The Dynamism in Livelihoods of Khmer People in Tra Cu District, Tra Vinh Province

Abstract

The study of livelihood activities of Khmer people in Tra Cu district, Tra Vinh province shows that although agriculture still has been an important economic activity of Khmer people in this district, in the traditional agricultural areas, new forms of livelihoods have emerged and the traditional agricultural activities themselves have had changes on productive styles and objects as well. A salient point is that under impacts of the economic development policy, the picture of co-operation in production in Khmer community is taking step by step its form as a mechanism to response to risks of productive market. In addition, current livelihoods of the Khmer people also are now characterized by sensibility and dynamism of the local people when they take part in other activities such as trade, being workers, catching sea products and so on which have not been considered as traditional economic activities of this ethnicity. This clear-headed dynamism has been seen as an effort of the Khmer people to adapt to their current living conditions.