NEWS

2024.10.15

【Report】The 3rd AJI International Workshop on “Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Development in the Era of Climate Change: Asian Perspectives”

On Wednesday, September 25, 2024, Asia-Japan Research Institute (AJI), Ritsumeikan University, Japan, and the Faculty of Economics, Nong Lam University – Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, jointly organized the 3rd AJI International Workshop online. The workshop's theme was “Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Development in the Era of Climate Change: Asian Perspectives.”

This workshop is a key event in the International Collaborative Research Program between the Asia-Japan Research Institute of Ritsumeikan University and the Faculty of Economics at Nong Lam University. It aims to foster international communication and the exchange of scientific findings among researchers focused on sustainable agriculture and rural development. The focus is particularly on Southeast Asia, a region facing extreme weather events and food insecurity due to climate change. The event welcomed not only academics but also the general public, including farmers, agricultural officers, students, and anyone interested in the topic. Here is a link to the event poster: https://en.ritsumei.ac.jp/file.jsp?id=629211&version=English

Professor Yasushi Kosugi, Director of the Asia-Japan Research Institute, Ritsumeikan University delivered the opening remarks. He welcomed the eight presenters from Vietnam, Japan, Thailand, and Taiwan, and expressed his gratitude to the organizers. The workshop showcased research achievements and expert opinions on promoting sustainable agriculture and rural development from an Asian perspective. Professor Kosugi emphasized the importance of strengthening existing international collaborations between the two universities and developing new partnerships with other universities and institutions in Vietnam and Southeast Asia.

Professor Yasushi Kosugi delivering his welcome speech

In the first session, Professor Hsing Hao Wu from the Department of Financial and Economic Law and Dean of the Office of International Affairs of National University of Kaohsiung (NUK), Taiwan reported on “Green vs. Green: Taiwan's Experience for Balancing Renewable Energy Development and Ecological Concerns.” Professor Wu discussed Taiwan's renewable energy development goals, highlighting the challenges due to limited land and population density. He noted the conflict between renewable energy development and agricultural lands, and the legal responsibility to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. He also discussed the challenges posed by climate change and growing demands on the manufacturing industry in Taiwan, emphasizing the need for renewable energy sources like solar power. However, he pointed out the negative impacts on agriculture, including water shortages, soil pollution, and food security. He presented case studies and discussed the need for a more comprehensive evaluation process for renewable energy projects, particularly in sensitive ecological areas. He concluded by emphasizing the importance of achieving net-zero emissions goals while ensuring food security, economic stability, and ecological protection.

Prof. Hsing Hao Wu delivering his presentation

Next, Dr. Ho Thanh Tam, Senior Researcher at the Asia-Japan Research Institute, Ritsumeikan University, Japan, presented her study in the joint research project between Ritsumeikan University and Nong Lam University – Ho Chi Minh City, Japan, on “Sustainable Rice Farming in the Mekong Delta of Vietnam: A Field Experiment in Long An Province.” Dr. Ho discussed the results of an experiment on sustainable agricultural practices. The experiment showed that farmers who implemented sustainable practices had a reduction in rice yield, an increase in input costs, and a significant reduction in profit. She concluded that sustainable practices could lead to higher production costs and lower yields in the short term but may also have long-term benefits.

Dr. Ho Thanh Tam presenting her research

Dr. Orawan Srisompun, Assistant Professor from Mahasarakham University, Thailand, made a presentation in the joint research project between Ritsumeikan University and Mahasarakham University, Thailand, on “Sustainable Rice Farming in Central Northeastern Thailand: Investigating Perceptions, Practices, and Economic Outcomes.” She informed us that among methods for improving rice yields among farmers in Northeastern Thailand, manure application is the most widely adopted practice (89.91%), while more advanced methods like climate-smart or precision agriculture have low adoption rates (9.17%). She discussed how farmers’ health, economic, and institutional perceptions influence their inclination to adopt advanced methods, with significant differences between low and high adoption groups. Notably, farmers in the high adoption group tend to be risk-takers. Policy implications were also addressed, focusing on supporting high adoption groups, promoting sustainable practices for medium and low adopters, and enhancing organic farming support.

Dr. Orawan Srisompun making her presentation

Dr. Ho Trong Phuc, Lecturer from Hue University of Economics – Hue City, Vietnam, discussed his study in the joint research project between Ritsumeikan University and Hue University of Economics, Vietnam, on “Efficiency and Its Determinants of Climate-Smart Rice Farming: Evidence from Central Region, Vietnam.” Dr. Ho discussed the data analysis for the cropping seasons in 2023 and 2024, focusing on the profit efficiency of farmers. He explained the stochastic frontier analysis approach and the profit frontier function, which includes variables such as output price, input price, and input quantities. He shared initial results from the data, noting that the mean profit efficiency performance was around 0.67, with a wide range of variation. Dr. Ho then discussed the challenges faced by rice farmers in Central Vietnam, including the lack of suitable land for organic rice farming, the absence of a proper certification system, and the contamination of water sources due to industrial activities. He also described the objections farmers had to adopting organic rice farming, such as having to give up their dependance on chemical fertilizers and pesticides, and the loss of income due to the resulting lower yields and lower output prices compared to conventional farming. He suggested solutions such as training programs for farmers, better irrigation infrastructure, improved input quality, and government support for organic rice pricing. He also noted the need for better cooperation between farmers and companies, and the importance of building farmer brands.

Dr. Ho Trong Phuc delivering his presentation

In the second session, Dr. Hoang Ha Anh, Lecturer from Nong Lam University – Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, delivered a presentation on “Sustainable Agricultural Development in Gia Lai Province: A Holistic Approach to Addressing Socioeconomic and Climate Challenges.” Dr. Hoang presented a study on sustainable agriculture development in Gia Lai Province, Vietnam. The study proposed a holistic approach to address social, economic, and climate challenges using the system dynamic modeling method. The model incorporates various factors and variables to analyze agricultural development in the province, divided into three subsystems: climate, agriculture, and social. Dr. Hoang discussed the model’s calibration and validation process, using historical data from 2004 to 2020 to predict potential development until the end of the century. He also presented the impact of climate change on the agricultural sector, noting that achieving policy targets for future crop production would be difficult. He expressed concern about the future of annual industrial crops like cassava, tobacco, and sugar cane, as well as perennial industrial crops like coffee, grouper, and cashew. He suggested that a comprehensive plan would be needed to improve economic efficiency and sustain agricultural growth in Gia Lai Province.

Dr. Hoang Ha Anh presenting his research

Dr. Vu Ha Thu, Assistant Professor from the HAKUBI Center for Advanced Research Program, Kyoto University, Japan, presented the findings of a study on “Long-term Uptakes of Crop Insurance: Does Network Matter?” Dr. Vu presented the findings of a study on the effects of self-learning and habit-forming in the context of crop insurance. Her study showed the positive and significant effect of receiving network payouts as a proxy for social learning, but only for the first season. She also found that farmers’ understanding about the crop insurance product increased if they received a payout, and that receiving payouts improved farmers’ trust in the system. She further explained the crop insurance system in Vietnam, addressing the issue of moral hazard and the habit-forming effect.

Dr. Vu Ha Thu making her presentation

Dr. Ha Thi Thu Hoa, Lecturer from Nong Lam University – Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, presented her research on “Determinants of Relationship Quality between Coffee Farmers and Purchasing Agents: A Case Study in the Central Highlands of Vietnam.” Her study collected data from 212 coffee farmers and found that most respondents were small-scale farmers. The results showed that effective communication, collaboration, and power asymmetry significantly influence relationship quality. Dr. Ha concluded that enhancing transparency and mutual information sharing can improve relationship quality and suggested further studies to consider the perspectives of both farmers and purchasing agents for a comprehensive understanding of the coffee supply chain.

Dr. Ha Thi Thu Hoa talking about her research

Ms. Pham Thi Thuyen, Lecturer from Nong Lam University – Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, reported her research on “Grafting and Productivity of Robusta Coffee in Vietnam.” Ms. Pham presented the results of a study on the coffee industry, focusing on the adoption of grafting techniques by farmers. She began by discussing the challenges faced by the coffee industry in Vietnam due to climate change, particularly the floods in 2015 and 2016 that led to significant losses. She highlighted the potential of grafting as a technique to improve bio stress tolerance, light growth, water use efficiency, and resistance to diseases. Her study found that farmers who adopted grafting techniques had a higher yield of coffee. She also discussed the cost of production and the profitability of the grafting technique. The study used a regression model and instrumental variables to analyze the data. The conversation ended with a discussion on the validity of the instrumental variable and the potential for nonlinear analysis. She concluded by emphasizing the need for policy expansion to promote the adoption of grafting among smallholder farmers.

Ms. Pham Thi Thuyen presenting her research

In the closing discussion of the 3rd AJR International Workshop, Professor Koji Shimada from College of Economics, Ritsumeikan University, Japan, facilitated a brief exchange among the presenters about their experiences and future collaborations. The presenters expressed their gratitude for the opportunity to participate in the workshop and highlighted the importance of international collaborations and networking. They also discussed the potential for further research and the expansion of their study sites. The presenters agreed to maintain communication and possibly organize additional seminars to discuss collaboration projects and ideas.

Finally, in the closing remarks, Prof. Shimada expressed his appreciation for the workshop’s presentations and discussions, highlighting the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration for addressing sustainability issues in agriculture. He noted the recent challenges faced in Japan, such as rising rice and coffee prices, and emphasized the need for smart, diverse knowledge to tackle these issues. He also encouraged further research collaborations and policy recommendations. The conversation ended with gratitude expressed to the speakers and participants, and a hope for future collaborations.

Professor Koji Shimada chairing the discussion session and delivering the closing remarks

All participants at the workshop

We extend our deepest gratitude to the AJI organizers, the exceptional speakers, and all participants who contributed to our international workshop and made it a success.