Economic considerations in the development of agriculture in Viet-Nam

Department of Agriculture/U.S. Agency for International Development studies on the agriculture economy of Vietnam, highlighting implications for government policies. The studies appraised Vietnam"s 5-Year Rural Economic Development Plan, studied demand-price relationships within agriculture and between agriculture and the national economy, determined production potentials and agriculture"s response to changes in the economic climate generated by government leadership, and evaluated the marketing systems for various agricultural commodities. They determined that the equivalent of nearly a 60 percent domestic food production increase would be required between 1972 and 1980 to achieve a balance between food imports and exports, meet needs of a growing population, and be prepared for a possible demand for more food because of a small income gain. Domestic needs could be met by 1980 (with an exportable surplus) by using present cropland more intensively, reclaiming previously cultivated lands, expanding irrigated areas, and cultivating new lands. With appropriate government policies and intensive programs, exportable quantities could be achieved sooner, although substantial exports are highly unlikely soon. Rapid unbanization and potential exports mean that large amounts of public and private capital must be committed to improving and expanding the marketing system. Continuing economic analysis is also needed to appraise policy alternatives as the economy advances.