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Torrential rains from September 30th to October 7th, 2010 caused record high flooding in a number of provinces in central Vietnam, with Quang Bình province the most affected. In Lệ Thủy district, over 35,600 households or 141,500 people, were affected. Household livelihood capacity and local livelihood systems were severely affected: rice and rice seed stocks washed away, farm implements lost, and livestock drowned.
This EMMA report summarizes the impact of the 2010 floods on two critical livestock market systems; pigs and chicken, and its impact on on small-scale farmers (especially women) involved in pig or chicken raising. The assessment aimed to answer two key analytical questions, focusing on the impact of the floods on the pig and chicken market the best and most feasible response options to support the target population in the short and longer terms.
In normal times, pigs in the local market are usually produced and traded locally, with commercial activity peaking in the spring-summer time. Usually, women are responsible for caring for, buying, and selling pigs. Fodder is mainly comprised of local crops, including cassava, sweet potato and maize. The government maintains a pig semen production facility with ten boars that meet certain quality and disease control standards. At least 30% of pigs in the study area died because of the crisis, either during the floods or afterwards from flood-induced diseases; this included four of the government's boars. The price of pigs has increased significantly, and the cost of industrial fodder has increased slightly.
Chicken raising is an important activity in Lệ Thủy district, with around 80% of all farmers involved. In non-crisis times, farmers can buy their chicken via three channels: the Government subsidized system, private actors like local traders and medium to large-scale poultry farmers, and from other farmers. As in the pig market, women manage most of the care, buying and selling of chickens. Farmers lost an average of 25 to 30% of their animals during and after the floods. Prices increased slightly, with benefits to local traders, though the purchasing power of individual farmers dropped. Women were affected more than men, as most men were away from home doing casual labor when the floods occurred.
Based on the above findings, this EMMA report recommends: 1. Providing piglets and chickens to (female) farmers in phases, including vaccination services; 2. Providing cash grants to (female) farmers; 3. Providing cash vouchers to affected (female) farmers for investing in piglets and/or chicken; 4. Offering micro-credit or loans to medium-scale farmers.