COMPLETION REPORT
Comparison of indigenous knowledge in agricultural production between Vietnam and Japan, anda case study of Cotu People, central Vietnam
Dr. Tran Thanh Duc (+4)
Lecturer
Hue University of Agriculture and Forestry
According to many research works, it is clear that when local knowledge is left out of the planning and policy making
process, the results are that the development is either less successful or, in some cases, disastrous. While western
techno-scientific approaches are (in themselves) insufficient response to today’s complex web of social, economic,
political and environmental challenges. Every ethnic group has its key characteristics with regard to nature resources
conservation and uses through their traditional knowledge and customarylaws. Based on the formation of the ethnic
group’s ecological areas, the traditional culture, adaptation and local knowledge have been produced. These
ecological and social factors play a key role in sustainable development.Viet Nam has a large population of ethnic
minorities that tend to have appreciably higher concentrations of poverty than the country’s Kinh majority. The
minority groups also tend to be more concentrated in upland and mountainous areas, often with worse access topublic services and lacking basic infrastructure. The Cotu people belong to one of the officially recognized ethnic
minorities in Vietnam and account for 61,588 people in 2009. The Cotu people are the biggest ethnic minority groupin central Vietnam. They have their own language and culture,and live in the mountains and natural forests of Quang
Nam and Thua Thien-Hue provinces. Setting Hong Ha commune, A Luoi district located in Thua Thien-Hueprovince, Central Vietnam as the research site, this research has three following objectives, (1) literate review ofindigenous knowledge in agricultural production between Vietnam and Japan, (2) understand real situation ofagriculture activities and indigenous knowledge applied in agricultural production of Cotu people, Thua Thien Hue
province, central Vietnam.
The literate review shows indigenous knowledge in upland Vietnam are rich and greatly varied - in every aspects ofdevelopment including conserving nature, health protection, farming systems, plant and animal varieties. This
reflects the vast differences in physical conditions and the different needs of different local people. Such knowledge
and diversity have been developed and practiced over many centuries of local experiences. The literate review also
shows that swidden agriculture including cropping systems, crop cultivation in swidden fields, the transition ofswidden agriculture at the end of the disappearing stage, and the utilization of millet cultivated which was once
practiced in Japan. The results show the average land area of each Cotu household in Hong Ha commune was
1,060.2 ± 1,082.9 m2, 1,721.9 ± 1,678.1 m2, 2,776.7 ± 3,014.7 m2, 7,687.6 ± 5,737.8 m2 and 34,329.2 ± 64,918.5 m2
including residential land, paddy, land for annual crops (cassava, corn...), perennial crops and forestry land,respectively. These lands were mainly sourced by reclaiming and inheritance. The main poultry and animals werechicken, duck, cow, pig and goat. Applying indigenous knowledge in agricultural production has been appreciatedby the Cotu ethnic people and passed down from curent to the next generation. These knowledge include theexperience of selecting the land for cultivation of specific crops, selecting the terrain for breeding facilities, using
local food for livestock, using the garden leaves for the treatment of animal and poultry and preserving for long-term
using of seeds and meat. The research results can be used to support promulgation of policies related to Cotu people
in the future.

Publication of the Results of Research Project:
Verbal Presentation (Date, Venue, Name of Conference, Title of Presentation, Presenter, etc.)
Thesis (Name of Journal and its Date, Title and Author of Thesis, etc.)
Hue University of Agriculture and Forestry (HUAF), Journal of Agricultural Science and Technology, ISSN
2588-1256, Volume 2, Number 1-2008, Land use and indigenous knowledges in agricultural production of Cotu
people: A case of study in Hong Ha commune, A Luoi district, Thua Thien Hue province, Tran Thanh Duc, Tran
Thi Thu Hong, Nguyen Thi Hong, Shinjo Hitoshi, Saizen Izuru; pages: 427-436
Book (Publisher and Date of the Book, Title and Author of the Book, etc.)