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Asian Journal of Agriculture and Development (AJAD) - Call for papers!

Adoption of aromatic rice in Mekong Delta, Vietnam

(Vietnam), Master of Science in Agricultural and Resource Economics (Kasetsart University)

Thesis Abstract:

Vietnam is one of the three largest rice exporters, accounting for 22.71 percent of world’s total rice export in 2013. Nevertheless, the majority of exported rice is of low to medium quality. While rice consumption throughout Asia is experiencing a downward trend, particularly among higher income countries, aromatic rice (AR) is still highly demanded. The increase of high quality rice area and reduction of low quality rice area will not only increase farmers’ income, but also improve quality of Vietnamese rice exports. This study investigated factors contributing to aromatic adoption based on Random Utility Theory. In addition, Contingent Valuation Method is used to estimate price premium for aromatic rice adoption in Mekong Delta (MD), the main rice area of Vietnam.

The result from Binomial Logit Model revealed that not only communication with extension officers and knowledge transfer from attending field demonstration, but also connection with private companies through contracts and access to seeds were positively related to aromatic rice adoption. Furthermore, the probability of willingness to switch toAR production among LQR growers increased with the increase of market price difference between LQR and AR. The mean of their willingness-to- accept price difference between AR and LQR was estimated at VND 1,085/kg, which was higher than the current price difference of VND 731/kg. The findings of this study suggested that in addition to the increasing on-farm demonstrations and strengthening the linkage between farmers and private companies, a sufficient increase in market price premium for AR could be one of the ways to create more incentive for AR adoption and reduce LQR area in MD.