Livelihood vulnerability of rice-cultivating households under climate variability in the Mekong Delta, Vietnam

Abstract Climate change has led to reduced yields, land loss and lower incomes among rice-cultivating households in the Mekong Delta (MD). However, large-scale, multi-year studies examining household vulnerability in this region remain limited. This study aimed to determine the vulnerability status of these households to climate stress between 2018 and 2022 and to evaluate the contributing factors. The adjusted livelihood vulnerability index (ALVI), which reflects recent advances in the understanding of climate change vulnerability, was used to assess vulnerability using data from the Vietnam Household Living Standards Survey for 2018, 2020 and 2022. The results showed that the ALVI of rice-cultivating households in the MD ranged from 0.412 to 0.422 between 2018 and 2022, indicating that these households were moderately vulnerable to the negative impacts of climate variability. The most vulnerable component was the natural component in 2018, which shifted to the financial component in 2022. Low crop diversity, substandard housing, low rice profitability, limited educational attainment among household heads, and insufficient institutional support were the main factors influencing the vulnerability of rice households in the MD. Additionally, rice-cultivating households in Ca Mau, Kien Giang and Ben Tre Provinces were the most vulnerable to climate variability, with ALVI ranging from 0.411 to 0.478 during the period 2018 to 2022. These findings provide valuable insights into climate vulnerability in the MD and imply targeted, issue-specific interventions for rice-farming households in the MD, particularly those in coastal areas. Such interventions can reduce vulnerability and provide a reference for policymakers developing effective adaptation strategies in the context of climate change.