Land Tenure and Poverty Reduction for Ethnic Minorities in Vietnam’s Mountainous Area

Abstract

Land tenure plays a critical role in poverty reduction among ethnic minorities in Vietnam's mountainous area. In the past two decades land reform policies have had a profound impact on the land tenure system: from land being under total state control to land being used by households, individuals and the community; from land as a production factor (not allowed to be sold or exchanged) to land as a commodity. Land policies have resulted in dispersed production while allowing for accumulation of land. Land policies have promoted investment and agricultural intensification in the lowlands, but have not succeeded in altering traditional farming systems in the uplands. In short, land policies have resulted in differentiation in land tenure, which has had a major impact on the rich and poor divide within and between communities. In order to address the negative impacts of land policies, this article proposes recommendations in reference to: the time-period for agricultural land allocation; the land ceilings for households and individuals; enhanced land tenure for community; limiting the total area used by agro-forestry farms; and raising the capacity for households and individuals among ethnic minorities in land use and access to capital.