The Rationality of the Farmers in the Mekong River Delta in the Process of Transferring the Economic Structure in Agriculture

Abstract

Employing economic rationality in agriculture is an important activity for farmers in order to increase productivity, increase crop diversity, and meet the demands of the market. However, the new agricultural structure in the Mekong River Delta from the previous state subsidized time represents a paradox: while the Mekong River Delta has high potential in the transferring process to the market economy, the living standards of the economic rational farmers have not been improved. To contribute to explaining this phenomenon, this article focuses on the two
following factors: 1) the rationality of the farmers in the process of transferring the economic structure in agriculture; and 2) the roles of the government in this process. The interaction
between the economically rational farmers and the governmental policies creates the current agricultural mosaic of the Mekong River Delta.