VIETNAM-Agricultural Economy Rebuilt

November 26, 1977 VIETNAM Agricultural Economy Rebuilt Francois Houtart BEFORE the war the southern part of Vietnam sent its rice surplus to the north, and even had some left for export. By the end of the Thieu regime, it was forced to import 700,000 tons of rice annually. One might be inclined to think that it was the increase in population which produced such a change, but this was not the case. The Mekong delta is one of the most fertile areas in Southeast Asia. Besides this there are still thousands of acres of uncleared land. Where irrigation is available, it is possible to obtain two or even three crops per year. So it was certainly the disorganisation of the agrarian economy, both by war and by the social system, which was the cause of the situation inherited by a reunified Vietnam.