The Traditional Brickmaking Industry and the Rural Economy of Vietnam

Abstract

This article analyzes the rural brickmaking industry in Vietnam. The article is based on the results of survey data collected from brick factory owners in 2000 and 2001 and uses this data to develop a model factory based on traditional brickmaking technology. It describes the labor processes associated with this technology, generates income estimates for the different categories of brickmaking jobs, and analyzes the importance of these incomes in the context of overall living standards and poverty levels in Vietnam. The article also looks at the continued ties of brick factory workers to the rural agricultural sector of the economy. It makes the argument that, in many important respects, the brickmaking industry is an ideal rural industry for the largely agricultural population of Vietnam: it is highly labor intensive, and its production schedule and labor processes fit well with the seasonal demands of the agricultural sector. However, because of environmental concerns and technological advances in both agriculture and industry, traditional brickmaking in Vietnam is also confronted with real threats to its survival over the next 10 years. The article looks at some of the potential consequences of the loss of this type of rural industry in terms of household income levels and living standards.

Environmental and Resource Degradation Associated with Small‐Scale Enterprise Clusters in the Red River Delta of Northern Vietnam

“…For instance, some communes in the Delta impose fines on the owners of small brick‐making factories located near paddy fields, following complaints about crop damage caused by heat and smoke from the kilns. Others invoke environmental regulations related to small‐industry operations, forcing some factories to shut down at critical times of the year for farmers (Jensen and Peppard, 2004, 198). Dixon (2004, 22–23) points out that some non‐governmental environment organisations have already emerged in rural areas, protesting over issues such as environmental degradation and the unjust allocation of natural resources.…”

Floristic composition and plant species diversity in and around the brickfield areas of Savar-Dhamrai region of Dhaka district

“…The effluents from the brickfields might affect the biodiversity and the air quality of their surrounding and neighboring areas. Because, the respiration and photosynthesis processes in the plants might be affected by the deposition of heat, soot, and smoke particles released from these brickfields on their leaves (Alam et al, 2006;Jensen & Peppard, 2004;Le & Oanh, 2010). Additionally, the soil pit excavation makes agricultural areas more vulnerable to the erosive floods which may prevent cultivated land to be enriched by sediment deposition (Alam et al, 2006), and as the consequences, the soil surface might be transformed irreversibly (Singh & Asgher, 2005).…”

Influence of Industrial and Agricultural Additives to Clay Mitigates Fuel Consumption on Red Bricks Manufacturing

“…Traditional kilns for brick production are manufactured using conventional firing techniques for lack of knowledge for better process and quality and without safety measured by the fuels type impact on environmental pollution [1]. Brick kilns product solution can be solved using inexpensive, easily obtainable and appropriately designed for the varied environment, low energy cost and reduce the air pollution problems [2].…”