Linkages in the chicken chain of Vietnam: A case study in Kim Dong district, Hung Yen province

Chicken raising in Kim Dong district, Hung Yen province of Vietnam is currently still in the first stage of development with spontaneous, small-scale, and easily vulnerable. These things lead to the inefficiency in the chain activities, and in the long run, all the chain actors will have less benefit. This study aims to analyze and assess the real situation of linkages in the chicken chain and proposed some recommendations to strengthen the linkages and improve the chicken chain in the Kim Dong district based on the questionaire survey data of chicken chain actors. The findings showed that the chicken chain in the study site was undeveloped. The chain actors included input suppliers, chicken raising farmers, traders, retailers and some restaurants and supermarkets. Farmers accounted for the most important role. The other actors in the chain play a role of a bridge between producers and consumers. Processing agent did not appear in the chain. The linkages in the chain were simple, informal and loose. The actors were discrete and lack of cooperation. To promote the linkage of the chicken chain, farmers should improve their linkages to improve their strength, their voice and their power. Farmers could establish cooperation groups or cooperatives to support each other. Cooperative among chain actors should be enhance to form a tight and official chain. Local authorities should support in finding markets, creating a bridge and an environment for chain actors. Extension and educational institutions should support farmers and other actors and stakeholders to improve knowledge of the chain, so they could understand the benefit and form effective chain.