Gender Perspectives of Vulnerability to Climate Change: A Descriptive Evidence from Farming Households at Ikpayongo Community in Gwer Lga, Benue State, Nigeria

Climate change impact and risks on agricultural livelihood affect women and men disproportionately and often to the disadvantage of women and girls. Consequently, this study assessed gender perspectives of vulnerability to climate change of farming households at Ikpayongo community in Gwer local government area, Benue State, Nigeria using descriptive approach. The study identified a total of 120 male-headed and female-headed farming households across four neighbourhoods and administered structured questionnaire on them using simple random sampling method, while data analysis was done using descriptive statistics. The results indicate lower education and income status among female-headed households, though male-headed households have high household size. Both sexes have relatively equal access to land for farming, however men have large farm size compared to women. The major crops cultivated by men were rice and yam, while women cultivated largely groundnut and cassava. Women are more exposed and sensitive to climate-related hazards such as floods and heat stress due to the location of their farms. The result further shows that males possess better adaptive capacity given their higher incomes, social networks and more access to training/capacity building programmes and credit facilities. The study concludes that female-headed farming households are more vulnerable to climate change and variability than male-headed farming households due to higher exposure and a lower adaptive capacity. Programme and policies to improve women access to credit facilities and relevant training to boost their adaptive capacity and build resilience are highly recommended. This would also limit exposure with attendant reduction in vulnerability.

Effects of Human Trafficking on Household Farm Labor Availability Among Arable Farming Households in Delta State,Nigeria

Trafficking in persons, especially women and girls has been on for long and is still going on. Persons in the female group constitute the mostly trafficked humans. This study was conducted to determine the effects of human trafficking on household farm labor needs available among farming households. Arable farming households involved in human trafficking were identified and purposively selected for this study with the aid of key informants in purposively selected communities. This led to the selection of 60 arable farming household heads in Delta North Agricultural zone, 65 farming household heads in Delta Central Agricultural Zone, and 36 arable farming household heads in Delta south agricultural zone to give a total of 151 respondents. Data for the study were collected with the utilization of questionnaire and interview schedule. The collected data were subjected to statistical analysis with the application of frequency counts, percentages and means derived from 4-point likert-type scale. The hypothesis was tested using Tobit regression analysis. Human trafficking was found to be age and sex selective and the causes of human trafficking included both push and pull factors, such as high income in destination countries poverty, low risk profit, nature of trafficking in persons, ease in control and manipulation of vulnerable women and girls, low risk involved in working in destination countries, lacking of legitimate and fulfilling employment, sex selective migration policies, less access to information and peer pressure. Shortage of household farm labor was experienced by farming households in clearing and brushing of farm land, sowing, weeding, harvesting and processing/storage. Human trafficking was found to affect household labor availability in clearing/brushing of farm land, sowing, weeding, harvesting and processing/storage of farm produce. It is recommended that poverty alleviation programs should be specially organized for poor women, government and NGOs and international agencies should develop strategies to mitigate human trafficking. The government needs to collaborate with community based organizations and law enforcement agencies to create anti-trafficking committee in fanning communities. Community education should be created for the farming communities to emphasize anti-human trafficking with the use of change agents; extension agents should integrate anti-trafficking messages in their interaction with farmers.

Analysis of the Factors Influencing Breeding Record Establishment of Sheep-raising Households or Farms Based on Logit-ISM:Based on 849 Questionnaires from 17 Cities in Shandong Province

Breeding record is an important way to implement standardized sheep raising,trace major sheep raising epidemic information and ensure the quality and safety of products for sheep-raising households or farms.Based on 849 questionnaires from 17 cities of Shandong Province,the paper firstly used the binary discrete model of Logit to analyze the factors influencing the establishing behavior of breeding records of sheep-raising households or farms and then used the ISM model to explain the relationship and hierarchy of each influencing factor.The result showed that seven factors including the education level of the deciders,farming scale,fixed number of farming years,degree of specialization,support of the government,whether to join the industrialization organization and the recognition of the breeding records have a significant impact on the establishing behavior of breeding records of the sheep-raising households or farms.Among them,the support of the government and the recognition of breeding records are the surface direct factors,degree of specialization and whether to join the industrialization organization are the middle indirect factors,the education level of the deciders,the farming scale and the fixed number of farming years are deep source factors.

The influencing factors and Development Countermeasures of Large Farming Household in Jiangxi Province

As an important part of the new agricultural business entities, large-scale grain-production households play a significantly positive role in improving the land resource utilization, improving agricultural productivity, increasing agricultural output and farmers＂ income, and making a certain contribution to stabilize grain production. This paper analyzed the current situation of large-scale grain-production household in Jiangxi Province, as well as the problems in land transfer, farmland infrastructure, production and management, capital and other risks. At last, the paper proposed targeted countermeasures.

Comparative Analysis of Influence Factors on Arable Land Use Intensity at Farm Household Level:A Case Study Comparing Suyu District of Suqian City and Taixing City,Jiangsu Province,China

Using data from the farm household survey conducted in 2009,arable land use intensity(ALUI)and its influence factors at farm household level were investigated by the Tobit model.Suyu District of Suqian City and Taixing City of Jiansu Province,China were chosen as the regions for comparison.The results show that:1)On the average, the ALUI,labor intensity,yield-increasing input,and labor-saving input are 15 238.14 yuan(RMB)/ha,192 d/ha, 7233.01 yuan/ha,and 2451.32 yuan/ha in the less economically developed Suyu District,and 13 020.65 yuan/ha,181 d/ha,5871.82 yuan/ha,and 2625.97 yuan/ha in more economically developed Taixing City.The figures indicate that Suyu District has higher ALUI and labor intensity input but lower labor-saving input.2)Comparing all the influence factors,the total arable land area in available and average plot size have bigger effects on arable land intensive use;to a small degree,family′s non-farm income affects labor intensity,yield-increasing input,and labor-saving input;the yield-increasing input decreases significantly when the householder has higher education attainment;the commercialization rates of agricultural products and the planting proportion of cash crops both have unstable influence on ALUI; the share of arable land rented in has few impacts on labor intensity,yield-increasing input,and labor-saving input. 3)There are no differences found in the internal impact mechanism of influence factors on the arable land intensive use behaviors of farm households.However,there are conspicuous disparities in the impact degrees and statistical significance based on varying economic levels.4)Using the results as bases,this study proposes that the government should implement land management and agricultural policies according to local condition.And these policies should decrease land fragmentation to promote scale management of land and arable land use intensification.

Sustainable Intensification of Cultivated Land Use and Its Influencing Factors at the Farming Household Scale: A Case Study of Shandong Province, China

Promoting the sustainable intensification of cultivated land use(SICL) has become crucial for ensuring a sufficient supply of grain and important agricultural products, as well as for the sustainable use of resources. Taking widely used areas of Shandong Province in China as examples, an analytical scale and level framework for SICL is constructed in this study. It measures the level of SICL through material flow analysis, constructs Tobit models to analyze the influencing factors of SICL at the farming household scale,and analyzes the transition mechanisms of SICL. The results show that the overall level of SICL in Shandong Province is low, and the spatial distribution is uneven. There are relatively more farmers participating in unsustainable intensification than in medium or low levels of SICL, with farmers working at a high level of SICL making up the smallest proportion. The factors that determine the level of SICL at which farmers work vary significantly. More male farmers operate at a low SICL level than female farmers, while females outnumber males at a high SICL level. This is mainly related to the regional distribution of age and population. Meanwhile, with larger cultivated land areas, there is a lower degree of land fragmentation, with a higher level of SICL corresponding to a smaller distance to the nearest town closer within 1–5 km from the town center. We can see the level of SICL and its processes themselves are closely related to time and space scales. Based on the above analysis, it is necessary to clarify the standard processes of SICL to adapt them to local conditions. This includes instructing managers on how to improve resource utilization, increase the sustainable development of cultivated land and establish a comprehensively efficient and functional SICL mechanism. The sustainable intensification of cultivated land use and its specific application in the new era are conducive to enriching the frontier theories and methodology of sustainable development, and are of great significance to the advancement of green agriculture and the decision-making of rural high-quality development.

Heterogeneity in agricultural households and transition paths in southern Tibet

Smallholder livelihoods in agricultural areas in Tibet Autonomous Region,China(Tibet for short)have traditionally been based on subsistence mixed crop-livestock systems.Like many parts of China and the developing world,rural Tibet is undergoing rapid change in agricultural development,boosted by links with the off-farm sector.However,the agricultural transition process in Tibet has not been linear,is affected by policies particular to the region,and varies significantly for different categories of rural actors.This paper analyses heterogeneity of household types in agricultural areas of southern Tibet and how household structures and characteristics result in different agricultural development pathways.Data is drawn from a stratified random survey of 144 households in three townships in southern Tibet and analysed through three methods:cluster analysis,bio-economic modelling,and analysis of household perceptions and attitudes to change.The analysis allows for the identification of three key household types-semisubsistence,pluriactive and semi-commercial-organised along a continuum of intensification,commercialisation,specialisation and productivity.The study demonstrates the diversity of household farming systems in Tibet which in turn highlights the need for disaggregated analysis and tailored development policies and strategies.However,the analysis also reveals commonalities in development paths between groups,where all farm types are more interested in pursuing income and livelihood goals through an increase in productivity than through an increase in scale.Farmers in all systems choose to retain agriculture as a base from which to pursue livelihood strategies,especially through off-farm activities.Accounting for this household heterogeneity is important on several levels.First,it provides more granular detail on the process of development in rural areas of Tibet that have been very difficult to access in English literature especially in recent years.Second,the characteristics of the case study in agricultural areas of Tibet-especially the mixed agricultural-pastoral systems,high levels of seasonality,heavy state investment and increased integration with the other regions of China-may contribute to the broader agricultural development study.Third,policymakers in the central and local governments may be interested in how the household heterogeneity may affect-or be affected by-policies to increase agricultural productivity,intensify systems,change the composition of crop-livestock systems,promote rural-urban transformation and pursue environmental objectives,especially grassland degradation.

Impact of livelihood diversification of rural households on their ecological footprint in agro-pastoral areas of northern China

Human-environment relationship is a focus of academic researches and an understanding of the rela- tionship is important for making effective policies and decisions. In this study, based on rural household survey data of Taibus Banner, Duolun county and Zhengxiangbai Banner in the Inner Mongolia autonomous region of China, we identified the impact of livelihood diversification on ecosystems in these agro-pastoral areas by using the ecological footprint theory and methodology together with the one-way analysis of variance （ANOVA） and correlation analysis methods. In 2011, the total ecological footprint of consumption （EFC） was 0.665 g hm2, and the total ecological footprint of production （EFP） was 2.045 g hm2, which was more than three times the EFC. The ecological footprint of arable land consumption （EFAC） accounted for a large proportion of the EFC, and the ecological footprint of grassland production （EFGP） occupied a large proportion of the EFP. Both the ecological footprint of grassland consumption （EFGC） and EFGP had a significant positive correlation with the income, indicating that income was mainly depended on livestock production and the households with higher incomes consumed more livestock prod- ucts. The full-time farming households （FTFHs） had the highest EFP, ecological footprint of arable land production （EFAP）, EFGP and EFGC, followed by the part-time farming households （PTFHs） and non-farming households （NFHs）, which indicated that part-time farming and non-farming employment reduced the occupancy and con- sumption of rural households on local ecosystems and natural resources to some extent. When farming households engaged in livestock rearing, both the EFAP and EFAC became smaller, while the EFP, EFC, EFGC and EFGP increased significantly. The differences in ecological footprints among different household groups should be taken into account when making ecosystem conservation policies. Encouraging the laborers who have the advantages of participating in non-farming employment to move out of the rural areas and increasing the diversification of liveli- hoods of rural households are important in reducing the environmental pressures and improving the welfare of households in the study area. Moreover, grassland should be utilized more effectively in the future.

Policy-Making for Households Appliances-Related Electricity Consumption in Indonesia—A Multicultural Country

Household energy consumption is strongly influenced by culture. Therefore, the study of the influence of culture on energy consumption is important for designing the most suitable energy conservation policy to increase society’s adaptation to policy. The present paper has the following aims: 1) to analyze and compare decision-making in the use of electrical appliances;and 2) to compile a strategy to improve the adoption of higher-efficiency appliances and the wise use of electricity in Indonesia to optimize households’ energy conservation. All aims are in the framework analysis of the different cultural backgrounds and ethnicities represented by two cities—Yogyakarta and Bandung. The finding indicates that people in Yogyakarta show greater awareness of the benefits of adopting higher-efficiency appliances than people in Bandung. Therefore, the awareness rate of energy consumed by appliances and energy efficiency of appliances is significantly higher in Yogyakarta. This study shows the integration of intervention strategy in the purchase and use of electrical appliances with regard to the consumers’ decision and behaviors within a framework of the local culture to manage electricity consumption in the household sector.

数字乡村建设能促进农户增收吗?

数字乡村建设的战略目标在于全面实现农业强、农村美、农民富。基于2019年中国县域数字乡村指数和2019年中国家庭金融调查数据,利用多层次模型和中介效应模型实证分析数字乡村建设对农户收入的影响及其作用机制。结果表明,数字乡村建设对农户增收具有显著的促进作用,数字乡村建设得越好,农户收入越高。中介效应检验结果表明,数字乡村建设可以通过推动农户非农就业、提高农户数字素养进而促进农户增收。异质性分析表明,数字乡村建设对农户增收的影响存在明显的地区差异性和受教育程度差异性;相较于中西部地区和低学历农户家庭,数字乡村建设对东部地区和高学历农户家庭的增收效应更显著。为此,政府应持续加强和协调数字乡村建设与发展,着力构建面向农村的数字技术推广体系,切实让农民享受到“数字红利”,促进农民持续增收,全面推进乡村振兴。

劳动投入水平、要素禀赋与农户行为可分性检验——基于南方稻农地块层次数据的验证

生产和消费行为交织在一起是农户的重要特征。农户的生产和消费行为是否可分成为众多农户行为模型的基本假设前提,直接影响农户行为分析的结论和政策建议的合理性。通过构建农户模型,从农户农业生产劳动投入水平与家庭人地禀赋关系的视角切入,分析不同要素市场条件下农户行为可分和不可分特征。在此基础上,利用2015、2019年对中国南方稻农地块层次调研的混合截面数据对农户行为可分性进行实证检验。结果表明,当前中国南方稻农行为呈现出可分性特征,在处理了内生性、替换核心解释变量、替换被解释变量,结果依然稳健。进一步分析表明,劳动力市场越完善,农户行为可分性特征越明显;随着时间的推移,农户行为由不可分性向可分性发生转变。与前期关于农户行为可分性检验从劳动力配置视角切入不同,从劳动力投入强度和要素禀赋之间的关系来验证农户可分性,并利用一手调研的地块层面数据进行验证,为基于要素市场识别农户行为可分与不可分的具体情境研究提供了新的视角和经验证据。

农户分化对农业生产托管的影响

发展农业生产托管是农业应对“刘易斯拐点”和人口红利消失的必然选择。基于江汉平原稻农的调研数据,使用Probit模型、CMP模型等分析农户分化对农业生产托管的影响,探讨农户分化对不同托管环节以及不同农户的异质性影响。研究表明:农户分化催生农业生产托管;农户分化对整地和收割环节等劳动密集型生产环节托管的作用显著,对育秧移栽和施肥与病虫害防治等技术密集型生产环节托管的作用不显著;农户分化对促进女性参与农业生产托管显著,对男性不显著;农户分化对高龄和低龄农户参与农业生产托管均显著,且通过1%的显著性检验,但对低龄农户的影响更大。据此,应进一步促进农业生产托管的发展与完善以应对农户分化;秉持“补弱扶强”原则,对于不同类型的生产环节托管的补贴激励政策有所侧重;提升农户生产托管意愿,以促进农业生产托管的发展与完善。

新疆石河子地区奶牛布鲁氏菌病血清学监测

为掌握石河子市(以下简称师市)近五年奶牛布鲁氏菌病(以下简称布病)防控效果,2018-2022年每年对师市14个农牧团场的14个免疫规模牛场、5个非免疫规模牛场、22个非免疫散养牛场(固定的养殖场)随机抽取不同数量血清样品进行了布病抗体监测。本次调查共采集919449份样品,用虎红平板凝集试验初筛,阳性样品用试管凝集试验确认。结果显示:2018-2022年免疫规模牛场免疫抗体个体阳性率分别为33.17%、46.55%、51.76%、57.27%、59.12%;场群阳性率均为100%;年个体阳性率和场群阳性率无差异统计学意义(P>0.05)。非免疫规模牛场个体阳性率分别为2.21%、0.87%、0.70%、0.29%、0.13%;场群阳性率为20%~100%;各年份个体阳性呈逐年显著下降趋势(P<0.05)。非免疫散养户为0.87%、0.72%、0.29%、0.08%、0.03%;场群阳性率为9.09%~50.00%;各年份个体阳性呈逐年显著下降趋势(P<0.05)。结果表明,近五年师市采取的布病防控与净化措施是积极有效的,总体流行率逐年下降,出现大规模流行的风险较小。但仍存在如下问题:一是有些规模牛场由于持续进行布病疫苗免疫,加之,目前临床还无有效的办法鉴别疫苗免疫抗体与野毒感染抗体,无法正确评估布病防控效果;二是部分阳性场点仍存在布病传播的风险。因此,建议已免疫规模牛场尽快制定免疫退出时间表,所有牛场实施“监测+扑杀”措施,并加强检疫监督,严格控制动物移动,以减少扩散的风险,进一步推进布病净化工作。

我国区域新质生产力水平测度、障碍因子诊断及时空演化

基于新质生产力的内涵,文章围绕新制造、新服务、新业态和综合指标等维度构建我国区域新质生产力水平测度评价指标体系,利用熵权TOPSIS模型对我国区域新质生产力水平进行测度,并运用障碍因子诊断模型、马尔科夫区制转移模型和空间核密度等方法对我国区域新质生产力水平进行障碍因子诊断和时空演化分析。结果表明:(1)我国各区域的新质生产力水平呈现不均衡分布,分布梯度依次为南部沿海、东部沿海、北部沿海、长江中游、西南地区、黄河中游、东北和西北地区。(2)新质生产力的发展需要关注“技术市场成交额”“国外技术引进合同”“高等教育人数比例”“专利申请数量”等方面的问题。(3)我国整体新质生产力水平发展处于上升趋势,在2017—2020年跃迁至“高波动”区间,2020年后逐渐转为“低波动”区间。东北、东部沿海等省份呈现正向的空间动态溢出效应,而北部沿海等省份容易受到来自区域内其他省份的负向空间动态溢出效应的影响。

就近城镇化背景下“半工半耕”模式的变化及其影响

就近城镇化作为如今中西部地区新型城镇化的战略要求和现实选择,使21世纪以来形成的“以代际分工为基础的半工半耕”模式发生了新的变化。文章以湖南省常德市为例,采用入户深度访谈等质性研究方法,分析农民工回流实现就近城镇化对原有的“半工半耕”家庭分工模式造成的影响。研究发现:就近城镇化过程中出现了以放弃老人农业为特征的“半耕”弱化,以及返乡就业压力和风险下的“半工”非正规化。农户家庭在参与城镇化的行为决策中,正从以经济收益为考量的方式转向以后代教育为导向的家庭分工新方式。就近城镇化正在广大的中西部地区发生,但新“半工半耕”模式带来的社会效应是复杂和不确定的。该模式的健康引导,对于探索本土化的内发型发展道路有着积极的意义。

农户参与农耕文化保护和传承意愿研究

农耕文化作为中华文明发展的根基,对文化强国和农业强国建设具有重大意义和关键价值。基于计划行为理论剖析影响农户参与农耕文化保护和传承意愿的因素,以蚌埠市五河县刘朵村为研究区域,通过走访调查收集数据,利用二元Logistic回归模型进行实证分析。研究结果表明:农耕文化的经济价值、社会价值、邻居朋友的带动、基层政府的宣传、参与农耕文化活动的精力和能力以及受教育水平对于农户参与农耕文化保护和传承意愿有显著的正向影响。因此,在推动农耕文化发展中,要切实增强农户的主体意识,加强政府的宣传和推广力度,显现农耕文化的经济价值和社会价值,鼓励农户参与农耕文化发展事业,发挥村干部的示范带头作用,提高农户的自我效能感,调动农户的参与积极性,保障农耕文化稳步有序发展。

燎原社“首创精神”融入温州新农村精神文明建设的路径

燎原社“首创精神”是温州地区的一种传统精神文化力量,对其内在价值底蕴的深入挖掘是新发展阶段强化思想舆论引领,激发温州改革创新的时代力量,着力推进乡村振兴的必然要求,也是引领温州农村精神文明建设的重要路径。调研表明,当前温州农村精神文明建设存在着文化资源开发不够、精神文化设施利用不足、农民参与度不高等问题。依托燎原社“首创精神”,可以促进温州本土人民传承历史文化记忆,铸就农村文明新篇章;培育发展“燎原”文化产品,推动完善农村公共文化服务体系建设。最重要的是,以燎原社“首创精神”引领温州农村精神文明建设,能增强本土农民主人翁意识,有利于发挥主体性,深化农村自治实践,形成进一步推进农村精神文明建设、实现乡村振兴的蓬勃力量。

数字素养对农户生产要素配置的影响

农户优化生产要素配置是推动乡村转型的重要途径。本文基于2020年中国乡村振兴综合调查(CRRS)数据,利用似不相关方法和多变量概率单位模型分析数字素养对农户生产要素配置行为的影响及机制。基准回归结果显示,数字素养推动农户进行生产要素配置,经过稳健性检验后结论仍成立。机制分析结果表明,数字素养通过降低农户生产要素交易成本,进而推动农户进行生产要素配置行为。异质性分析结果表明,数字素养对无抚养负担家庭和抚幼型家庭离农型生产要素配置有影响,对养老型和抚幼养老型家庭生产要素配置行为无影响。数字素养推动小农户进行离农型生产要素配置,推动规模农户进行经营型生产要素配置。数字素养推动粮食主产区农户进行经营型生产要素配置,推动非粮食主产区农户进行离农型生产要素配置。产出绩效分析结果表明,数字素养通过影响农户家庭生产要素配置行为提高规模户单位产出,并提高规模户农业收入和总收入,提高无抚养负担农户和抚幼型农户非农就业收入和总收入。

家庭老年照料对农户收入差距的影响——基于劳动力流动视角的分析

基于CFPS2018微观数据,运用相对收入剥夺指数动态测度农户收入差距,实证分析了家庭老年照料对农户收入差距的影响。研究发现:家庭老年照料显著扩大了农户收入差距,且对低收入和女性群体的影响更加明显,处理内生性之后结果依然稳健。机制分析看,家庭老年照料通过影响农户劳动力流动决策,表现为限制其劳动力流动距离和降低就业稳定性,间接扩大了农户收入差距,同时社会照料的互补功能可以较好地缩小农户收入差距。为此提出了要积极探索农村互助式养老的新模式、增加就近的工资性受雇机会以及制定差异化农村养老方案等建议,以减轻家庭老年照料负担和缩小农户收入差距。

乡村旅游发展对农户收入流动性的影响研究——基于CFPS的经验数据

促进机会公平、畅通向上流动通道是共同富裕的应有之义。文章基于2010—2018年5期中国家庭追踪调查面板数据,首先运用收入转换矩阵对农户收入流动性进行考察,继而构建有序概率单位模型实证检验了乡村旅游发展对农户收入流动性的影响,并进一步考察了该影响的异质性。研究有3点发现。1)2010—2018年农户收入流动性整体呈下降趋势。位于收入分布两端的农户阶层趋于固化;位于中间阶层的农户收入流动性较强,但总体呈向下流动趋势。2)乡村旅游能够显著促使农户收入向上流动;在边际效应上,乡村旅游促进农户收入上升1~2个阶层的作用最大;上述结论在克服样本自选择问题、替换变量衡量方式、更换计量模型等稳健性检验后依然成立。3)乡村旅游对农户收入流动性的影响存在阶段差异与群体差异。分阶段看,乡村旅游对农户收入向上流动的积极影响随时间的推移而增强,且该积极影响在2014年后更为突出。分群体看,乡村旅游对低收入农户的收入向上流动具有显著促进作用;对中等收入农户和高收入农户分别具有消极影响和积极影响,但均不显著。研究结论为乡村旅游发展情境下破解农村收入阶层固化、促进收入合理有序流动提供了决策参考,政府未来一方面应在因地制宜发展乡村旅游的基础上,延伸乡村旅游全产业链、开展职业技能培训以持续扩大乡村旅游的收入效应;另一方面,应优化投资环境、建立健全利益协调机制来兼顾乡村旅游发展的“提低扩中”效应。