Wehmeyer, Helena. Swiss foreign aid shaping agricultural development in Southeast Asia: adoption and diffusion of agricultural best management practices through the CORIGAP project in China, Myanmar, and Vietnam. 2024, Doctoral Thesis, University of Basel, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences.
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Abstract
In Southeast Asia, rice is the staple food crop. It is predominantly cultivated by smallholder farmers. Although the Green Revolution has modernized rice agriculture considerably, farmers today face the consequences of decades-long unsustainable natural resource use. Environmental degradation has become prevalent and climate change is exacerbating the current challenges. In this context, the diffusion of agricultural best management practices and technologies is crucial for ensuring rural livelihoods and global food security. Therefore, the ‘Closing Rice Yield Gaps in Asia with Reduced Environmental Footprint’ (CORIGAP) project funded by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) aims to improve rice farmers’ productivity and profitability in six Southeast Asian countries by disseminating sustainable agriculture practices and technologies.
The central purpose of this thesis was to analyze the effect of the CORIGAP project on rice farmers’ yields and livelihoods due to the introduction of sustainable best management practices and technologies. Three main research objectives were investigated: 1) the effect of the CORIGAP project on farmers’ socioeconomic and agronomic situation, 2) farmers’ adoption behavior of the CORIGAP recommended practices and technologies, and 3) farmers’ perceptions of the practices and technologies, including economic, social, and environmental changes, since the adoption thereof. Three project countries were selected: China, Myanmar, and Vietnam.
The impact of the CORIGAP project in the study regions was examined individually based on country-specific development objectives and diffusion strategies. An exploratory research approach was employed and a comprehensive methodology using quantitative methods was applied. Data for the empirical country analyses were collected by means of farmer questionnaire surveys using a digital questionnaire application. For the agronomic data, a household survey was conducted once before and once after the CORIGAP interventions. For the perception data, a farmer perception survey was conducted once after the introduction of the recommended practices and technologies. Data were analyzed using uni- and multivariate statistics, including Pearson correlations, t-test with Cohen’s d effect size, ANOVA, Cronbach’s α reliability test, exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses, hierarchical linear regression analysis, and structural equation modeling (SEM).
Farmers perceived notable positive changes to their livelihoods and living conditions due to the adoption of the CORIGAP-recommended practices and technologies. In the selected study regions, rice yields and incomes rose significantly. Farmers in China perceived an average yield growth of 1.1 t/ha, attaining a mean of 6.5 t/ha, and an input cost reduction of 57.5 % since adopting the ‘Three Controls’ Technology (3CT). Vietnamese farmers, who participated in the national policy program ‘One Must Do, Five Reductions’ (1M5R), increased mean yields considerably to 6.6 t/ha and reduced input costs, particularly for seeds, NPK fertilizer, and pesticides. In Myanmar, farmers experienced an average production growth of 0.6 t/ha, achieving a yield of 3.6 t/ha due to improved input and labor use. Mean rice incomes doubled to 548.0 USD/ha after five years. The results of the perception surveys demonstrated a high rate of adoption and willingness to continue using the recommended practices and technologies. The benefits “easy to apply”, “satisfies my preferences”, and “fits my cropping pattern” were generally rated the highest. Furthermore, farmers expressed positive changes to their human and social capital, health, and food security. Nevertheless, environmental changes were not much perceived by farmers.
The CORIGAP project was successful in incentivizing farmers to adopt sustainable rice farming practices and technologies long-term. The project objectives were achieved and supported the transition to more eco-friendly rice cultivation in Southeast Asia. This is particularly relevant for the environment as it needs more time to regenerate. In this regard, the main recommendation of this study is to continue improving and expanding extension services for climate-smart farming. As of 2021, more than 750’000 farmers in Southeast Asia were reached through the project. However, this research only investigated 987 farmers in detail. Therefore, it is not possible to pertain to other farmers. Nonetheless, a considerable achievement has been achieved through Swiss foreign aid. The lessons learned during the CORIGAP project foster South-South cooperation and serve as a blueprint for successful long-term development assistance incorporating beneficiaries’ perspectives.
The central purpose of this thesis was to analyze the effect of the CORIGAP project on rice farmers’ yields and livelihoods due to the introduction of sustainable best management practices and technologies. Three main research objectives were investigated: 1) the effect of the CORIGAP project on farmers’ socioeconomic and agronomic situation, 2) farmers’ adoption behavior of the CORIGAP recommended practices and technologies, and 3) farmers’ perceptions of the practices and technologies, including economic, social, and environmental changes, since the adoption thereof. Three project countries were selected: China, Myanmar, and Vietnam.
The impact of the CORIGAP project in the study regions was examined individually based on country-specific development objectives and diffusion strategies. An exploratory research approach was employed and a comprehensive methodology using quantitative methods was applied. Data for the empirical country analyses were collected by means of farmer questionnaire surveys using a digital questionnaire application. For the agronomic data, a household survey was conducted once before and once after the CORIGAP interventions. For the perception data, a farmer perception survey was conducted once after the introduction of the recommended practices and technologies. Data were analyzed using uni- and multivariate statistics, including Pearson correlations, t-test with Cohen’s d effect size, ANOVA, Cronbach’s α reliability test, exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses, hierarchical linear regression analysis, and structural equation modeling (SEM).
Farmers perceived notable positive changes to their livelihoods and living conditions due to the adoption of the CORIGAP-recommended practices and technologies. In the selected study regions, rice yields and incomes rose significantly. Farmers in China perceived an average yield growth of 1.1 t/ha, attaining a mean of 6.5 t/ha, and an input cost reduction of 57.5 % since adopting the ‘Three Controls’ Technology (3CT). Vietnamese farmers, who participated in the national policy program ‘One Must Do, Five Reductions’ (1M5R), increased mean yields considerably to 6.6 t/ha and reduced input costs, particularly for seeds, NPK fertilizer, and pesticides. In Myanmar, farmers experienced an average production growth of 0.6 t/ha, achieving a yield of 3.6 t/ha due to improved input and labor use. Mean rice incomes doubled to 548.0 USD/ha after five years. The results of the perception surveys demonstrated a high rate of adoption and willingness to continue using the recommended practices and technologies. The benefits “easy to apply”, “satisfies my preferences”, and “fits my cropping pattern” were generally rated the highest. Furthermore, farmers expressed positive changes to their human and social capital, health, and food security. Nevertheless, environmental changes were not much perceived by farmers.
The CORIGAP project was successful in incentivizing farmers to adopt sustainable rice farming practices and technologies long-term. The project objectives were achieved and supported the transition to more eco-friendly rice cultivation in Southeast Asia. This is particularly relevant for the environment as it needs more time to regenerate. In this regard, the main recommendation of this study is to continue improving and expanding extension services for climate-smart farming. As of 2021, more than 750’000 farmers in Southeast Asia were reached through the project. However, this research only investigated 987 farmers in detail. Therefore, it is not possible to pertain to other farmers. Nonetheless, a considerable achievement has been achieved through Swiss foreign aid. The lessons learned during the CORIGAP project foster South-South cooperation and serve as a blueprint for successful long-term development assistance incorporating beneficiaries’ perspectives.
Advisors: | Schneider-Sliwa, Rita |
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Committee Members: | Schröder, Ernst-Jürgen |
Faculties and Departments: | 04 Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences 05 Faculty of Science > Departement Umweltwissenschaften > Ehemalige Einheiten Umweltwissenschaften > Humangeographie / Stadt- und Regionalforschung (Schneider-Sliwa) |
UniBasel Contributors: | Schneider-Sliwa, Rita |
Item Type: | Thesis |
Thesis Subtype: | Doctoral Thesis |
Thesis no: | 15622 |
Thesis status: | Complete |
Number of Pages: | IX, 219 |
Language: | English |
Identification Number: |
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edoc DOI: | |
Last Modified: | 23 Jan 2025 05:30 |
Deposited On: | 22 Jan 2025 13:27 |
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