Changes in cultivation activities of Co Tu people in Song Bung 4 hydropower plant, Quang Nam province

Abstract

The construction of Song Bung 4 hydropower plant was one of the infrastructure initiatives which helped Vietnam achieved one of the objectives of the national strategy on "Inclusive growth and poverty reduction". Its contribution to economic growth is undeniable, but the construction of hydropower plants is always accompanied by impacts on migration, resettlement, society, traditional culture and environment. In particular, the Song Bung 4 hydropower project had a significant impact on the residence, livelihood and cultivation activities of Co-tu people in the resettlement villages of Zuoih and Ta Po communes in Nam Giang district, Quang Nam Province. Besides the advantages gained when they relocated to the new places, the Co-tu had to face many difficulties due to the changes in living environment, especially the lack of arable land. This article clarifies the changes in farming activities of the Co-tu in the resettled villages of Song Bung 4 hydropower plant, and points out the main reasons for these changes.