A systems approach toward climate resilient livelihoods: A case study in Thai Nguyen province, Vietnam

Abstract

This study aims to identify strategic actions towards climate resilient livelihoods and secure income for smallholder farmers in Thai Nguyen province of Vietnam using a systems approach and system dynamic modelling tools. Information and data for this research was collected through surveys, interviews, focus group discussions and workshops with relevant stakeholders and 187 farmers in two vulnerable districts during October 2019–April 2020. Findings of this study uncovered a number of shortcomings of the government policies and approaches in climate change adaptation. Local initiatives, community learning and ownership seem to be neglected. This research has substantiated the effectiveness and validity of systems approaches and tools in structuring and solving complex issues in agricultural research and development under the interwoven relationships between environmental and human factors. Climate resilient production models and practices are just part of the systemic interventions that need to be implemented in a coordinated manner towards a more resilient future of the farming communities. This study has addressed the current knowledge gap and the need for using integrated approaches and decision support systems for unravelling ill-structured and/or complex issues of climate change adaptation (CCA). It also provided practical recommendations for informed CCA policies and implementation.

Keywords

• Social science
• Climate change adaptation
• Climate-smart agriculture
• System dynamic modelling
• Bayesian belief network
• Systemic interventions