Beyond machinery: sustainable rice production in flood-prone areas in Central Vietnam

This study investigates the sustainability of mechanized rice production in four flood-prone communes of Hue City, Central Vietnam, where smallholder farmers face mounting labor shortages and climate-related challenges. Using household surveys, focus group discussions, and key informant interviews, the research assesses rice mechanization across economic, social, and environmental dimensions and examines how institutional conditions shape these outcomes. The results indicate that mechanization primarily functions as an adaptive response to labor and weather pressures rather than a driver of structural transformation. Economically, it improves timeliness and frees time for other income activities but yields limited income gains due to high fuel and service costs. Socially, women and older farmers benefit from reduced drudgery, yet women remain less involved in machine operation and service decisions; Environmentally, mechanization offers little improvement as straw burning persists, and awareness of soil and fuel efficiency remains low. Institutional conditions shape outcomes mainly through service coordination reliability, yet barriers to formal support programs and finance persist. Sustainable mechanization in flood-prone regions thus requires stronger institutional performance more than technological adoption. Policy should prioritize coordination capacity, accessible finance, practical training, women’s access to suitable non-farm opportunities, and integration of residue-management services that fit tight production windows.