Uncovering the potential of maize value
chain in Northwest Vietnam:
Implications for research and development
Aziz A. Karimov and Jean-Joseph Cadilhon*
* International Livestock Research Institute
Background and Objectives
Recent input and output price alterations, increasing impact
of climate change, continuing environmental degradation, and
increasing poverty in rural areas warrant renewed and deeper
investigations of the Vietnamese agrifood value chains.
Key to relevant value chain diagnostics in fragile upland areas
is a good overview of the economic benefits that drive actors’
behavior along the chain and better understanding of
relationships between farmers, market and consumers.
This study carries out an assessment of the maize value chain
and of the linkages in the agrifood sector of Sơn La Province of
Vietnam.
Sơn La province has the largest concentration of maize
production in the country.
Maize is a vital source of feed for the rapidly booming
livestock industry in Vietnam. It plays an important role in the
livelihood of farmers, especially the poor and ethnic
minorities.
It is cultivated in two seasons; however most of the maize is
planted in Winter-Spring farming season, accounting for 92%
of total maize area in 2013. Thus the phenomenon of soil
erosion is a problem for local governments, because in the
rainy Summer-Autumn farming season, the crop area coverage
is very small.
Methods
The maize value chain assessment study used the two first
steps of the LINK methodology developed by CIAT.
a. Value Chain Mapping
b. Business Model Canvas
‘The LINK methodology describes the current functioning of
the market chain and key business models.
It helps to design innovations that empower producer groups
to engage more effectively and buyers to act in ways more
amenable to smallholder farmers.’
Pictures
Results and Conclusions
The preliminary analysis shows that maize is often utilized within the boundaries of farm households and part of the harvest is
traded within the commune or district through collectors to animal producers and feed mills.
Value chain mapping indicates that the higher maize productivity and trade in Sơn La is strongly related to the province’s animal
production development.
The study of business models used by chain actors shows the economic benefit to farmers of using collectors as market
intermediaries: collectors pay for transport from remote farmgates to market and buy all the maize available.
In the context of rapidly increasing demand for feed, interventions should target increasing actors’ efficiency in the maize value
chain and improving trade linkages in each part of the chain taking into account other elements of the agrifood system.
Findings also recommend developing an improved seed sector and effective extension delivery system, which would further
enhance income, lessen poverty and improve livelihoods of farming households.
Aziz A. Karimov
Az.karimov@cgiar.org ● ILRI, 17A Nguyen Khang street, Trung Hoa ward, Cau Giay district
Hanoi, Viet Nam.
Acknowledgement: This activity is funded by the CGIAR Research Program on Humidtropics
http://humidtropics.cgiar.org/
This document is licensed for use under a Creative Commons Attribution –Non commercial-Share Alike 3.0
Unported License September 2014
September 2014