Challenges to Rural Poverty Reduction in Viet Nam - Oxfam Blogs
Challenges to Rural Poverty Reduction in Viet Nam - Oxfam Blogs
Challenges to Rural Poverty Reduction in Viet Nam - Oxfam Blogs
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Participa<strong>to</strong>ry poverty moni<strong>to</strong>r<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> rural communities <strong>in</strong> <strong>Viet</strong> <strong>Nam</strong><br />
38<br />
BOX 1.6. Post natural disaster relief <strong>in</strong> Duc Huong commune<br />
Follow<strong>in</strong>g floods <strong>in</strong> September and Oc<strong>to</strong>ber 2010, people <strong>in</strong> Duc Huong commune<br />
(Vu Quang, Ha T<strong>in</strong>h) received 90 <strong>to</strong>ns of rice, cloth<strong>in</strong>g, food, household utensils and<br />
assistance from Government, agencies, mass organizations and benefac<strong>to</strong>rs.<br />
Nevertheless, the relief operation was problematic <strong>in</strong> a number of ways:<br />
• Too many relief delegations visited the commune at the same time, caus<strong>in</strong>g<br />
confusion<br />
• Aid was delayed by a month<br />
• The promise of aid meant some households did not attend <strong>to</strong> their farms. In<br />
2010, the commune harvested only 90 of a potential 200 ha of w<strong>in</strong>ter corn<br />
crop.<br />
• Although the first <strong>in</strong>stalment of aid went <strong>to</strong> poor households and households<br />
seriously affected by the floods later <strong>in</strong>stalments for better off households<br />
were of higher values.<br />
• Aid was not distributed equally: “Households with only one person received<br />
the same amount as those hav<strong>in</strong>g six members” (poor men <strong>in</strong> Huong Tho<br />
village, Duc Huong commune).<br />
Community-based natural disaster risk management has not yet been given<br />
sufficient attention. At most moni<strong>to</strong>r<strong>in</strong>g po<strong>in</strong>ts, support measures only focused on<br />
post-natural disaster relief. There are no systematic measures address<strong>in</strong>g mitigation,<br />
prevention, adaptation and res<strong>to</strong>ration, or which focus on community-based natural<br />
disaster risk management (under Decision 1002). Risk management has not yet been<br />
<strong>in</strong>tegrated <strong>in</strong><strong>to</strong> local socio-economic development plann<strong>in</strong>g.<br />
The “4-on-spot” measure 9 rema<strong>in</strong>s difficult. A typical case is Duc Huong, Ha T<strong>in</strong>h.<br />
Although a “4-on spot” plan is made every year, it has proved difficult <strong>to</strong> implement for a<br />
number of reasons. These <strong>in</strong>clude rudimentary equipment, <strong>in</strong>sufficient <strong>in</strong>formation, poor<br />
communication, limited food and manpower and <strong>in</strong>sufficient community awareness of<br />
how <strong>to</strong> prevent natural disasters.<br />
Pests, diseases, and epidemics<br />
Pests and diseases are more complicated. In 2009, four communes were attacked<br />
by pests compared <strong>to</strong> two communes <strong>in</strong> 2008. There were fewer pests and diseases <strong>in</strong><br />
2010 and 2011, although most moni<strong>to</strong>r<strong>in</strong>g po<strong>in</strong>ts were still affected. The spr<strong>in</strong>g rice yield<br />
<strong>in</strong> Thuan Hoa -Ha Giang (2009), Thuan Hoa-Tra V<strong>in</strong>h (2009) and Thanh Xuong-Dien Bien<br />
(2009 and 2010) was reduced by 20-30%. The poor appeared <strong>to</strong> be disproportionately<br />
affected, as they did not use pesticides <strong>in</strong> time, or did not use them properly. Support<br />
activities undertaken by all localities <strong>to</strong> help people prevent pests and diseases have not<br />
proved effective. Improved farm<strong>in</strong>g systems (IPM, SRI and ICM 10 ) have been <strong>in</strong>troduced<br />
<strong>in</strong><strong>to</strong> some areas, but are very rarely applied (Box 1.7).<br />
9 The 4-on-spot disaster prevention guidel<strong>in</strong>e comprises on-spot direction, on-spot forces, on-spot means<br />
and materials and on-spot logistics.<br />
10 IPM is <strong>in</strong>tegrated pest management. SRI is system of rice <strong>in</strong>tensification. ICM is <strong>in</strong>tegrated crop management,<br />
also known as “3 reductions, 3 <strong>in</strong>creases” approach; <strong>in</strong> which “3 reductions” <strong>in</strong>clude reduction of the quantity<br />
of seeds or volume of water used, reduction of urea used, and reduction of pesticide; “3 <strong>in</strong>creases” are<br />
<strong>in</strong>crease of crop yields, <strong>in</strong>crease of quality of agricultural produce, <strong>in</strong>crease of economic efficiency over an<br />
acreage unit.