This study aims to analyze the factors affecting market accessibility and its effect on the agricultural income of farmers in Ninh Thuan province, Vietnam.
First, we used a logit regression model to quantify the factors affecting market accessibility. Second, we apply propensity score matching to estimate the effects of market accessibility on agricultural income. Focus group discussions were used to gather qualitative data, and a structured questionnaire was used to collect quantitative data. A survey of 796 farmers in Ninh Thuan was conducted using snowball sampling.
The results show that human capital and social capital, encompassing factors such as demographic, economic, social and technological aspects, significantly influence market accessibility for farmers. Extension participation, smartphone utilization and production linkages demonstrated the strongest positive effects, with a high level of statistical significance. Additionally, farmers with market accessibility experience significantly higher income levels compared to those without access, with income disparities ranging from approximately 2.67 million to 8.02 million Vietnamese Dong per hectare.
This study highlights limitations in snowball sampling, missing logistical variables and unobserved confounding in PSM. Future research should adopt quota sampling, include factors like road access, and use qualitative methods to address biases, improve representativeness and provide deeper insights into market accessibility and agricultural income relationships.
The findings contribute to the understanding of the importance of market accessibility in increasing farmers' income. The results also provide policymakers and stakeholders with valuable insights into the creation of effective rural development policies for Ninh Thuan and other Vietnamese provinces.
