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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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。

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。

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。

农户农地转出意愿影响因素实证分析——基于云南省砚山县的农户调查

分析农地转出意愿的影响因素,对解决生产经营零散,实现全面小康、加快农村农业现代化建设具有十分积极的意义。依据云南省砚山县的问卷调查数据,采取统计分析和Logistic回归模型对农地转出意愿的影响因素进行分析。结果表明:(1)受教育年限、承包地块的面积、承包地块数、经济发展水平以及农户所在区位对农地转出有显著性影响。(2)年龄、职业类别、承包地距离、家庭总人口数以及务农人口数对农地转出意愿影响不显著。农地转出意愿是受到承包地块特征等多种因素制约和影响的。结合实证分析结果,为增强农户农地转出意愿,盘活农地承包流转,提高农户耕地利用效率,需要加大农村科技、教育投入,立足农村经济社会发展现状,提升农村经济管理和服务水平,制定优惠政策,减轻农民负担,提高农民收入,确保农村经济获得可持续发展。

小农户衔接现代农业的历史底色及县域路径

推动小农户与现代农业充分有效衔接,既是加快建设农业强国、推进农业农村现代化需要破解的难题,也是推进中国式现代化的内在要求。从小农经营的历史发展来看,从传统社会时期以家户为基本单位到集体公社时期以生产队为基本单位,再到统分经营时期融入社会分工体系,小农先后经历了个体化小农、组织化小农和社会化小农的不同样态,深刻体现出中国农业发展的小农底色。从小农经营的现实状况来看,有专业型小农、兼业型小农、自给型小农和退出型小农四种类型,他们分别具有基于利润扩大、收入拓展、家庭消费和利益分配的差异性经营目标。在小农户衔接现代农业过程中,存在衔接机制不畅、制度保障不足等问题。这些问题的应对之策在于,推进农村集体产权制度改革与农民市民化改革,实现“人、地、财”的有序流动;完善产业链延伸发展体系、组织化利益联结体系、政策性风险保障体系和新质生产力应用体系。

Do Land Characteristics Affect Farmers' Soil Fertility Management?

Soil fertility management （SFM） has important implications for sustaining agricultural development and food self-sufifciency. Better understanding the determinants of farmers’ SFM can be a great help to the adoption of effective SFM practices. Based on a dataset of 315 plots collected from a typical rice growing area of South China, this study applied statistical method and econometric models to examine the impacts of land characteristics on farmers’ SFM practices at plot scale. Main results showed that in general land characteristics affected SFM behaviors. Securer land tenure arrangements facilitated effective practices of SFM through more diversiifed and more soil-friendly cropping pattern choices. Plot size signiifcantly reduced the intensities of phosphorus and potassium fertilizer application. Given other factors, 1 ha increase in plot size might reduce 3.0 kg ha-1 P2O5 and 1.8 kg ha-1 K2O. Plots far from the homestead were paid less attention in terms of both chemical fertilizers and manure applications. Besides, plots with better quality were put more efforts on management by applying more nitrogen and manure, and by planting green manure crops. Signiifcant differences existed in SFM practices between the surveyed villages with different socio-economic conditions. The ifndings are expected to provide important references to the policy-making incentive for improving soil quality and crop productivity.

Estimating the effects of financial access on poor farmers in rural northern Nigeria

By recognizing the gap in the literature in examining the effects of financial resources and development outcomes at the household level,this paper examines whether the poorest income quintile would benefit most from programs aimed at increasing their access to financial services in rural northern Nigeria.Most households from this part of the world consist of farmers and,hence,are exposed to the vagaries of climate change.The data from 320 questionnaires administered in two rural communities(Rijau and Fakai)were analyzed using an ordered logit regression model.The results showed that access to financial services by using formal financial institutions and farmer savings clubs benefits vulnerable farmers(mostly women).The robustness check using the Brant test also confirmed that the parallel regression assumption of the model was not violated.A policy scenario that seeks to increase the delivery of financial services to rural farm households using community savings clubs and microfinance institution reforms for reaching the financially underserved was also found to benefit the poorest income quintile,hence,bringing them out of poverty.

Climate change and financing adaptation by farmers in northern Nigeria

This paper examines farmers’perceptions of their exposure to climate change in rural northern Nigeria.It also examines whether there is a significant relationship between the exposure of farmers to climate change and their need for financial access as an adaptation strategy.Questionnaires were administered to 320 respondents in rural communities in northern Nigeria.Descriptive analysis shows that rural farmers are affected by climate change through increased temperature,prolonged dry seasons,floods,and drought,which lead to low harvest and,in turn,low income.An estimate from a non-parametric test also shows a significant relationship between farmers’perceived exposure to climate change and their need for credit.Although the Spearman correlation results show a 63%association between exposure to climate change and the need for finance,96%of those seeking credit to mitigate these impacts would be unable to do so due to financial exclusiveness.The paper recommends that the Central Bank of Nigeria should ensure that microfinance institutions refocus their products/services to those who need them the most in order to enhance access to financial resources and enable farmers to build resilience that will maximize post-harvest gains.Lastly,considering that climate change is a global phenomenon with local effects,perhaps the international community could support lending to smallholder farmers through central banks by insuring the loans that banks give to farmers towards financing climate change adaptation strategies.

Influences of Sense of Place on Farming Households' Relocation Willingness in Areas Threatened by Geological Disasters:Evidence from China

Scholars from environmental psychology,geography, disaster science, and sociology have recently focused attention on evacuation and relocation behaviors and influencing factors in hazard-threatened areas. However, existing studies are mainly focused on developed countries and the influence of individual characteristics,household characteristics, and the perception of risk of urban households on evacuation and relocation behaviors.Few studies examine developing countries and the influence of farmers' sense of place in geological hazardthreatened areas. Using statistics of farming households in an area threatened by landslides, this is a pilot study to explore the relationship of sense of place to the relocation willingness of farming households while controlling for other variables. The results show that:(1) Households with higher scores of place identity and place dependence are less willing to relocate, whereas place attachment has no significant relationship to household relocation willingness;(2) Risk perception dimensions, including probability,threat, and controllability have a significant relationship to household relocation willingness, while worry and fear of the unknown have no significant relationship;(3) Household characteristics, including income, whether a household has experienced economic loss from landslides, and social support are significantly correlated with household relocation willingness, while gender, age, experience, distance to hazard sites, size of household, children, older people, and housing material are not. The results for information and education are not robust. This study contributes to the current literature by improving the understanding of the relationship of sense of place to the relocation willingness of farming households in villages threatened by geological disasters in rural China.