VietNamNet Bridge – Although the Mekong Delta is Vietnam’s largest granary, which accounts for 50% of the country agricultural output, the rate of poverty and illiteracy in the region is the highest in the country.

Up to 2 million out of 17 million people in the Delta are considered poor. The delta’s per capita income is much lower than the national average, at about VND34.6 million ($1,700)/person/year.

There are many reasons why local people's living standards are still low, in spite of the region’s high agricultural output. 

One of the major problems is the lack of a national policy to build brands for the Mekong Delta’s agricultural products. As a result, the prices for agricultural products are low and the earning of farmers is also low.

Mr. Nguyen Van Chung, who runs a household-sized milling facility in Phong My Commune, Cao Lanh District of Dong Thap Province, said that farmers have to face too many pressures and risks from both natural conditions and the market. 

For years, the rice price has been lower than the production cost as the farmers have to sell their products through many intermediaries while the prices for agricultural materials are high, also due to intermediaries.

Mr. Nguyen Van Doi, manager of an agricultural cooperative in Binh Thanh Commune, Lap Vo District, Dong Thap Province, said that the government’s rice stockpile policy is only good for rice traders, not for farmers. Thanks to this policy, rice trading companies can purchase rice from farmers at low prices for stockpile and then sell at high price.

Migration, lack of farm land or population growth worsen the problems. 

On the other hand, due to the characteristics of the region, people's lives depend almost entirely on nature. Farming and aquaculture both depend on weather conditions. The prolonged floating season and flooding make their lives unstable. 

Prof. Vu Trong Khai, independent expert on agricultural economics and rural development, said that although the Mekong Delta holds an abundant labor force, with 59.8 percent of the population or over 10 million people at the working age (2012 statistics), most of them are untrained. This prevents them from approaching the markets and taking the initiative in production.

According to a 2015 report by the Ministry of Education and Training, the percentage of children dropping from school in the Mekong Delta is three times higher than that of the whole country. 

Prof. Khai said to help farmers escape from poverty, it is necessary to provide vocational training to young people.

Hoang Huong

(Funding for this story was provided by the Earth Journalism Network)