citinews.net/kinh-doanh/bach-thong-cap-hon-2-trieu-cay-giong-cho-nien-vu-trongrung-2013-5IG4TYQ/

10.  National poverty alleviation programmes’ support for fruit
and perennial tree plantation
High expansion of fruit tree-based agroforestry within
settlement areas in Ha Tinh
• Poverty reduction programmes (134, 135)
• Free fruit tree seedlings and trainings on fruit
tree plantation
In Dac Nong
• Home lots distributed
• Technical and financial supports provided for
the establishment of perennial tree farms.
http://dienbientv.vn/tin-tuc-su-kien/kinh-te/201206/Xoadoi-giam-ngheo-tu-mo-hinh-trong-cay-an-qua-2163643/

11.  Government policies and local programmes on the development of
perennial tree plantations
National strategy on expansion of perennial tree plantations (ex. rubber)
Support and programs localized, some cases with mis-implementation of the government’s
policy
Ha Tinh: rubber expansion on both
Dac Nong: develop market access for
community/allocated natural forest
perennial trees (coffee, cacao) in the area;
land, plantation forest
technical training on perennial trees
• Rubber allowed (regardless of type of land • Mostly occurred on community-managed
use) in areas between 15 and 25 degree
natural forest lands, since these have not
slopes. + financial support
been allocated to households
• Linkage between farmers, local government • Home gardens
and rubber companies facilitated
• Increase farmers’ knowledge on rubber and
emerging market
http://wasi.org.vn/home/index.php?option
=com_content&view=article&id=386%3Aklk-ci-to-li-cac-vn-ca-phe-bng-cac-ging-chnlc-cht-lng-cao&catid=90%3Atin-hoat-dongnganh&Itemid=199&lang=en
http://caphesach.vn/news/Trong-trot/Dak-Lak-toan-tinh-co5-lien-minh-san-xuat-ca-phe-ben-vung-853/

12.  Proximity to tree nurseries facilitated conversion of upland crop cultivation
areas to park land AF
In Bac Kan, but not in
Ha Tinh and Dac Nong
province
•
•
•
Timber tree seedlings mainly bought from nurseries in Bac Kan
Seeds or seedlings directly from local traders at a reasonable price
than from nurseries in other areas
Rubber seedlings may be freely supplied or delivered by rubber
companies in Ha Tinh
Peason’s correlations
Proximity to tree nurseries ~ increase in
parkland AF
Proximity to markets for cash crop (tobacco)
~ decrease in parkland AF
Proximity to cassava market ~decrease in
parkland AF
*p<0.05, ** p< 0.01 and ***p<0.001.
-0.244* (Bac Kan)
-0.199* (Bac Kan)
-0.032 (Ha Tinh)
Availability of markets for cash crops
• Improved markets for cash crops
• Shorter proximity to market for cash crop facilitated conversion
of parkland AF to cash crop production (farmers have to
transfer products to collection points in Bac Kan)
• In Ha Tinh, farmers are able to sell cassava directly to local
traders
http://petrotimes.vn/news/vn/kinh-te/chan-dung-doanhnghiep/ngan-hang-chinh-sach-xa-hoi-10-nam-vi-nguoingheo.html

13.  Market availability for timber and price increase: conversion of parkland AF to
plantation forest in Bac Kan and Ha Tinh provinces
Bac Kan:
• Increase in Melia timber price strongly
correlates with the decrease in agroforestry
area during 2000-2010 (Peason’s R:
0.094, p<0.001).
•
•
Ha Tinh:
Emerging market for Acacia timber
pushed expansion of Acacia
plantations into parkland areas
Farmers are able to sell Melia timber (main
species on parkland AF; not a regulated
species).
Price boom for Melia timber  farmers
converted their agroforestry areas into
Melia plantation forest.
Distance to timber
market
Peason’s correlation with decrease
of parkland AF
Bac Kan
0.257 (p: 0.225)
Ha Tinh
-0.06 (p: 0.826)
http://baoquangngai.vn/channel/2023/201012/tra-bong-chuyenbien-tu-cuoc-van-dong-hoc-tap-va-lam-theo-tam-guong-dao-duc-hochi-minh-1969990/
Farmers are able to directly
sell their timber to local
traders

14.  Infrastructure development and market for perennial tree products
Expansion of perennial treebased AF in natural forests
and settlement areas in Dac
Nong
Increasing markets
for cashew and
coffee
• Local traders collect products
• Products to collection points
by farmers
• Inputs easily accessible
Improved proximity to markets
for perennial tree products and
urban centres
Peason’s R with increase in
perennial tree AF
-0.154; p: 0.032
Proximity to urban area
http://giacaphe.com/6964/phoi-tron-phan-don-de-boncho-ca-phe/
Proximity to the market
for perennial tree
products
-0.157; p: 0.029
http://www.dulichsingapore.com/video- http://www.tintaynguyen.com/dak-lak-nong-dan-hanche-ban-ca-phe-de-cho-tang-gia/17510/
clip/366-ngan-ngo-voi-nui-doi-dak-

15.  Fruit market availability and proximity
•
•
Proximity to market--- not significantly correlated with the increase in fruit tree-based
agroforestry area in Ha Tinh province (Peason’s R: 0.191; p: 0.355)
Good access and increasing market demand, farmers able to sell fruit to local traders
 Population increase: expansion of AF area (where AF can be an economically
viable option)
Natural population
growth
In-migration
Greater demand for
land for agricultural
production
Encroach natural forest
land or buy land to convert
to perennial tree based AF
in Dac Nong
Peason’s R with increase in
perennial tree AF
The area of lands bought by
migrant families
0.916 (p<0.001)
Household size
0.401 (p< 0.001)
http://danviet.vn/kinh-te/tich-cuc-tai-canh-va-giamdien-tich-ca-phe/20130806113451275p1c25.htm

16.  Household economy: increase income from paddy fields
In Bac Kan province
Peason’s R with increase in the share of income
from paddy fields per total household income in
2000-2010
Decrease in parkland
agroforestry area
0.155*,
increase in paddy area
0.468*
(*) p<0.05
Increase in the share of
income from paddy
fields, in total HH
income
Increase in paddy
area in 2000-2010
•
•
More resources to invest in
converting parkland AF to
plantation forest
Household economy more
focus on paddy fields
Decrease of
parkland AF in Bac
Kan province

17. Linking household economic factors with the area under agroforestry
Peason’s correlation with total area under AF
Bac Kan
Ha Tinh
0.161* (spurious, with the area of
Income from upland crops
0.201*
planted forest)
Income from paddy field
0.064
0.106
Income from livestock raising
0.525***
0.047
Off-farm income
-0.123
0.301
Total household income
0.195*
0.111
Total number of cattles (buffalo, cow 0.404*** (spurious, with income
0.189*
and goat) by 2012
from livestock)
Number of deer
NA
0.416***
*p<0.05, ** p< 0.01 and ***p<0.001.
•
•
•
AF significantly contributes to
the household’s economy
Richer households are more
incline to adopt AF
More resources from upland
crops or livestocks AF
adoption
•
Households who
owned a number of
animals are better
off, and invest more on
AF.
Dac Nong
Area of perennial tree-based AF ~ household income: significantly correlated
(Peason’s R: 0.562***), but not with any other income sources.

18. Conclusions and implications
AF development in Vietnam is largely based on reinforcing factors such as government support,
market creation for agroforestry products, local capacity development, and availability of, or
access to financial capital.
•
Parkland AF areas were mainly converted to natural forest in Bac Kan province and to
planted forest in Ha Tinh province. Conversely, in Dak Nong province, natural forest and
settlement areas were converted to agroforestry.
• Agroforestry change in Bac kan province was largely driven by government forest
regeneration and reforestation programmes and creation of markets for cash crops;
whereas, improved physical and market infrastructure, as well as steady increases in timber
prices and perennial tree crops were key drivers in Ha Tinh and Dak Nong provinces.
• Richer households tend to increase their agroforestry areas from surplus incomes than
accept minimal government incentives for reforestation or forest regeneration.
Therefore,
• The development of agroforestry in Vietnam will likely take place in areas where no land
use option is economically superior to it.
• The decision to adopt agroforestry is largely attributed to the economic value of AF
products.
• The economic value of environmental services derived must be accounted to increase the
profitability of agroforestry.

19. Thank you for your attention
The authors would like to thank Vietnam Forest Inventory and Planning Institute (FIPI) for
providing spatial data, the District People Committees and local authorities in the six study
districts, and the 900 farmer-respondents who willingly collaborated us in this study, and
to Dr. Nguyen Ngoc Thuy from Ho Chi Minh Nong Lam University for his supervision of the
survey in Dac Nong province. The authors also acknowledged the assistance from Ms.
Doan Thi Luyen, Ms. Dang Thi Thu Thuy, Ms. Nguyen Thi Toan, Ms. Pham Thanh Loan, Ms.
Le Thi Tam and Ms. Tran Thi Sang.
For more information, please contact:
t.nguyen@cgiar.org
d.c.catacutan@cgiar.org