Land, livelihoods, and legacies: How tenure security shapes drought responses in central Vietnam

This study examines how ethnic minority farmers in central Vietnam perceive drought, the adaptation strategies they employ, and the factors influencing their choices. Utilizing data from 398 respondents collected over nine months, the research identifies drought as a significant agricultural threat, with farmers reporting increased frequency and intensity. To enhance resilience, farmers employ six primary strategies: cultivating drought-resistant crop varieties, diversifying crops, adjusting cropping calendars, improving irrigation systems, practicing intercropping, and conserving soil moisture. The study reveals that socio-demographic factors and land tenure security significantly shape these adaptation decisions. Secure land tenure facilitates investment in sustainable practices, thereby positively influencing food security and poverty alleviation. Conversely, land-use conflicts create legal uncertainties that hinder long-term resilience. These findings underscore the necessity for targeted policies that resolve land disputes and secure tenure, enabling a transition from short-term coping mechanisms to sustainable adaptation strategies. Such policies are crucial for strengthening the resilience of socio-ecological systems, ensuring sustainable development, and enhancing the adaptive capacity of human-environmental systems in the face of climate variability. • Droughts increasingly threaten central Vietnam's agricultural sustainability. • Farmers adopt six key strategies to bolster socio-ecological resilience. • Secure land tenure boosts sustainable practices, enhancing food security. • Land-use conflicts and legal issues weaken long-term agricultural resilience. • Policy reforms are vital to resolve land disputes and secure tenure.