How to assist farmers in coping changes in market prices

The series of institutional and policy reforms implemented since the early 80s when Vietnam shifted from centrally planned to a market-oriented economy ushered a dramatic increase in agricultural outputs, particularly in rice production. However, the country continues to cope with both socioeconomic and environmental problems such as high rural poverty, increased income disparity between urban and rural population, high forest loss, and degradation of land and other natural resources, particularly in the uplands. More significantly, the changes in market conditions placed the faming population and the sustainability of agricultural production at risk