Non-farm employment, food poverty and vulnerability in rural Vietnam

This study sheds light on the effects of non-farm employment on household food poverty and vulnerability among rural households in Vietnam using data from the Vietnam Household Living Standard Survey of 2010. Vulnerability to food poverty constitutes a certain probability that a non-poor household will become food-poor or that a food-poor household will remain in poverty in future. The results suggest that non-farm employment exerts a positive and statistically significant effect on the reduction in household food poverty and vulnerability. Specifically, participating in non-farm employment will help decrease the probability of falling into food poverty in future by roughly 19%. We also document that 31% of non-food-poor households in rural areas suffered from vulnerability to food poverty, indicating their high probability of falling into food poverty in future. Additional results from regional evaluation suggest that the North-west region of Vietnam is most vulnerable to food poverty and has an urgent need of targeted government development policies; improving access to non-farm employment could help mitigate vulnerability.