How socioeconomy, demography and farming history influence agro-biodiversity of homegardens in subsistence farming system in central Vietnam?

Martina Snášelová

Bachelor's thesis

Abstract:

Agrobiodiversity represents an essential part of homegardens, which are traditional farming systems with an important role in the maintaining the sustainability of household economy in tropical areas. Household, as a basic economic unit of farming systems, consists of natural, human and capital resources. Those resources together with external environment shape the diversification of farm and household activities, goals or ability to face any challenges and/or threats. The thesis attempts to identify crucial demographic and socio-economic factors influencing agrobiodiversity of homegardens in subsistence farming systems in central Vietnam. The survey was based on data collected in the period of 2008-2012 in three villages of Phong My Commune, situated in the buffer-zone of Natural Reserve in central Vietnam. Data were collected in two phases. First phase documented agrobiodiversity of 101 homegardens and demographic data of their owners. Second part gathered further information on demography as well as social and economic background of 147 households. Total number of 36 households was suitable for our analysis. Three biodiversity indices, Shannon-Wiener, Margalef and Simpson's, were calculated. Linear regression models identified household size and dependent members as variables having potential significance that influence agrobiodiversity. According to correlation analysis, increasing cash income and homegarden size tend to decrease the species diversity and richness. On the other hand farmer's age and number of female household members correlated positively. Based on the results achieved, we cannot conclude that agrobiodiversity of homegardens in central Vietnam is significantly influenced by the socio-economic and demographic indicators. This could be caused for example by the strong cultural background of Vietnamese homegardens or by the specific situation of Vietnamese centrally planned and rapidly growing economy. Nevertheless, for better understanding of that issue, more analysis using more convenient data and indices as well as considering also macroeconomic environment should be considered.

Keywords

sustainability, agro-biodiversity, Vietnam, homegardens, demography, household economy

Language used: English

Date on which the thesis was submitted / produced: 15. 4. 2016

Thesis defence

• Supervisor: Ing. Vladimír Verner, Ph.D.

Czech University of Life Sciences Prague

Faculty of Tropical AgriSciences

Bachelor programme / field:
Agricultural Specialization / Agriculture in Tropics and Subtropics