Boost Agricultural Sustainability through Crop-Livestock Integration: Insights from Điện Biên District

Crop-Livestock Integration (CLI) through biomass exchanges between crop and livestock enhances the sustainability of mixed farming systems, improving production, autonomy, efficiency and recycling. By analysing the diversity and recent changes in mixed farms and modelling potential CLI pratices changes, we assess the effect of these changes on farm performance and sustainability in Ðiện Biên District, Northwest Vietnam. CLI enables farms to improve animal feed and environmental performances if pressure on land resources remains minimal. High pressure on pasture land may force pasture-dependent farms to cease animal production despite support for forage development. Agroforestry (fruits and forage) could enhance animal feed and farm performance with high-value products, though still its innovative stage. The results show that local authorities must continue to develop innovative models for the production and conservation of forage and crop residues, while also devising additional strategies to support resource-constrained farms. It suggests exploring new forage production systems and biomass management between farms with a broader district-level vision.

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Title Boost Agricultural Sustainability through Crop-Livestock Integration: Insights from Điện Biên District
Description Crop-Livestock Integration (CLI) through biomass exchanges between crop and livestock enhances the sustainability of mixed farming systems, improving production, autonomy, efficiency and recycling. By analysing the diversity and recent changes in mixed farms and modelling potential CLI pratices changes, we assess the effect of these changes on farm performance and sustainability in Ðiện Biên District, Northwest Vietnam. CLI enables farms to improve animal feed and environmental performances if pressure on land resources remains minimal. High pressure on pasture land may force pasture-dependent farms to cease animal production despite support for forage development. Agroforestry (fruits and forage) could enhance animal feed and farm performance with high-value products, though still its innovative stage. The results show that local authorities must continue to develop innovative models for the production and conservation of forage and crop residues, while also devising additional strategies to support resource-constrained farms. It suggests exploring new forage production systems and biomass management between farms with a broader district-level vision.
Agroecology Category
  • Animal health
  • Sustainable food system
  • Biodiversity
Agroecology Keyword
  • Integrated animal health
  • Rotational grazing system
  • Sustainable animal feeding
  • Sustainable food system
Contributing organisations CIRAD, Institut d'agronomie de Montpellier, SELMET, NIAS
Author Alice Le Trouher, Charles-Henri Moulin, Han Anh Tuan, Le Thi Than Huyen and Mélanie Blanchard
Year 2024
Type of document Policy guidance
Language
  • English
  • Vietnamese
Spatial Information
Country Vietnam
Administrative Level 1 Điện Biên
Administrative Level 2 Điện Biên
Web Link