Political Ecology Assessment of Smallholder Farmers' Vulnerabilities Following Agricultural Transition for Climate Adaptation -A case study of Kien Giang, Vietnam-

Abstract

This thesis aims to analyze the vulnerabilities of farmers in the Mekong Delta from a political ecology perspective due to Vietnam's government-led agricultural transition. The region is a major agricultural area in Vietnam contributing significantly to rice production and exports, yet facing challenges such as salinity, prompting a shift towards rice-shrimp farming. While this transition has led to increased income and improved climate resilience for some farmers, it poses initial investment challenges that may exacerbate vulnerabilities for small-scale farmers. Government policies promoting hybrid agriculture prioritize economic benefits over traditional rice monoculture, yet not all farmers benefit equally, particularly disadvantaging the poor and small-scale farmers. Farmers are expected to take all the business risks associated with this agricultural shift. Therefore, this thesis focuses on analyzing the structural vulnerabilities from social, economic, and political perspectives, which farmers face due to agricultural transition and top-down climate change adaptation policies implemented by the Vietnamese government.