Vietnam is a tropical country having the land area of about 330,000 square
kilometers and population of 81 million people in 2003 (FAOSTAT). Like other
developing countries, agriculture has played an important role in the economy of
Vietnam. According to FAOSTAT, about 74% of the population still lives in rural
areas and about 60% of the labor force engages in agriculture. In 2003, its
contributions to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and export value were about 23%
and 16%, respectively (SYB, 2003).
The production of rice and pigs are important economic activities in the
Vietnamese rural sector and these two activities are closely related to each other.
Farmers raise pigs because they provide manure for crop production. Crop production
provides products (e.g. rice, rice bran, corn) that are used as feeds for raising pigs.
Rice and pig production allow farmers to effectively utilize the family labor for
income generation. Almost all households raise at least one pig because it is a way
for them to earn cash income. The revenue from pig selling is usually used to buy
inputs to grow crops or raise animals, or buy other assets, or support their children’s
education.