Shrinking agricultural land and changing livelihoods after land acquisition in Vietnam

Abstract

The phenomenon of agricultural land shrinkage is widespread in the world. This phenomenon has many causes, of which industrialisation is one. The industrialisation process is supported in most countries by the use of land acquisition as a tool to convert land use from agricultural to non-agricultural. This research surveyed 100 land-lost households to examine the impact of farmland shrinkage on their livelihoods in Vietnam. The study focuses on three factors: employment and income, how compensation money is used, and quality of life after land loss. The results show that revenue increased by USD 1,500 per household compared to before. The rate of employment depends on age and gender. There is a drop in employment among women over 35 years old and men over 40. The use of compensation money focuses on non-farm goals, with the bright spot being an investment in education for future generations. The environment and society tend to be worse according to the subjective assessment of households, but their ultimate choice is still to enjoy life after land acquisition.

Factors Influencing the Employment Transition of Rural Employees in Nghi Son Economic Zone, Thanh Hoa Province, Vietnam, After Relocation Caused by Land Acquisition

“…Additionally, rural workers' use of compensation money has been found to impact their job transition process. In some cases, rural households may invest their compensation funds in building houses, purchasing equipment, or other immediate needs, rather than considering investing in vocational training or exploring alternative career paths (Ha et al, 2022;Tuan, 2021;Tuan & Hegedűs, 2018;Wang et al, 2019). This may limit their ability to effectively transition to new employment opportunities or acquire the necessary skills for non-agricultural occupations.…”

“…In addition to individual factors, the utilization of compensation money by rural workers also affects their job transition process. Research indicates that some households primarily invest their compensation funds in immediate needs such as housing or purchasing equipment, neglecting vocational training or exploring alternative career paths (Chen et al, 2020;Ha et al, 2022;Tuan, 2021;Tuan & Hegedűs, 2018;Wang et al, 2019). This approach can limit their ability to effectively transition to new employment opportunities or acquire the necessary skills for non-agricultural occupations.…”

Land Cover Change in Hanoi: A Comparison Between Planning Cycles

“…Changing the purpose of agricultural land use arbitrarily, establishing projects and then abandoning then continue to take place, resulting in a waste of land resources. This issue occurs in numerous Vietnamese provinces, including Quang Ninh, Quang Ngai, Binh Duong, and Hanoi (Tuan, 2021;Tuan & Hegedus, 2022). The MoNRE has inspected 205 projects that have not yet put land to use during the 2018-2019 period.…”

“…As a result, people whose land was recovered ended up losing their jobs due to the shortage of capital that caused projects to be carried out in moderation, and the land was abandoned and turned into hanging projects. This resulted in a waste of land resources and labor (Tuan, 2021). Compliance with the land use planning norms of the localities is not strict.…”

Urbanization and Post-Acquisition Livelihood in a Peri-Urban Context in Vietnam: A Geographical Comparison between Hanoi, Danang, and Vinh City

“…To promote high-quality development, proper resource allocation, particularly in the case of land, must be taken into account. Vietnam has a small average land area per person, and demand for infrastructure, urban areas, and industry has grown quickly [41]. In addition, both rural and urban areas may include land that is occupied but not utilized.…”