Risk management practices of small intensive shrimp farmers in the Mekong Delta of Viet Nam

Book excerpt: Viet Nam is one of the top producers and exporters of farmed shrimp. More than 80 percent of the total production comes from small intensive farms, which occupy less than 10 percent of the land area devoted to shrimp farming. It is the main source of income for many rural households in the Mekong Delta provinces. This study examines the characteristics of small intensive shrimp farms and socio-economic status of the farm households, and farming practices and performance that are associated with the strategies and preferences for managing production risks. The analysis was based on primary data from a survey of farms raising the whiteleg shrimp (Penaeus vannamei) conducted in Bac Lieu, Ben Tre and Ca Mau provinces from September 2017 to February 2018.