Abstract

Agricultural mechanization is always an indispensable process in the modern agriculture. At the same time, the hired labor groups were marginalized. The case of the hired Khmer households in agriculture in Thoi Lai of Can Tho is a typical example for this study. Data of study was collected through interviews of households by Key informants, and group discussion. the interviews of Key Informants (KI), the interviews of the households and the group discussions. This study was analyzed on the livelihood and its outcomes of 101 hired Khmer households for rice production by the quality and quantity methods. The study results showed that (1) The livelihood of the hired Khmer households has not been improved such as low education, plenty of children, more dependent labors, limited physical capital/property; (2) The participation of the household members in the local associations was limited; (3) Many households had less farmland for agricultural production; (4) The income of the households was still low and there was problem to access to the credit. Those households had the adaptable strategies through the livelihood change and livelihood diversification. However, the financial status of the hired Khmer households has reduced compared to the previous period. The income sources of the hired Khmer households were less diverse and their unstable employment. Some solutions were suggested for improving the livelihood capital and creating the employment for the hired Khmer households in order to adapt with the limited status of the hired employment in agriculture.