The poor in mountainous areas of Quang Nam province give priority to food security in farming. Main food crops on upland were rice, cassava and banana; on lowland were rice and cassava; in home garden was jackfruit; in forest were acacia and cinnamon. Strategies to ensure food security and sustainable income for the poor are improve upland agriculture production by crop diversification, “short-time crops support long- time plants”, sustainable intensifications of local varieties and breeds, and enforce local people integrated in chain values of banana, cassava and mungbean. | Đỗ Thị Ngọc Oanh Tạp chí KHOA HỌC & CÔNG NGHỆ 77(01): 103 - 106 FARMING SYSTEMS OF THE POOR IN MOUNTAINOUS AREAS OF QUANG NAM PROVINCE AND POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS Do Thi Ngoc Oanh* College of Agriculture and Forestry - Thai Nguyen University SUMMARY The poor in mountainous areas of Quang Nam province give priority to food security in farming. Main food crops on upland were rice, cassava and banana; on lowland were rice and cassava; in home garden was jackfruit; in forest were acacia and cinnamon. Strategies to ensure food security and sustainable income for the poor are improve upland agriculture production by crop diversification, “short-time crops support long- time plants”, sustainable intensifications of local varieties and breeds, and enforce local people integrated in chain values of banana, cassava and mungbean. Suggestion models for upland are intercrop local rice with mungbean and local cinnamon; intercrop cassava with acacia; for lowland are intensive cassava, intensive banana and hybrid breed maize; for home garden are improve chicken and pig production. Key words: Poor, upland farming, food security, upland rice,Quang Nam INTRODUCTION* Quảng Nam province is located in a central costal part of Vietnam (latitude and longitude are 16050N and 107012E respectively). The province covers an area of ha of which mountainous area occupies 81% ( ha). Population in the mountainous areas was people of which about ¼ was ethnic minorities including Cơ tu, Ca Doong; Bhnoong, Xơ đăng, Cor, Mơ Noong, Ve and Tà Riềng. To find out possible farming solutions for the poor in mountainous areas of the province this study was conducted in May 2010. PRA technique was used and studying sites were Tra Tap and Tra Don Communes in Nam Tra My district; Tra Tan and Tra Cot communes in Bac Tra My district. GENERAL BACKGROUND OF NAM TRA MY AND BAC TRA MY DISTRICTS Nam Tra My and Bac Tra My are considered as mountainous districts with a high proportion of the .
