THE IMPACT OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON CULTIVATION ACTIVITIES OF HMONG AND DAO PEOPLE IN NAM CHAY COMMUNE, MUONG KHUONG DISTRICT, LAO CAI PROVINE

Abstract

The article focuses on investigating the effect of climate change on farming activities of Hmong and Dao people in Nam Chay commune, Muong Khuong district, Lao Cai province and their responses to minimize those risks and damages. The research shows that, in the past 10 years, extreme weather and climate change such as heat waves, hail, flood, severe cold snap, landslide, and hoarfrost are factors that cause some biggest impacts on farming activities, especially the decrease in cultivated surface, soil quality as well as productivity and crop output. The Hmong and Dao have responded to this situation by switching crop, innovating farming techniques, changing crop calendar and irrigation schedule, promoting commodity products, and extending community support to increase income and reduce damages caused by natural disasters. However, due to difficult terrain and unfavourable natural conditions, responses to climate change in Nam Chay commune still face many challenges including particularly limited financial resources, increased
scarce arable land, volatile agricultural product prices, and the lagging behind of a part of the people in promoting the dynamism and flexibility of livelihood transformation. From the current situation, the article proposes a number of solutions on institution and policy, on science - technology, and on propaganda and education to improve the capacity to adapt
climate change in terms of cultivation activities of the Hmong and Dao people in the research area.