An Evaluation of the Introduction of Modified Cropping Practices in Yunnan Province, China, Using Surveys of Farmers＇ Households

Problems associated with land degradation are serious in China. Sloping land in South China has experienced a decline in crop productivity by 30-60% due to soil erosion and it has been predicted that most topsoil will be lost within the next 100 years if current erosion rates continue. Considering these situations, an agro-environmental research and development project （Sustainable Highland Agriculture in South-East Asia- SHASEA） was conducted in a catchment in Yunnan Province, China, to address the objectives of increasing crop productivity in sustainable and environmentally-friendly ways. A range of cropping practices was developed and implemented in a rural upland catchment （Wang Jia）. At the end of the project, farmers were surveyed to evaluate project effectiveness. All farmers from Wang Jia Catchment, who were involved in project implementation, were surveyed. A sample of farmers working in an adjacent catchment （not associated with the project） was surveyed for comparative purposes. Farmers had different perceptions of the cropping practices employed. Contour cultivation was preferred and likely to be adopted. Others practices such as straw mulching and intercropping were seen as less appropriate and unlikely to be adopted. Polythene mulch was recognized as effective, but likely to be adopted only if financial returns were favourable. The availability of relevant information had an important impact on the extent of technology testing by farmers and their willingness to adopt the practices in the future.     

Overview of Impacts of Climate Change and Adaptation in China’s Agriculture

The purpose of this paper is to document the likely impacts of climate change on China＇s agriculture and the current adaptation efforts made by government and farmers. The review of literature shows that climate change will have a significant impact on agriculture, primarily through its effect on crop yields. The extent of predicted impacts highly depends on the crop, the CO2 fertilization effect assumption and adaptation abilities. Market response to the production shocks resulting from climate change will lessen the impacts on agricultural production predicted by natural scientists. On adaptation, the government＇s major efforts have been in the developing new technologies, reforming extension system and enhancing institutional capacity. Farmers do adapt to climate change, but their adaptation measures cannot fully offset the negative impacts of climate change. The paper concludes and makes implications for future studies.     

Household and Community Assets and Farmers＇ Adaptation to Extreme Weather Event： the Case of Drought in China

Under climate change, rising frequency and serious extreme weather events have challenged agricultural production. Designing appropriate adaptation measures to the extreme weather events require rigorous and empirical analysis. The overall goals of this study are to understand physical adaptation measures taken by farmers and the impacts of household and community assets on farmers＇ adaptation when they face drought. The analyses are based on a unique data set collected from a household survey in three provinces in China. The survey results show that though not common on annual basis, some farmers did use physical adaptation measures to fight drought. Regression analysis reveals that both household and community assets significantly affect farmers＇ adaptation behaviors. Improving households＇ social capital and wealth, communities＇ network and access to government＇s anti-drought service can facilitate farmers＇ adaptation to drought. Results indicate that community＇s irrigation infrastructure and physical adaptation taken by farmers can substitute each other. Further analysis shows that the households taking adaptation measures have higher crop yields than those without taking these measures. The paper concludes with several policy implications.     

Overview of Impacts of Climate Change and Adaptation in China's Agriculture

The purpose of this paper is to document the likely impacts of climate change on China’s agriculture and the current adaptation efforts made by government and farmers.The review of literature shows that climate change will have a significant impact on agriculture,primarily through its effect on crop yields.The extent of predicted impacts highly depends on the crop,the CO2 fertilization effect assumption and adaptation abilities.Market response to the production shocks resulting from climate change will lessen the impacts on agricultural production predicted by natural scientists.On adaptation,the government’s major efforts have been in the developing new technologies,reforming extension system and enhancing institutional capacity.Farmers do adapt to climate change,but their adaptation measures cannot fully offset the negative impacts of climate change.The paper concludes and makes implications for future studies.     

Analysis of Influential Factors on Agricultural Surplus Labor Professionalization During China＇s Economic Downturn

This paper contributed to the pool of studies about agricultural surplus labor in China,also acted as the root to the imminent settlement of the issues concerning agriculture,countryside and farmers.Using data from survey of agricultural surplus labor in 2012,which covered three provinces in northern,midwestern and southern parts of China,this paper analyzed the influential factors on agricultural surplus labor professionalization by adoption of a logistic regression model.It showed that agricultural surplus labor shortage could be explained by low-quality professionalization.It was a feasible and effective way to solve the issue of workforce shortage during economic downturn by improving agricultural surplus labor’s professionalization.     

Research on the Development of Economy and Farmers＇ Income Growth in Heilongjiang Province

Nowadays, increasing farmers＇ income is not only related to the development of rural economy, the improvement of farmers＇ lives and countryside stability but also related to the overall situation of economy and social development. Heilongjiang is a big agricultural province, however, the increase of farmers＇ per capital net income is rather slow in the last few years. On the basis of Lewis dual economic structure theory and our province＇s actual situation, the paper proposed the concrete countermeasures to increase farmers＇ income, so as to promote the development of economy.     

Cultivation of Chinese Farmers＇ Integrity

Farmers as the largest population group in China, their integrity levels impact the process of socialist modernization and construction of socialist harmonious society directly. Farmers＇ credit construction is an important part of the construction of new socialist countryside. As the subject of construction of new socialist countryside, some farmers are weak in credit awareness. Low credibility of traditional culture, uncompleted credit system construction and farmers＇ narrow thoughts led to their lacking of credit awareness. We should perfect the rural credit system, strengthen the construction of rural credit culture and enhance the construction of grass-roots credit administration, set integrity example model and take other measures to promote farmers＇ awareness of the integrity.     

Research on Farmers＇ Response to Microeconomic Policies and Its Impact on Land Degradation in Zhaodong Heilongjiang Province

The livelihoods of farmers are responding to the mioroeconomic policies and result in many changes in the landuse pattern and landscape, and the farmer＇s attitude to the natural resources conservation, specifically in the land degradation. In order to find the relationship between the farmers＇ response to the microeeonomic policies and land degradation, the authors surveyed 120 household in three villages in the black soil zone in Heilongjiang Province. Based on the feedback of the questionnaires, the authors established a model to analyze the impact. The results demonstrated that land degradation was impacted by farmers behaviors in the process of the adjustment of agricultural structures in the city of Zhaodong. And the main factors acted on the land degradation were the agricultural labour education level, the transfer of the labour from agricultural production, the price of the agricultural production materials, and the land scale management. The authors put forward some suggestions for sustainable agriculture based on the analysis on the topic.     

Farmers' participatory selection of new rice varieties to boost production under temperate agro-ecosystems

In mountain agriculture, early maturity, high grain yield and high biomass are generally considered as farmer preferred traits in rice crop in addition to a multiple set of traits collectively responsible for variety adoption or rejection. The varieties tested only on station evaluation trials without taking the data from the farmers' fields by not including farmers as partners for variety evaluation are the reasons of low adoption of varieties. In this regard, a participatory methodology was followed by conducting a number of participatory trials in the farmers' fields during 2012–2014 in six districts of Kashmir Valley, India. The mother trials in the farmers' fields showed that the test variety SKUA-408 consistently and significantly out yielded Jhelum and farmers' variety followed by Shalimar rice 3(SR3). The other released varieties like SR1 and SR2 could not perform nicely in the farmers' fields because of late maturity. After making the t-test comparison of baby trials(paired plots), the mean yield superiority of test varieties SKUA-408, SR3, and SKUA-403 over farmers' variety during 2013 was around 23, 25, and 22%, respectively, whereas in 2014 the respective yield advantage was recorded as 16.3, 17.7, and 16.2%. In all districts, SKUA-408 and SR3 were significantly preferred by farmers(P0.05 or 0.01) in terms of pre-harvest traits namely, tillering ability and general phenotypic acceptability, early maturity and biomass and for post-harvest traits such as general cooking quality besides, the intention to grow the variety for next year. Adoption and dissemination of SKUA-408 began in 2014 from the farm-saved seed in the form of farmer to farmer seed exchange. Farmers are the end users of a variety so the decision by the farmers while judging the variety should be taken into consideration to make the varietal choice more effective for its widespread adoption.     

Spatial variation of technical efficiency of cereal production in China at the farm level

Rice, wheat and maize are the main staple food crops to ensure the food security in China with diversified climate condition, cropping system and environmental and socio-economic factors across provinces. Spatial variation of technical efficiency in farmers' field is helpful to understand the potential to improve farmers' yield given the inputs level and reduce the yield gap. The study is based on a large-scale farm household survey which covered 1 218 rice farmers, 3 566 wheat farmers and 2 111 maize farmers in the main producing areas. The results indicate that rice farmers are with very high technical efficiency level, nearly 0.9 on average, with little room to improve the efficiency of agricultural inputs. Similar results have been found in wheat and maize farmers' fields, although the technical efficiency levels are lower than that of rice farmers while still at a high level with obvious variation across regions. Farmers with higher yield level also achieve better technical efficiency in most locations. Both local environmental and socio-economic factors significantly affect farmers' technical efficiency. In the context of urbanization and economic development, improved and new agricultural technologies need to be prioritized and facilitated to improve cereal yield at farm level.     

An Evaluation of the Introduction of Modified Cropping Practices in Yunnan Province, China, Using Surveys of Farmers' Households

Problems associated with land degradation are serious in China. Sloping land in South China has experienced a decline in crop productivity by 30-60% due to soil erosion and it has been predicted that most topsoil will be lost within the next 100 years if current erosion rates continue. Considering these situations, an agro-environmental research and development project (Sustainable Highland Agriculture in South-East Asia - SHASEA) was conducted in a catchment in Yunnan Province, China, to address the objectives of increasing crop productivity in sustainable and environmentally-friendly ways. A range of cropping practices was developed and implemented in a rural upland catchment (Wang Jia). At the end of the project, farmers were surveyed to evaluate project effectiveness. All farmers from Wang Jia Catchment, who were involved in project implementation, were surveyed. A sample of farmers working in an adjacent catchment (not associated with the project) was surveyed for comparative purposes. Farmers had different perceptions of the cropping practices employed. Contour cultivation was preferred and likely to be adopted. Others practices such as straw mulching and intercropping were seen as less appropriate and unlikely to be adopted. Polythene mulch was recognized as effective, but likely to be adopted only if financial returns were favourable. The availability of relevant information had an important impact on the extent of technology testing by farmers and their willingness to adopt the practices in the future.     

农户农业技术采用行为研究综述

农户是农业技术的最终接受者和采用者,在农业技术推广中具有主导地位。为提高农业技术采用率,促进农业技术推广,保障我国粮食安全,本研究系统梳理了国内外农户农业技术采用行为的研究内容、研究方法、研究视角,并从以上3个方面进行了文献评述。通过上述研究,本研究旨在推进进一步深入研究农户农业技术采用行为,促进农业技术向现实生产力转化,提升粮食生产能力,保障我国粮食安全。     

农业产业化经营利益联结机制比较研究——以云南曲靖为例

在分析曲靖市农业产业化发展的现状后,对曲靖农业产业化经营各种利益联结的机制进行比较分析,表明企业与农户间利益联结由＂松散型＂向＂紧密型＂变迁,是市场经济作用的必然。为使农户分享农业产业化发展的成果,提出了＂公司型龙头企业＋农民股份合作组织＂股权式利益联结机制的构建对策。     

参与式植物篱坡地治理技术发展的实践和体会

植物篱坡地治理技术在新区示范的难度在于如何选择适合当地自然社会条件,农民能接受的植物类型为篱和相应配套的种植体系。传统的由专家决策的方法常常因选择植物篱的类型不当,由于技术的或非技术的因素,农民不接受而使示范失败。在参与式植物篱坡地治理项目中,运用国际合作项目中广泛采用的参与式理论和方法,向农民赋权,由农民决策,专家协助的方法,在贵州省4个县的6个试点40多hm2示范面积上,基本获得成功。参与式植物篱坡地治理方法为植物篱技术的示范推广提供了一种新思路、新方法,实践了一种农民参与式技术发展的新模式。该方法的主要特点是,以农民为主体和农民积极参与创新。实践证明,该方法能有效提高推广成功率,促进项目持续发展,在坡地植物篱技术和相关的农业发展项目上有推广应用的必要。     

农民的农业生产多样性对其饮食多样化和营养健康的影响

目的我国是大国小农的基本国情,小农户比重大,自产自消（费）程度高,他们的食物生产、消费与营养协调发展是乡村振兴战略的健康保障,调查江苏省、河南省、四川省农民的饮食多样性（人日均摄入的食物种类）以及农业生产多样性（日常生产的食物种类）与饮食多样化和营养健康（BMI）的相关性,旨在为农民良好饮食习惯形成以及农村人力资本建设提供理论依据。 方法 基于随机抽样和分层抽样相结合的问卷调查方法,利用食物频率法从江苏省10个村、河南省10个村、四川省6个村共收集395份农民调查问卷,开展总样本与各省分样本自产食物种类情况、各类食物摄入的来源与数量、每日摄入自产食物的营养状况的描述性分析;根据食物消费与个人健康效用的经济理论,在不存在内生性问题的前提下,采用多元线性回归模型分析农民的农业生产多样性对其饮食多样化的影响和采用Probit模型探讨农民的农业生产多样性对其营养健康的影响。结果 受访者的农业生产多样性程度不高,平均生产3.37个食物种类,省际差距较小,摄入的食物如水产品、水果类、奶及奶制品、畜禽肉主要来自购买;农民的饮食多样化程度也不高,人日均摄入食物种类3.34个,省际差距较大,摄入自产食物的数量均低于推荐量;在总摄入量中,畜禽肉摄入过多,而奶及奶制品、水产品摄入不充分;农民人日均摄入自产食物获得的营养不均衡,从自产食物获取的能量充足,但获取蛋白质、脂肪、钙、镁、钾、维生素A等营养素较低;近6成农民的BMI值正常,但省际差距较大。农民的饮食多样性、营养健康与农业生产多样性在10%统计水平上有显著的正相关性;农民的年龄、受教育程度、家庭总纯收入、营养知识认知、市场准入等因素也对饮食多样化有显著影响,而农民的性别、年龄、受教育程度以及食物营养教育等因素对个人的营养健康产生显著影响。结论与其他发展中国家一样,我国的农业生产多样性促进了农民的饮食多样化和营养健康。然而,随着我国农业商品化程度和农民非农收入的提高,农民购买食物满足饮食多样化的趋势不可逆转,在水土资源有限的实际情况下提高农民农业生产多样性的可行性不大。因此,鼓励在农村建立规范化的农产品市场,加强食物营养宣传教育提高农民营养知识可能是保障他们饮食多样化和营养健康的可行途径。     

转基因作物生产应用效果综合分析与评价——以转基因抗虫棉为例

在2002～2003年对河北主产棉区农户调查和相关科研、推广人员访谈的基础上,运用农业科学、经济学和社会学等多学科交叉的方法,从转基因抗虫棉应用的技术、经济、社会等多角度对农户采用该技术的应用效果进行了分析.结果表明:转基因技术的应用效果与农户生产行为、认知等存在交互作用,农户表现出规避风险,追求利润最大化的生产行为,但同时也存在生产管理和投入的盲目性;该技术的应用在一定程度上增加了农户来自农业的经营收入,但由于受多方面因素的影响,其在农户的生计系统呈现复杂的技术形态;政府等相关部门应加强转基因作物种子及生产应用过程的管理,并针对我国农户特有的小农户、小规模、多样性和复杂性等特点采取针对性措施,最终以改善农户生计为目的发展转基因作物.     

农业节水技术采纳行为的影响因素——基于保护动机理论和跨理论模型

为探讨认知因素在农户农业节水行为形成过程中发挥的作用,基于保护动机理论和行为变化的跨理论模型分析框架,运用广义有序logit回归模型实证分析了农户认知因素对节水技术采纳行为的影响。结果表明:1)农户认知对农业节水技术采纳行为意向具有统计显著影响。高感知严重性、感知脆弱性、自我效能和反应效能将导致更高水平的农业节水技术行为意向;回报因子和反应成本对农户节水技术采纳行为意向具有显著负向影响。2)农户所处的行为阶段不同,各认知因素对农业节水技术采用决策的影响存在异质性,对于处于预思考阶段农户,保护动机模型变量均是影响其行为意向的激励因素;对于处于沉思阶段的农户,感知脆弱性、自我效能和反应成本是影响其行为意向的主要动机;处于准备阶段的农户受感知脆弱性、回报因子和反应效能的影响较大;而对于处于行动阶段的农户,感知严重性、感知脆弱性、反应成本和回报因子是促使其持续采用农业节水技术的关键预测因子。因此,政府应根据农户不同的意愿行为阶段制定针对性、差别化的激励策略,从而促进农户农业节水技术采纳行为意向。     

粮食安全新格局下农业现代化发展路径分析

分析了我国粮食安全当前面临的问题,并强调了加快农业现代化进程的迫切需要。不仅分析了农业现代化的各个发展路径,包括粮食生产现代化、农业科技革新和农田管理优化策略,还指出了政府政策、科技教育和人才培养在此问题上的重要作用。面临气候变化、资源耗竭、人口增长和城市化以等多元挑战,采用高效技术手段和改进管理策略的农业现代化是提升粮食生产效率和可持续性的关键。政府的资金投入、法律体系建设、经济环境优化、人才培育和农民支持在保障粮食安全及推进农业现代化方面发挥了核心作用。