An agent-based model of agricultural land expansion in the mountain forest of Timor Island,Indonesia

The Mutis-Timau Forest Complex,located on Timor Island,Indonesia,is a mountainous tropical forest area that gradually decreases due to deforestation and forest degradation.Previous modelling studies based on patterns indicate that deforestation primarily occurs at lower elevations and near the boundaries of forests and settlements,often associated with shifting cultivation by local farmers.This study adopts a process-based modelling approach,specifically the agent-based model,to simulate land changes,particularly farmers'expansion of agricultural land around the Mutis mountain forest.The underlying concept of this agent-based approach is the interaction between the human and environmental systems.Farmers,representing the human system,interact with the land,which represents the environmental system,through land use decision-making mechanisms.The research was conducted in the Community Forest of the Timor Tengah Utara District,one of the sites within the Mutis-Timau Forest Complex with the highest deforestation rate.Land use change simulations were performed using agent-based modelling from 1999 to 2030,considering the socio-economic conditions of farmers,spatial preferences,land use decisions,and natural transitions.The results revealed that the agricultural area increased by 14%under the Business as Usual scenario and 5%under the Reducing Emission from Deforestation and Forest Degradation scenario,compared to the initial agricultural area of 245 hectares.The probability of farmers deciding to extend agricultural activities was positively associated with the number of livestock maintained by farmers and the size of the village area.Conversely,the likelihood of farmers opting for agricultural extensification decreased with an increase in the area of private land and the farmer's age.These findings are crucial for the managers of the Mutis-Timau Forest Complex and other relevant stakeholders,as they aid in arranging actions to combat deforestation,designing proper forest-related policies,and providing support for initiatives such as reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation programs or further incentive schemes.

Analysis of Factors Influencing Forest Farmers' Enthusiasm for Forest Culture and Management after the Completion of Reform of Collective Forest Right System

Taking Jiangshan City in Zhejiang Province for example,this article uses the binary logit choice model based on the field survey data,to study the factors influencing forest farmers'enthusiasm for forest culture and management after the completion of reform of collective forest right.Finally the following recommendations are put forth:further improving and implementing the forest ecological benefit compensation fund system;reforming the felling management mode and gradually establishing the sustainable forest management system based on forest management plan;improving the technology,market and information services to strengthen the forestry science and technology support;developing the specialty industries such as the bamboo industry and oil-tea camellia industry;developing the under-forest economy and cultivating the underforest industries with characteristics based on the local circumstances.

Analysis of Farmers' Needs for Forestry Information and Technology in Yunnan's Hot Zone: Based on Empirical Survey in Menglian County

Lack of public forestry information and techniques has restricted the development of forestry management and the income increase of rural farmers in hot region of Yunnan province. Therefore it is necessary to provide forestry information and techniques to rural areas so as to compensate for the information gap between urban and rural areas. Based on the survey about farmer demand for information and technique in Menglian County,the paper analyzed the supply methods and demand characteristics of forestry information and techniques. The results showed that the farmers had very strong demands for forestry information and techniques with diversified trend. But the farmers got the information with backward method and single service supply approach,and it lacked effective expression mechanism for their demands.

Analysis of Factors Influencing Farmers' Participation in Forest Farmers Cooperatives Based on Empirical Research of Zhejiang Province

Based on field research data of farmers in Zhejiang Province, the authors analyzed factors influencing farmers' participation in forest farmers cooperatives (hereafter referred to as FFCs) by the binary logistic regression model. Results show that understanding of farmers about cooperatives has a great influence on their behavior of participation in FFCs. Besides, educational level of householders and existing member scale of cooperatives also have significant influence on farmers' behavior of participation in cooperatives. Therefore, it is required to strengthen propaganda of cooperatives, deepen their understanding of cooperatives; cultivate new high quality farmers to provide talents for development of cooperatives; establish incentive mechanism to encourage farmers to participate in cooperatives.

Impact of eco-efficiency compensation for public welfare forests on the incomes of farmers

The strategy of rural revitalization puts ecology and economic development at the same level,in order to explore whether the eco-efficiency compensation policy for public welfare forests can achieve a“win-win”for both ecology and people livelihood.This study probed into the consideration of income structure and used OLS analysis to conduct an empirical analysis on a sample of 443 households in Shaanxi Province.It was found that the eco-efficiency compensation for public welfare forests had not only a significantly positive effect on the forestry income and the total income of farm households,but also had a constructive influence on the non-forestry income,though smaller and less significant,which was closely attributed to the original income structures of these farm households.In addition,personal and household characteristics such as age,educational level and labor force size played decisive roles to nonforestry income and total income of farm households as well.

Study on Farmers' Cognition and Willingness to Plant Trees during Collective Forest Right Reform Based on Data from Plain Areas of Henan Province

On the basis of the survey data from plain areas of Henan Province,farmers' cognition and willingness to plant trees in collective forest right reform are studied. According to statistical analysis and regression equation of binary logistic regress analysis,it is generally believed that different participants have various attitudes to the reform,with regard to if planting trees or more,reform variables have a distinct effect,as well as income variable and loaning or lending variable. At last,some advices are put forward,that is,the government should strengthen collective forest right reform,accelerate matching reform and increase policy and financial support to forestry farmers.

Factors affecting technical efficiency of small-scale apple farms in Balochistan Plateau, Pakistan

In Balochistan, Agriculture is dominated by small-scale farmers and the apple production sector is confronted with the chronic constraint of low output per unit of input. Although some agricultural policies have been implemented in this province, studies on effectiveness and impacts of such policies over apple production and farmers' performance are still limited. This study is an effort to bridge the research gap on this potential crop in the plateau by investigating technical and scale efficiency of 181 officially designated small-scale apple farmers in mountainous district Mastung in Balochistan; then explored factors that underlie differences in production inefficiency. A two-stage input-oriented Data Envelopment Analysis(DEA) methodology was employed to evaluate technical and scale efficiency followed by truncated bootstrapped regression framework to analyze the correlative determinants to efficiency. Average technical and scale efficiencies of larger landholders were higher than medium and small landholders. Analysis indicated that there is still ample scope for inefficient sample farmers to reduce the input use by 33% without compromising the given yield level. Maximum contributions to the total input savings were from the use of urea, farm yard manure(FYM) and labor-use. Farmer's experience, farm ownership, irrigation constraints, and farmer's access to trainings, credit and extension services significantly affected apple farmers' technical efficiency. Based on the findings of this study, strategies are suggested to enhancing efficiencies by farmers' capacity development through effective extension services and trainings and provision of adequate credit.

Analysis of Farmers Adoption Behaviour of CRIG Recommended Technologies as a Package: The Case of Some Self Help Cocoa Farmer Associations in the Eastern Region of Ghana

Adoption of recommended technologies as a package is the prelude to increase cocoa productivity per unit area. This is due to the interactive benefits of individual technologies which have been recommended by the Cocoa Research Institute of Ghana (CRIG). However, many surveys among cocoa farmers have reported low adoption of technologies resulting in low productivity of cocoa with an average of 450 kg/ha among small holder cocoa farmers in Ghana. The current study investigates the adoption behavior of some cocoa farmers belonging to some self help farmer associations in the Eastern Region who are being monitored by CRIG since 2011. Primary data was collected from 131 respondents using questionnaires to interview farmers between 2013 and 2015. The results showed that adoption of recommended cocoa technologies as a package was still low. Respondents, however, identified a number of challenges including high cost of inputs, lack of finance and access to credit, high cost of labour and old age as some factors hampering composite adoption of the full CRIG technologies. It is recommended that small-scale cocoa farmers need a sustainable and convenient microfinance that can motivate and help them afford the cost associated with the full package of technologies. Farmers’ savings culture should also be nurtured to enhance their financial capabilities and investment in the cocoa farm.

Diagnosis of Soil Nutrient Constraints in Small-Scale Groundnut （Arachis hyopaea L,） Production Systems of Western Kenya Using Infrared Spectroscopy

Wise decision-making on resource allocation and intervention targeting for soil management cannot rely solely on trial and error methods and field observations used by small-scale farmers： cost-effective soil fertility survey methods are needed. This study aimed to test the applicability of infrared spectroscopy （IR） as a diagnostic screening tool for making soil fertility recommendations in small-scale production systems. Soil fertility survey of 150 small-scale groundnut farms in western Kenya was conducted using a spatially stratified random sampling strategy. Soil properties examined were pH in water （pHw）, total carbon （C）, total nitrogen （N）, extractable phosphorus （P）, exchangeable potassium （K）, calcium （Ca）, magnesium （Mg） and texture. These properties were calibrated to mid-infrared （MIR） diffuse reflectance using partial least square regression （PLSR）. Cross-validated coefficient of determination （r2） values obtained from calibration models were 〉 0.80 for all properties, except P and K with 0.66 and 0.50 respectively. Soil nutritional deficiencies were evaluated using critical nutrient limits based on IR predictions and composite soil fertility indices （SFIs） developed from the soil properties using principal component analysis. The SFIs were calibrated to MIR soil spectral reflectance with cross-validated r： values 〉 0.80. The survey showed that 56% of the groundnut farms had severe soil nutrient constraints for production, especially exchangeable Ca, available P and organic matter. IR can provide a robust tool for farm soil fertility assessment and recommendation systems when backed up by conventional reference analyses. However, further work is required to test direct calibration of crop responses to spectral indicators and to improve prediction of extractable P and K tests.

Sustainable Potato Production in the Mountain Area of Ecuador, an Approach to Increase Productivity with Small Scale Farmers

Ecuador potato crop is family based production system. Potato production has two roles in their economy, the first is providing food for their families and the second is a source of income for the household. However small scale farmers have limited access to local markets and most of the sales are through intermediates’ who purchase directly in the field at the lowest price possible. Potato production challenges for the small-scale farmers are among others availability of quality potato seed, direct sales, purchase of agrochemical inputs to maintain their crops and lack of education. In 2021, only 4% of potato farmers used certified seed. Potato yield is still low around 16.1 t·ha-1, in the last 10 years the total potato cultivated area was reduced by at least 50%. The farmers produce “Bokashi” and other organic fertilizer and these are effective to improve soil fertility and plant health. Homemade bio-pesticides reduce agrochemical pesticides. The Decision Support System (DSS) is a handheld device to control late blight, minimizes fungicide applications and improve fungicide rotation. In 2018 Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum (Lso), the causal agent of zebra chip, and its vector, the potato psyllid Bactericera cockerelli, together created havoc for farmers and researchers. Promotion of early potato varieties INIAP—Libertad is an alternative to lower the impact of this newest pest.

深化集体林权制度改革阶段内蒙古林农林业生产经营的动力机制

集体林权制度改革关系国家生态安全和亿万农民福祉。在当前深化集体林权制度改革阶段,通过分析林农林业生产经营的动力因素,得出林农生产经营的动力机制,提出提升林农生产经营动力的对策建议,以期进一步激发林农生产经营的活力,从而促进森林资源持续增长和林农收入持续增加。

乡村振兴战略下涉农高职院校“三农”人才队伍建设探索——以咸阳职业技术学院为例

乡村振兴是中国全面建设社会主义现代化国家的重要保障,具有深远的意义和重大价值。为全面服务乡村振兴工作,充分发挥涉农高职院校在我国乡村振兴工作中的服务功能,笔者基于咸阳职业技术学院近年来林草产业项目在推动“三农”人才队伍建设方面发挥的示范和带动作用,阐述该校为科学高效服务地方“三农”发展,在乡村振兴战略背景下基于“三农”人才队伍建设所做的尝试和探索,以期为“三农”人才队伍建设提供一定的理论参考和实践借鉴。

林农参与生态公益林保护建设意愿的影响因素分析——基于广西的调查数据

生态公益林的保护建设离不开林农的积极参与,本文基于计划行为理论,以广西林农为特定研究对象,采用随机抽样的方法进行,在各县(市、区)随机选取辖区两个乡(镇、街道)作为调查点,运用二元Logistic模型实证分析林农参与生态公益林保护建设意愿的影响因素。结果显示:林农的年龄、生计来源状况、经济社会地位、家庭收入状况、对生态公益林的功能作用和生态补偿状况的认知评价等因素对其参与生态公益林管护有显著影响。基于研究结论,进而提出加大生态公益林保护建设的宣传力度、持续提高林农森林素养、争取提升生态公益林补偿补助标准、提高财政补偿资金的兑付率、拓宽林农增收渠道、增加林农收入来源等建议。

参与竹林国家储备林项目对林农收入的影响研究

关于国家储备林项目的研究一直是乡村振兴研究的热点,但多关注项目本身如何更好实施,少有研究关注其对林农收入的影响,且基本是定性研究,少有定量研究。基于此,利用倾向得分匹配法(PSM),以平村实施的竹林国家储备林项目为例,实证研究了参与竹林国家储备林的林农与未参与的林农收入的差异。

Factor Analysis on Subsidy Preference of Private Forest Owners

Forest farmers are the basic micro-subjects in southern collectively owned forest, and their willingness towards forest management directly influences forestry development. Thus, to provide subsidies to forest farmers is an important means to encourage the farmers' enthusiasm to manage the forest and promote the healthy and sustainable development of private forest. In order to reduce the supply-demand contradictions and improve the implementation effects of the subsidies system, the design of the system should be based on the real needs of forest farmers. On this basis, a questionnaire survey was designed in this paper to study the preferences of forest farmers to different types of subsidies in the southern collectively owned forest and the influencing factors were analysed by the Logistic Model to search for the reasonable design of the system. It was concluded that the forest farmers with different backgrounds show different preference to the subsidies, which, to a certain extent, reflects the development bottlenecks of forestry, and lays a foundation for the design of subsidies system.

Forested Farmlands:Forest Management by Agroforestry Symbiosis in A Land Management Framework in South and South East Asia

Forests provide multiple benefits as a safety net to the poor and also help to increase the overall ecological balance.Of particular importance in this respect this research has been conducted in six typical villages in South and Southeast Asia,located in Northern Bangladesh,Southern Myanmar and Northwest Thailand.Data collection methods were used by means of observation,FGD,interviews,and a structured survey of farm households.Data were analyzed through qualitative methods

公益林生态补偿政策对林农生计策略与收入的影响

基于2018年陕西省公益林区农户微观调研数据,采用OLS回归模型、中介效应模型和PSM倾向性得分匹配等方法,探究公益林生态补偿政策、林农生计策略与收入影响的关系。结果表明:公益林生态补偿政策对农户总收入的影响具有促进作用,剔除生态补偿与仅选择贫困地区样本后,这一效应依旧显著;公益林生态补偿政策对林农生计策略产生正向显著影响,并通过提高农户生计非林化和生计多样化水平间接作用于农户总收入的增长;从具体的收入结构角度看,政策的参与虽减少了林业收入,但却能促进非林工资收入和非林经营收入的增长,保证农户在参与政策以后仍能实现家庭总收入和家庭人均收入的提高。因此,政府部门应通过完善公益林生态补偿政策及相关配套措施、加强农户生计转型对口帮扶、加快公益林产权市场化运作等方式,提高农户政策参与积极性与生计能力适应性,实现公益林可持续发展和林农增收双赢的良性循环。

公益林补偿收益权质押贷款对异质性农户借贷行为影响研究

公益林补偿收益权质押贷款进一步拓宽了农户融资渠道,而农户对相关政策的响应程度不同,使借贷行为产生差异。文章基于浙江省12个县(市)的实地调研数据,运用多项Logit模型分析公益林补偿收益权质押贷款政策对农户借贷行为的影响及其异质性。研究发现:(1)公益林补偿收益权质押贷款政策对农户选择正规金融借贷具有显著正向影响,对选择民间借贷具有显著负向影响。其中,农户对政策的了解程度每提高1%,其选择其他正规金融借贷的概率提升10.36%。(2)贷款政策对异质性农户借贷行为具有不同程度的影响,对低收入农户选择正规借贷具有显著正向影响,对中高收入农户无显著影响;对50岁以下农户选择农村信用社借贷具有显著负向影响,对50~60岁农户选择农村信用社借贷具有显著正向影响,对60岁以上农户无显著影响。(3)农户所在村庄是否有正规金融机构对农户选择其他正规金融借贷具有显著负向影响,正规金融覆盖率每增加1%,农户选择其他正规金融机构借贷的概率降低9.41%,选择农村信用社借贷的概率提升6.93%。政策启示:(1)加大公益林补偿收益权质押贷款政策的宣传力度;(2)相关政策应根据农户家庭收入、公益林面积和地区差异进行调整,为差异化、个性化的金融服务提供政策保障;(3)有效提高山区农村正规金融覆盖度,更好地发挥贷款政策的效用,以满足山区农户合理的借贷需求。

农户参与森林碳汇项目意愿的实证分析--基于福建省300个样本农户数据

以计划行为理论为基础,提出影响农户参与意愿的理论假设。然后,以福建省样本地区300个农户的样本数据为基础,使用二元Logistic模型进行实证分析。结果表明,通过互联网出售森林碳汇的意愿程度、自有生态公益林作为碳汇林的意愿程度、是否认可REDD作为碳减排产品对农户参与森林碳汇项目意愿有显著的正面影响,年龄、获取林业信息的困难程度对农户参与森林碳汇项目意愿有显著的负面影响。最后,针对实证结果提出了提高农户参与森林碳汇项目意愿的对策建议。

合作社嵌入对林农有机肥施用行为的影响

基于理性行为理论和嵌入性理论探讨合作社嵌入对林农有机肥施用行为的影响机制,运用IV-probit模型对浙闽赣3省330户林农经济林生产调查数据分析合作社嵌入对林农有机肥施用行为的影响程度。结果表明:合作社嵌入能够显著地促进林农有机肥施用行为,对小规模林农有机肥施用行为的影响更为显著;合作社嵌入程度对林农有机肥施用行为的影响存在明显差异,嵌入程度较高的林农有机肥施用的概率明显大于嵌入程度中等和较低的林农。因此,要加强合作社与林农的联系与合作提高林农组织化程度,完善合作社与林农利益的联结机制,增强合作社对林农的吸引力,立足林业生产实际,重点关注小规模林农的有机肥需求。