Agriculture in the transition to socialism: the case of South Vietnam

Melanie Beresford

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference proceeding contributionpeer-review

3 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

One of the key areas in the strategy of development based on agriculture was the Mekong delta: the largest producer and exporter of rice. There was a fairly egalitarian structure of land tenure by 1975 with the majority of the peasants being placed in the 'middle-sized' category. Here, shortage of labour, due to the war, American modernisation efforts and the increased scope for capital accumulation when land rents had decreased had led to the emergence of dynamic, modernized and partly mechanized agriculture which showed very little interest in collectivization. In the late 1970s, an agricultural production crisis developed. This was the signal for an intensification of collectivization. However, the short term results fell short of what had been expected. In 1979 a new strategy was adopted where direct contracts were signed between the government and individual producers and increasing resort was made to the market mechanism. The short run result of the change in agricultural policy has been an increase in output. Self- sufficiency in food production has been achieved in 1983, for the first time since World War II. -from Editor

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationThe primary sector in economic development
Subtitle of host publicationproceedings of the Seventh Arne Ryde Symposium, Frostavallen, August 29-30, 1983
EditorsMats Lundahl
Place of PublicationNew York
PublisherSt Martin's Press
Pages370-395
Number of pages26
ISBN (Print)0312644183
Publication statusPublished - 1985
Externally publishedYes
EventArne Ryde Symposium (7th : 1983) - Frostavallen, Höör, Sweden
Duration: 29 Aug 198330 Aug 1983

Conference

ConferenceArne Ryde Symposium (7th : 1983)
CityFrostavallen, Höör, Sweden
Period29/08/8330/08/83

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