Technological change and technical efficiency of corn farmers in the province of Hatay, Red River Delta, North of Vietnam

Results of the study showed that corn production had decreased up to 1970s, than had gradually increased in 1970-1990. Corn had the highest growth rate in the 1990s due to the adoption of HYV [high-yielding varieties]. Significant factors affecting corn production differed from variety to variety, depending on the difference in input requirement, and socioeconomic and natural conditions. Nitrogen was the most important macro-nutrient affecting corn production but farmers were found to practice imbalanced fertilization. HYV had about 1.50 times higher yield than TV [traditional varieties] and became main factor in the corn production growth. TE [technical efficiency] differed from farm to farm with a mean of 79%. Phuctho had higher technical efficiency level than Thachthat because corn was considered as a main crop, while it was treated only as additional one in Thachthat. Educational attainment, seed establishment method, and credit were the main factors affecting TE of both districts and the province as a whole. TC [technological change] was biased. Area, seed, nitrogen, and family labor were factors saved due to HYV. HYV have higher yield per unit of land given same seed, nitrogen, and family labor inputs than TV. TC dominated TE in explaining the TFP [total factor productivity] growth. TC contributed 2,532.71 kg/ha. The change in TE had negative contribution to TFP of 764.38 kg/ha due to rapid expansion of HYV, resulting in TFP change of 1,768.33 kg/ha. Strictly implementing the agricultural land law, promoting adoption of hybrid varieties, with training and technical support for farmers, as wel as credit program are major recommendation resulting from the study. These are to be done to increase TFP in the selected areas as well as at the national level. The results of this study could be generalized to apply to other provinces, with similar environments