1. Student's full name: Phan Thi Kim Tam 2. Gender: Female
3. Date of birth: February 23, 1997
4. Place of birth: Hanoi, Vietnam
5. Decision on recognition of students No. 4420/2019/QD-XHNV dated November 26, 2019 of the President of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi
6. Changes in the training process:
(record the forms of change and the corresponding time)
October 21, 2021: Extended study period from November 26, 2021 to May 26, 2022
May 19, 2022: Extended study period from May 27, 2022 to November 26, 2022
7. Thesis topic: State, Farmers and Geographical Indication of Khau Tan Don sticky rice specialty in Tham Duong commune, Lao Cai province
8. Major: Anthropology; Code: QHX11
9. Scientific supervisor: Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Van Chinh, Faculty of Anthropology, University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi
(Clearly state scientific title, academic degree, full name and working organization)
10. Summary of thesis results:
(summarize the results of the thesis, emphasizing new results if any)
This study focuses on the socio-institutional dynamics surrounding a local sticky rice variety from the Northwest highlands of Vietnam that was officially recognized as a geographical indication (GI) in 2017. Using an ethnographic approach, this study explores the complex interactions between rice plants and people on the one hand, and the relationship between farmers and the state in the context of a market economy on the other. This approach aims to explore the relationship between natural (environmental) and biological (genetic) aspects with historical, political, economic, cultural and social processes.
The findings from this study show that the Khau Tan Don sticky rice variety in Shenyang is a product of three factors: genetic resources, geographical area and human habits and knowledge. Based on the analysis of the CDL as an effort by the State to restore, preserve, develop and commercialize the local rice specialty, creating additional income for farmers. This project combines heritage, commercial and socio-economic objectives. In the case of Khau Tan Don, this is a long-term process and there are many overlaps in the powers, tasks, objectives and agendas of different management levels during the project implementation.
From the perspective of Development Anthropology and Political Anthropology, this study views the CDL development project as a “matrix” in which rice is the “connecting point” between different actors involved, namely farmers (with different social statuses) and the state (different levels of government) in a market economy context (with private companies, customers, consumers). The study of everyday socio-political dynamics highlights the interactions between the aforementioned social actors and sheds light on the complex practices of a local development project. It highlights how the state formulates and implements a new policy, how it is partly “imposed” on the local farming community, and how they respond to it. In this context, local farmers have skillfully developed a series of responses, from doubt, negotiation, acceptance, compromise, meeting expectations, to ignoring and even rejecting. These reactions show that the GI project is a fluid space where people have “room” to develop their strategies or tactics through everyday political actions of which they are rarely conscious. It should also be said that since GI is a product commercialization, the market also has a profound impact on the interaction between farmers and the state. Finally, the process of “identification” around Khau Tan Don sticky rice of the locality emerged as an unintended outcome of this GI project and this is part of the endogenous process. While the economy is the main goal, the process of building and developing GI has shaped local identity and values. In turn, GI itself is also shaped by the interaction between actors, identities and values.
11. Practical application: (if any)
From the process of exploring the interactions between the actors involved in the Shenyang GI development project, it can be seen that in order to develop and build an effective Shenyang GI management system, the state's direction is important. However, because GI is a new policy in Vietnam, farmers still have limitations in their ability to fully access the necessary knowledge in this field. The cumbersome and complicated procedures in building GI often lead to confusion for both local authorities and local farmers. The limited and meager participation of producers (farmers) in the implementation of this policy has led to many shortcomings and inefficiencies. To overcome this, it is necessary to raise awareness of the significance and role of human factors as well as local knowledge in the formation, preservation and promotion of product quality and reputation.
12. Further research directions: (if any)
13. Published works related to the thesis:
Phan Thi Kim Tam (2021), Khau Tan Don sticky rice in Shenyang: From building geographical indications to the process of "identification" of an indigenous rice variety, Journal of Vietnamese Cultural Studies, No. 3(195), pp.37-45.
Phan Thi Kim Tam (2021), The circulation of rice and the value transformation in Vietnam's northern mountainous area: a case study of the glutinous rice Geographical Indication Khau Tan Don, The 12th International Convention of Asia Scholars and The 12th Engaging With Vietnam International Conference.
Emmanuel Pannier, Frédéric Thomas, Phan Thi Kim Tam (2021), Rice landraces management in Northern Upland of Vietnam: From farmers' practice and knowledge to collective actions and State policy, The Sixth Biennial Conference of East Asian Environmental History.
INFORMATION ON MASTER'S THESIS
1. Full name: Phan Thi Kim Tam........................ 2. Sex: Female............................................
3. Date of birth: February 23, 1997................................... 4. Place of birth: Hanoi, Vietnam..........
5. Admission decision number: 4420................ Dated: November 26, 2019...................................
6. Changes in academic process: ..........................................................................................
(List the forms of change and corresponding times)
October 21, 2021: Extending study period from November 26, 2021 to May 26, 2022
May 19, 2022: Extending study period from May 27, 2022 to November 26, 2022
7. Official thesis title: State, Farmers and the Geographical indication of Khau Tan Don glutinous rice specialty in Tham Duong commune, Lao Cai province............................................................
8. Major: Anthropology................................................... 9. Code: QHX11...................................
10. Supervisors: Assoc Prof. PhD. Nguyen Van Chinh, Department of Anthropology, University of Social sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University Hanoi...................................
11. Summary of the findings of the thesis: ..............................................................................
This study focuses on the socio-institutional dynamics around a local glutinous rice variety of Vietnam's northwest upland that has been recognized as an official Geographical indication (GI) in 2017. Through the ethnographic approach, this study explores the complex interactions between nature (rice) and humans on the one hand, and between farmers and the state in the context of a dynamic market economy on the other. The approach aims to explore the relationship among natural aspects (environment) and biological aspects (genes) with historical, political, economic, cultural and social dimensions.
Findings from this study show that Khau Tan Don glutinous rice variety in Tham Duong is the product of three factors: genetic resources, geographical area and human practices and knowledge. On the basis of analyzing Geographical indications as one of the State's efforts to restore, conserve, develop and commercialize local rice specialties, while creating more income for the farmers. This project combines heritage, commercial and socio-economic objectives. In the case of Khau Tan Don, this is a long and multi-scale process, through which authorities, duties, goals and agendas of different management levels overlap during the implementation of the project.
From the perspective of Anthropology of Development and Political Anthropology, this study considers the Geographical indication development project as a "matrix" in which rice is the "connection point" between the various involved actors, in particular farmers (with different social status) and the state (different levels of government) within the context of market economy (with private companies, customers, consumers). Studying the everyday socio-political dynamics underlines the interaction between these social actors and unravel the complex local reality of a local development project. It highlights how the state formulates and implements a new policy, how it is partially "imposed" on local farmers and how they respond to it. In that context, the local farming community craft/develop a wide set of reactions, ranging from doubt, negotiation, approval, compromise, response to expectation, ignoring and even rejection. These reactions show that the GI project is a loose space where people have room to develop their strategies or tactics through everyday politics that they themselves are rarely aware of.
It should also be added that, GI is the commercialization of products, therefore the market has also a deep impact on the interaction between farmers and the state. Finally, the process of “identity (re)creation” around the local Khau Tan Don sticky rice appears as an unexpected outcome of this GI project that is part of an endogenous process. What emerges from such study is that while the economy is the primary objective, the process of building and developing GI has shaped local identity and values. On the other hand, GI itself is shaped by interactions between actors, identities and values.
12. Practical applicability, if any: .............................................................................................
From the process of exploring the interaction between actors involved in the Tham Duong Geographical indication (GI) development project, it can be seen that in order to develop and build an effective management system of the Tham Duong GI, the orientation of the state is important. However, since GIs are a new policy in Vietnam, farmers still have limitations in their ability to fully access the necessary knowledge in this field. Some procedures which are cumbersome and complicated in building GI usually lead to confusion for both local authorities and local farmers. The limited and less participation of producers (farmers) in the implementation of this policy has led to many inadequacies and inefficiencies. To overcome this, it is necessary to raise awareness about the meaning and role of the human factor as well as local knowledge to the formation, preservation and promotion of product quality and reputation.
13. Further research directions, if any: ................................................................................
14. Thesis-related publications: ..........................................................................................
(List them in chronological order)
Phan Thi Kim Tam (2021), Khau Tan Don glutinous rice variety in Tham Duong: From building a geographical indication to the process of “identity creation” of a local landrace, Journal of Vietnam Culture Studies, 3(195), pp.37-45.
Phan Thi Kim Tam (2021), The circulation of rice and the value transformation in Vietnam's northern mountainous area: a case study of the glutinous rice Geographical Indication Khau Tan Don, The 12th International Convention of Asia Scholars and The 12th Engaging With Vietnam International Conference.
Emmanuel Pannier, Frédéric Thomas, Phan Thi Kim Tam (2021), Rice landraces management in Northern Upland of Vietnam: From farmers' practice and knowledge to collective actions and State policy, The Sixth Biennial Conference of East Asian Environmental History.
