Contract Farming in Mekong Countries: Best Practices and Lessons Learned

This flagship publication is the result of a regional two-year research project entitled: “Enhancing Research and Dialogue on Contract Farming in the Mekong-Lancang Countries”. It represents a close collaboration between CDRI and project partners – the China Agricultural University (CAU), Kasetsart University (Thailand), and the Institute of Policy and Strategy for Agriculture and Rural Development (IPSARD) (Vietnam). The project explored and documented best practices in contract farming, successes, failure factors and lessons learned from each country, as well as providing policy recommendations for consideration by the relevant national governments. Selected crops included rice, pepper, cashew nut and fruit. Contract farming has presented many benefits to farmers, agriculture cooperatives and companies. It has enhanced access to markets, stable set-prices, better inputs such as quality seeds and access to credit.