Influence of social capital on the livelihood strategies of farmers under China's rural revitalization strategy in poor mountain areas: A case study of the Liangshan Yi autonomous prefecture

Social capital in the form of social resources or social networks is one of the most important livelihood capital of farmers, which can increase the labor productivity of poor households and increase income. It is important to explore the reasons underlying the livelihood strategy choices of farmers from the perspective of social capital under China’s rural revitalization strategy. In this study, the Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture, a povertystricken mountainous area in southwestern China, was selected as the case study area, and multivariable linear regression models were constructed to analyze the influence of social capital on livelihood strategies.The results are as follows:(1) Individual social capital had a positive effect on non-agricultural livelihood strategies. On average, with a one-unit increase in individual social capital, the ratio of farmers’ nonagricultural income to total productive income(Income_Rto) increased by 0.002% and 0.062%,respectively. Collective social capital, with the Peasant Economic Cooperation Organization(PECO) as the carrier, had a negative effect on the non-agricultural livelihood strategies of farmers;on average, with a oneunit increase in PECO, Income_Rto decreased by approximately 0.053%. However, this effect was only significant in the river valley area.(2) The income differences among the different livelihood strategy types were explained by the livelihood strategy choices of farmers. As non-agricultural work can bring more benefits, the labor force exhibited one-way migration from villages to cities, resulting in a lack of the subject of rural revitalization. It is necessary to implement effective measures to highlight the role of PECO in increasing agricultural income for farmers. Finally,based on the above conclusions,policy recommendations with respect to livelihood transformation of farmers and rural sustainable development are discussed.

Climate Change, Adaptive Strategies and Rural Livelihoods in Semiarid Tanzania

Climate change is a global challenge to both sustainable livelihoods and economic development. In Tanzania as in most African countries, farming depends almost entirely on rainfall, a situation that makes agriculture and thus rural livelihoods especially in semiarid environments particularly vulnerable to climate change. This study analyses the impacts of climate change and variability on rural livelihoods with particular focus on agricultural production, food security and adaptive capacities in semiarid areas of Tanzania. The methods used in this study included focus group discussions, key informant interviews, household surveys and field observations. Results from the study indicate that communities understood climate change in terms of variability in rainfall patterns and amount, temperature patterns, wind, water availability, increased incidences of drought and decreased agricultural productivity. Communities in the study area acknowledged that while rainfall amounts have decreased over the last thirty years, temperatures have increased;an experience is also supported by meteorological data. Such changes were claimed to have reduced agricultural productivity particularly due to prolonged drought, inadequate and uneven distribution of rainfall as well as unpredictable onset and ending of rains. Stressors such as crop diseases and pests, low soil fertility and inadequate extension services were also reported to contribute to the decline in agricultural productivity and re-occurrence of food insecurity. In response, communities have developed multiple adaptation strategies, including growing of drought tolerant and early maturing crop varieties, increasing wetlands cultivation, water harvesting for small-scale irrigation and livestock keeping. However, households with limited livelihood assets are more vulnerable to the impacts of climate change and food insecurity. The study argues that diversification of adaptive strategies, such as water harvesting for small-scale irrigation, integration of livestock and crop production are crucial to ensuring sustainable livelihood in a changing climate.

Productive functional evolution of rural settlements:analysis of livelihood strategy and land use transition in eastern China

In China, rural settlements are usually multifunctional complex of natural societies and they also play important productive function. This study explored the spatiotemporal evolution of the productive function of three rural settlements, i.e.,Hetaoyuan, Dawengshan, and Gaoqiao, in the Yimeng Mountain in Shandong province of eastern China.Residents lived in this three types of rural settlements were all involved in agricultural production(i.e., grain threshing, drying and storage), which had remained dominant in Hetaoyuan. Dawengshan became an industrial-oriented settlement, while Gaoqiao became a commercial-oriented settlement. This evolution was reflected in the livelihood strategy changes of rural households and the transition of rural settlements changes. The choice of livelihood strategy was affected by the livelihood assets and policies, which resulted in the spatiotemporal evolution of the productive function of rural settlements. This study can provide references for the implementation and adjustment of rural residential land consolidation policies and the improvement of production and the quality of rural life in future.

Optimal livelihood strategy for different poverty groups among farmers: a case study of the Qin-Ba Mountain area in South-Shaanxi, China

Achieving sustainable livelihood is the ultimate goal of poverty alleviation efforts in mountainous areas,and selecting an optimal livelihood strategy for different poverty-type farmers greatly improves farmers’livelihood capital,resists livelihood risks,and promotes sustainable development.For farmers,optimal livelihood strategy means better employment opportunities,higher family income(or better income structure),and stronger employability or development potential.This paper classifies different types of farmers’poverty on the basis of a quantitative evaluation of farmers’livelihood capital in the Qin-ba Mountain Area in South-Shaanxi by using the k-means clustering method and subsequently the fuzzy evaluation method to evaluate the effectiveness of farmers’livelihood strategies.Then,the multi-attribute decision-making model is used to analyze the selection of optimal livelihood strategies for different poverty-type farmers.The results suggest a significant difference in the selection of the optimal livelihood strategy for different poverty-type farmers.Farmers without financial and human capital choose to"go out to work,"farmers lacking natural capital choose to"acquire social insurance and government relief,"farmers without physical capital choose to"use loans,"and farmers lacking social capital choose to"use savings."Studying the selection of optimal livelihood strategies for different poverty-type farmers can help to propose targeted sustainable livelihood optimization programs for farmers and accelerate efforts to overcome poverty in mountainous areas.

Livelihood Factors and Household Strategies for an Unexpected Climate Event in Upland Northern Laos

Climate events pose major challenges to food production and the livelihoods of rural inhabitants in northern Laos, where upland rice using swidden production is an important crop. The onset of the rainy season in this area is one such climate event, and it has occurred earlier and with less regularity in recent years. Not all households are able to cope with these changes. This study examines the ability of local farmers to cope with rice insufficiency. This investigation also clarifies household strategies in dealing with the climate event. We randomly interviewed 63 of 95 household heads, and performed a paired sample t test to examine the significance of differences in three household groups between the 2010 normal climate and the 2011 climate event. The groups were categorized according to rice selfsufficiency in 2011: groups I are households with rice self-sufficiency, group II are those facing a rice shortage of up to 3 months, and group III are those with insufficient rice for over 3 months. We also conducted a one-way ANOVA to examine the significance of differences in livelihood strategies among the three groups. We found that the household labor force was the most important factor in enhancing the villagers' ability to deal with the climate event and that the level of impact of that event shaped their coping strategies. Households with substantial labor force had more options for coping strategies than those with smaller ones. The villagers faced different levels of impact and adopted differentcoping strategies accordingly. Non-timber forest product collection was the principle livelihood strategy in response to non-climate factors such as education, access to health services, provision of equipment and clothing, and overcoming the impact of the climate event. Households heavily affected by the early rainy season onset tended to engage in intensive activities such as off-farm activity and outside work, rather than their major livelihood activities in the village(upland crop and livestock production).

Livelihood Strategy Change and Land Use Change——Case of Danzam Village in Upper Dadu River Watershed,Tibetan Plateau of China

Land use change in rural China since the 1980s, induced by institution reforms, urbanization, industrialization and population increase, has received more attention. However, case studies on how institution reforms affect farmers’ livelihood strategies and drive land use change are scarce. By means of cropland plots investigations and interviews with farmers, this study examines livelihood strategy change and land use change in Danzam Village of Jinchuan County in the upper Dadu River watershed, eastern Tibetan Plateau, China. The results show that, during the collective system period, as surplus labor forces could not be transferred to the secondary and tertiary industries, they had to choose agricultural involution as their livelihood strategy, then the farmers had to produce more grains by land reclamation, increasing multiple cropping index, improving input of labor, fertilizer, pesticide and adopting advanced agricultural techniques. During the household responsibility system period, as labors being transferred to the secondary and tertiary industries, farmers chose livelihood diversification strategy. Therefore, labor input to grain planting was greatly reduced, which drove the transformation of grain to horticulture, vegetable or wasteland and decrease of multiple cropping index. This study provides a new insight into understanding linkages among institution reforms, livelihood strategy

Relationship analysis between livelihood assets and livelihood strategies:A Heihe River Basin example

The security and quality of the livelihood of farmers is of paramount concern in rural areas of China. Livelihood stability would force the related polity to act coordinately while eradicating poverty and promoting resource sustainability. For this study, the livelihood approach was used as a framework of analysis that is based upon Sustainable Livelihoods Framework, the core of which is livelihood assets. Livelihood capitals provide substantial contributions to the well-being of numerous rural dwellers. However, the level and degree of reliance on livelihood capital differ across households. Factors that contribute to the economic reliance of households on a particular economic activity in general and on livelihood capital in particular may vary depending upon the type of resource endowment, household demographic, and economic characteristic as well as exoge- nous factors such as markets, prices, policies, and technologies. This study identifies factors that influence a household＇s live- lihood strategy choice with a particular focus on livelihood assets. The study applies a preliminary investigation concerning the relationship between livelihood assets and livelihood strategies, that is, the allocation of assets. Environmentally augmented household livelihood assets were collected from 300 sample households within the Heihe River Basin. Results show that physical assets possess a maximum value （0.609） for farmers and human assets possess a relatively high value （0.516） fol- lowed by social assets （0.354）. Besides, financial and natural assets possess relatively low values （0.286 and 0.241, respec- tively）. An increment of one unit should reduce the occurrence of choosing non-agricultural activities for natural capital while an increment of one unit should increase the occurrence of choosing non-agricultural activities for financial capital, while other variables remain constant. Governments, therefore, should enhance funding and technological support to achieve livelihood diversity and strengthen the facility of farmers by way of establishing relevant polity. It would enable farmers and provide themselves with the ability and asset reserves to transition from agricultural production to secondary and tertiary industries in order to improve the livelihood of farmers overall.

Livelihood Selection and Risk Reduction Strategies for Herdsmen in Ecological Migration Project Based on the Survey of 3 Migrant Villages in S Banner of Inner Mongolia

Through the survey of 3 different grassland migrant villages in S Banner,the author studied the influence of ecological migration policies on migrants,and analyzed livelihood selection and adaptation of migrants in the new environment.Finally,the author put forward corresponding countermeasures,including migration without forbidding grazing,turn to the secondary and tertiary industry,and return to animal husbandry.

Sensitivity of livelihood strategy to livestock production and marketization:An empirical analysis of grasslands in Inner Mongolia,China

Recent researches have primarily focused on the relationship between livelihood strategies and livelihood capital,with few empirical studies on the sensitivity of livelihood strategies to livestock production and marketization in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region of China.This study used an income distribution approach to categorize livelihood strategies of the respondents(n=394)into three types,i.e.,herder livelihood strategy(LS1),petty-herder livelihood strategy(LS2),and non-herder livelihood strategy(LS3).Using the multinomial logistic regression model,we compared livestock production and marketization across the three livelihood strategies.Our findings showed that(1)livestock production and marketization tended to favor LS1;(2)an increase in the land asset(contracted and rented grassland)and off-take rate increased the probability of households choosing LS1;(3)stocking rate was higher for LS1;and(4)the higher critical market-related risks perceived by herders were animal price and hay and corn price.Moreover,higher livestock price acted as a deterrent to diversifying into other livelihood strategies(LS2 and LS3).Finally,this study advocates for policies that will promote the land transfer market,adopt modern techniques in animal husbandry,improve the medium for disseminating market information to herders,and provide incentives for long-term livelihood transformation.

Reduction in the Water Level of Lake Victoria and Its Implications on Livelihoods in Rwanjaba Lakeshore Community,Uganda

This paper examines the livelihood challenges experienced in Rwanjaba Lakeshore Community during the period of low water level in Lake Victoria between 2004 and 2007 and identifies the livelihood coping strategies that were adopted to address them.A total of 55 households were randomly sampled and the data collection methods included household questionnaires and participant observations.The data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Science(SPSS) and the results presented with the help of descriptive statistics.The livelihood challenges experienced during the low lake water level included fish shortage(34.5%),household food scarcity(23.6%),sex for fish(18.2%),family breakdown(12.7%),increased theft(7.2%) and accidents due to the exposed rocks in the lake(3.6%).The livelihood coping strategies adopted to redress the challenges included causal labour(32.7%),maize roasting(23.6%),sand mining(18.2%),selling of snacks(12.7%),selling household property(9.1%) and resorting shop and market credits(3.6%).The paper proposes a number of recommendations for improving the livelihood of the community ranging from policy reforms to the diversification of activities.

气候灾害、农产品价格策略和农户生计脆弱性——来自生态搬迁安置区的考察

在生态搬迁大背景下,农户面临的外部环境、内在心理和应对策略均发生了明显转变,有必要从外部扰动与内部适应的视角探究农户生计脆弱性。基于生计脆弱性理论,探讨实际气候灾害、感知气候灾害和农产品价格策略对农户生计脆弱性的影响,基于广东韶关南水湖生态搬迁安置区425位农户的调研数据进行验证。通过单因素方差分析、回归分析和Bootstrap中介效应检验,得出结论:首先,生态搬迁安置区农户感知气候灾害有其特殊性,与村子位置、社会关系和生计转换能力有关;其次,实际气候灾害和感知气候灾害均会加剧农户生计脆弱性,但感知气候灾害的影响力大于实际气候灾害,这与以往研究观点不同,也反映出农户对于气候灾害的担忧心理较为突出;最后,气候灾害及其后续的农产品价格策略是影响农户生计脆弱性的重要因素。

乡村振兴背景下农户生计资本研究现状及展望

在乡村振兴背景下,生计资本是影响和体现农户生计状况的基础,同时也是解决三农问题,实现乡村振兴的重要切入点,受到了学者们的广泛关注。本文通过回顾与梳理国内外有关生计资本的研究文献,从五方面提出、研究在乡村振兴背景下未来农户生计资本的重点。

不同乡村地域类型农户生计资本和生计策略特征及影响因素——以于桥水库流域为例

农户生计方式不仅决定了农户的收入,还对区域环境产生了深刻的影响。不同乡村地域类型是影响农户生计资本和生计策略的重要因素。本研究通过参与式农村评估和问卷调查获取于桥水库流域512份农户生计的一手数据,构建了农户生计资本评价指标体系,依据收入结构划分农户生计策略,分析不同乡村地域类型的农户生计资本和生计策略特征,并利用多元回归方程解析生计资本对生计策略的影响。结果表明:流域内农户生计非农化成为普遍现象,纯非农型和非主农辅型生计策略占比分别为29.5%和42.6%。不同生计策略农户的生计资本存在显著差异:纯非农和非主农辅农户的总生计资本、人力资本、社会资本和金融资本显著高于纯农业和农主非辅农户,纯农业和农主非辅农户的自然资本显著高于纯非农型农户。不同乡村地域类型农户的生计资本水平和生计策略选择具有明显差异。经济作物区农户的总生计资本、自然资本显著高于其他地区,传统粮产区的金融资本最低。水库周边区生计策略主要为纯非农型,山地林木区和城镇周边区主要是非主农辅型,传统粮产区和经济作物区主要是纯非农型和非主农辅型,文化旅游区主要是非主农辅型和农主非辅型。人均耕地面积、人均林地面积、耕地破碎化程度、土壤肥力、劳动力占比、家庭人口平均年龄、交通工具和家庭人均收入等指标对农户生计策略选择具有显著影响。不同乡村地域类型生计资本和生计策略差异主要与地理区位、自然资源、社会资源和政策相关。最后,提出基于乡村地域特征的农户生计的针对性优化策略,为促进农户生计可持续发展提供参考。

农地流转对农户生计策略多样化的影响——基于全国农户调查数据的实证检验

本文基于DFID可持续生计分析框架的逻辑设定,运用全国大样本农户微观调查数据,采用Logit/OLS回归和PSM方法实证检验了农地流转对农户生计策略选择和生计非农化程度的影响。研究结果显示,农地流转可以为农户提供生计多样化选择的机会,农地转出可以促进农户从事多样化的生计策略,提升农户生计非农化水平;转入农地为农户实现农业生产规模经营创造条件,可以促进农户选择农业向生计策略;农户生计异质性是影响农户生计策略多样化的关键因素。基于上述结果,本文认为发展功能完善的农地流转市场仍是现阶段农地流转政策的主要方向;提升人力、物质、金融资本能够提高农民生计多样化水平。

主客观比较视角下农户福祉差异与提升路径研究

福祉是一种幸福、健康或繁荣的状态,提升居民福祉是未来发展的根本目的和终极目标。依据实地调研与访谈数据,以农户生活满意度衡量农户主观福祉,以农户生计资本解析农户客观福祉,划分农户福祉水平,同时针对不同类型和不同生计策略的农户,对其福祉水平进行解译,为白家村农户发展提供优化路径。研究表明:1)白家村农户主观福祉与客观福祉匹配结果以“中-中”类型聚集明显,尚需整体提升。2)具体而言,客观福祉中以金融资本和自然资本滞后性较明显。主观福祉中乡村生产生活保障满意度较低,当地农户对自身医疗、卫生、教育存在意见。3)未来应首先整体提升策略水平指引白家村乡村农户福祉向“高-高”理想状态发展。其次,重点突破建设短板明确白家村乡村农户福祉建设方向。受访农户中,脱贫不稳定户与边缘户基础资源禀赋不足,发展内生力不足,针对此情况亟需政府进行对应帮扶。同时,当地政府应针对外出务工农户,开展非农职业培训,提升外出农户非农就业能力,为留村农户农业资产变现提供政策支持,确保农户在取得非农收入的同时,还能获得稳定的财产性收入。

正规金融与农村家庭生计脆弱性——基于房贷差异视角下的实证研究

促进农村家庭生计可持续是乡村振兴战略的重中之重。基于CFPS两期整合数据考察正规借贷对农村家庭生计脆弱性的影响。统计结果表明,农村家庭的生计脆弱性指数集中在-0.459~0.225之间,整体脆弱性水平较低。相较于非正规借贷家庭,正规借贷家庭的生计脆弱性水平更低。房屋正规借贷高额度家庭的生计脆弱性水平较高,而非房屋正规借贷高额度家庭的生计脆弱性水平较低,这两类农村家庭的低额度正规借贷组中有很大部分家庭的生计可持续能力很高。回归结果表明,正规借贷额度每提高1个单位,农村家庭的生计脆弱性指数降低12.1个百分点。相较于房屋正规借贷额度,非房屋正规借贷额度的提高对农村家庭生计脆弱性的降低效果更好。进一步研究发现,房屋正规借贷和非房屋正规借贷额度的提高均可通过促进农村家庭生计策略非农化的转型进而降低其生计脆弱性,但房屋正规借贷在该机制中所起的积极作用更大。据此提出引导农户合理使用正规借贷资金,开发“房贷+”金融产品,细化农村金融帮扶策略的对策建议。

土地细碎化会抑制农户绿色生产行为吗?——现实背景、理论逻辑与实证检验

研究目的:从土地细碎化的现实情景出发,基于2021年江西省“百村千户”调查数据,分析土地细碎化对农户绿色生产行为的影响机理,并探讨生计策略的中介效应及要素禀赋的调节效应。研究方法:OLS,门槛效应模型,中介效应模型,调节效应模型。研究结果:(1)土地细碎化总体上抑制农户绿色生产行为采纳,但不同细碎化程度对农户绿色生产行为的影响效果存在差异,表现为土地细碎化程度的门槛效应,并与农户绿色生产行为基本呈倒U型关系。随着土地细碎化程度的提高,农户绿色生产行为先上升后下降。(2)土地细碎化通过影响农户的生计策略作用于其绿色生产行为选择。(3)要素禀赋正向调节土地细碎化对农户绿色生产行为的影响。(4)土地细碎化对农户不同绿色生产行为的影响存在代际差异性。研究结论:土地细碎化并非简单地抑制农户绿色生产行为,在有序推进土地细碎化治理工作的同时,应整合资源,优化配置,降低农户绿色生产行为采纳的禀赋约束,助力农业可持续发展的实现。

世界自然遗产地生态移民生计能力与适应策略——基于适应水平的中介作用

以巴音布鲁克世界自然遗产地外迁定居的205户牧户为研究对象,运用结构方程模型探讨生态移民的生计能力、适应水平与适应策略之间的关系。结果表明:牧民生计能力由生产能力、社会能力、劳动能力、金融能力等多种因素决定,适应水平由生活适应、文化适应、经济适应、社会适应与政策适应等维度构成。生计能力显著正向影响适应水平和适应策略选择,适应水平在生计能力对适应策略影响路径中起到38.46%的促进作用。牧民生计能力越强,异地定居适应水平越高,留在城镇定居的可能性越大。应通过激发主体内生动力、打造良好“三生”环境、创新定居移民生计发展模式来持续提升牧民生计能力和异地适应水平,促进区域可持续发展。

农地转出户生计资本对生计策略选择的影响——基于CFPS数据的微观实证

在合理筛选变量并对农户生计策略进行细分的基础上,基于中国家庭追踪调查(CFPS)全国整合样本的数据,构建自然资本、人力资本、物质资本、金融资本、社会资本及心理资本的6维生计资本量化指标体系,采用多项Logit模型实证分析生计资本对生计策略选择的影响规律。结果表明,不同生计策略类型的农地转出户的生计资本指标及总指数存在差异化的分化特征。自然资本、物质资本、金融资本越大的农户,越倾向选择农业主导型生计策略;自然资本、人力资本、社会资本越大的农户,越倾向选择农业兼业型生计策略;自然资本、人力资本、社会资本、心理资本越大的农户,越倾向选择务工兼业型生计策略;人力资本、社会资本、心理资本越大的农户,越倾向选择务工主导型生计策略。各影响因素对农户生计策略选择相对风险比具有差异性。据此提出政府要引导农户耕地规模化经营,健全社会化保障服务,完善农村金融体系,普及非农技能培训等差异化政策。

文化建构的双重性:资源配置视域下中原汉族社区传统生计策略的文化生态研究

任何一个民族文化的建构均会遵循于生物性与社会性的双重法则,达成文化信息系统与自然生态系统的契合,以实现区域生计活动的资源配置最大化与生态维护相兼容。汉族自然也不例外,但学界往往给予少数民族以较多的关注,事实上,作为绵延数千年的农耕民族,汉族农民拥有丰富且切实有效的地方性知识,其本身集聚着历代汉族劳动人民的智慧总结,发挥着区域资源合理配置、生态维护及风险规避等重要功能,与现代普同性知识相比,拥有不可替代的生态及经济价值,对当前农业农村现代化进程有一定的借鉴与启示意义。