Sowing the Seeds of Discontent
Sowing the Seeds of Discontent
American Agricultural-Development Programs in South Vietnam
This chapter examines American agricultural development programs.Aid workers and policy makers alike viewed these programs as a key to the success of their overall efforts.Not only did the majority of South Vietnam’s people live in the countryside and engage in farming, but rural populations also had important political and strategic value for the Saigon government.This chapter focuses on US Operations Mission and International Voluntary Services agricultural projects and explores some of the reasons why peasants in Vietnam were reluctant to adopt new technologies and methods.It also shows how agricultural development did not translate into victory in the battle for hearts and minds.
Keywords: Agriculture, Peasants, International Voluntary Services (IVS), US Operations Mission (USOM), Rural areas, Ethnic minorities