Assessment of the socio-economic impacts associated with the arrival of apple snail (Pomacea canaliculata) in Mwea irrigation scheme,Kenya

Background

In Kenya, rice (Oryza sativa L.) is mainly produced under irrigation by small-scale farmers. Mwea irrigation scheme (MIS) in Kirinyaga County accounts for 80–88% of rice production. Here, rice is the main source of livelihood and a source of revenue generation for the county. However, a recently established invasive freshwater snail, Pomacea canaliculata (Lamarck) (family: Ampullariidae), a species of apple snail, presents a serious threat to rice production.

Results

Household surveys, focus group discussions and key informant interviews highlight apple snail as a serious problem in MIS. Households that observed at least a moderate level of infestation (>20% of cultivated area) experienced significant reductions in rice yield (~14%) and net rice income (~60%). Farmers reported increased use of chemical pesticides for management of apple snail. In addition, the cost of hired labor for physical removal of egg masses and snails is resulting in substantial negative effects on net income. Farmer age, area of land owned, responsibility for decision-making, receipt of extension advice, training, and membership of a farmer organization, were all statistically significant variables to explain farmers awareness of the need for area-wide apple snail management.

Conclusion

Strategies to limit the spread of apple snail are urgently needed. A Multi-Institutional Technical Team (MITT) has been established to spearhead management efforts and consolidate advice to farmers on how to manage apple snail. However, without action to mitigate spread, the consequences could be disastrous for rice production and food security in Kenya, and for other rice growing regions across Africa. © 2023 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.     

农地转出行为是否会改变农民家庭的生计策略——基于CFPS微观数据的DID模型估计

在合理筛选控制变量和对农户生计策略类型进行细分的基础上,基于CFPS两期全国整合样本的面板数据,运用倍差法及倾向得分匹配倍差法,实证检验农地转出对农户生计策略产生的影响。结果表明:农地转出对农户采取农业型和农兼型生计策略产生了显著负向作用,对非农型生计策略的选择具有正向推动作用,而对兼农型生计策略的影响效应有限,没有通过显著性检验,说明农户可以通过调整自家的生计策略适应农地转出所引起的变化。另外,通过多种匹配方法对估计结果进行检验,证实估计结果具有稳定性和可靠性。建议今后在尊重农民意愿的基础上,加大对农地流转政策的支持力度。依据不同类型家庭的实际需求,为农户制定适宜自身发展的差异化鼓励政策,带动发展具有当地特色且真正属于农民自己的非农“产业”,实现农地转出户生计的可持续发展。     

贵州省易地扶贫搬迁的动力机制调查研究——以织金县和思南县为例

易地扶贫搬迁工作已顺利开展多年,贵州省农民因此受益,但搬迁后如何保障农民生计问题变得尤为重要。通过分析贵州省牛场镇和塘头镇易地扶贫搬迁的实战经验,发现贵州易地扶贫搬迁中存在多动力协调推进、动力主体多元化、扶贫方式多样化、配套措施及时落实的动力机制,两地在搬迁中的共性为:选址科学、发展特色经济、推进配套政策。     

生计资本视角下农户生计策略变动及影响因素研究 ——基于CFPS四期追踪数据

农户的生计策略在乡村振兴进程中正在和即将发生变化,只有对农户生计策略的变化做出正确的判断,才能够有效引导农户生计行为,破除乡村建设行动的各种阻力。基于可持续生计理论,利用CFPS四期追踪数据,运用转移概率矩阵和Logit回归模型,分析农户生计策略变动及其影响因素,并运用分位数回归方法验证稳健性。结果表明,不同生计策略农户的生计资本结构存在差异,无论何种生计策略的农户,人力资本在5种资本中都最大。短期内多数农户选择维持原有生计策略,动态调整过程较慢,有土地转入的农户更倾向于选择非务工型生计策略。社会资本对农户趋务工型策略变动具有显著的正向影响,农户受教育年限和健康对生计策略变动具有正向影响。与东部地区农户相比,中西部地区农户更倾向于选择务工型生计策略。因此,应加大农村产业多样化的投入力度,促进农户策略转变速度;鼓励农民参与土地流转;建立健全农户参与农村基层社会治理机制,推动农户社会资本积累;扩大对农村教育与医疗的投入力度。     

Reconciling poverty alleviation with reduction in fisheries capacity: boat aid in post-tsunami Aceh, Indonesia

Abstract  The tremendous loss of life and assets resulting from the 2004 tsunami dealt a devastating blow to the coastal communities of Aceh Province, Indonesia. An assessment of the fishing fleet structure pre- and post-tsunami, including associated pattern in boat aid, in 15 coastal communities was conducted and compared with data on boat relief efforts over 17 districts of the Province. Aid was found to be not proportionally allocated to losses incurred by communities and was in many cases below what could be seen as a trend toward overcapacity. The distribution of aid appeared to be done without consideration of the former structure of the fleet, which changed significantly over time (pre- and post-tsunami), and resulted in a new fleet of reduced diversity with a strong focus on the smaller boat categories. If this situation perpetuates after the initial post-disaster period, it may further exacerbate the pre-existing economic and geographic marginalisation of some remote communities, and reduce the capacities of the fleets to diversify and develop multi-species harvesting strategies; thus, increasing the risk of ecologically unsustainable exploitation in near shore areas.     

农户生计资本研究现状及展望

自20世纪90年代以来,贫困人口的生计问题备受国内外学者关注;研究农户生计资本结构对解决和缓解贫困问题,帮助农户抵御各类风险具有重要的作用和意义。通过回顾并梳理国内外有关农户生计资本的研究重点及领域,总结了各研究阶段常用的方法,对研究方向进行了展望。     

生计资本视角下农户土地承包权调整方式认可度研究

农户是土地承包权调整方式的“践行者”,也是调整效果的“检验者”,探究其认可度对相关政策的制定与可持续发展实施至关重要。基于江西省510份农户的调查数据,从生计资本视角运用Ordered Logit模型,就农户土地承包权调整方式认可度及影响因素展开研究分析。研究发现：（1）样本农户生计资本总值与各项生计资本指数都较低,五大生计资本指数存在显著差异性,其中生计资本指数最高、自然资本指数最低。（2）人力资本中,文化程度、是否有非农技能和家人健康状况都呈显著影响;自然资本中,承包地面积呈显著正向影响;物质资本中,货车数量呈显著负向影响;金融资本中,家庭年收入和贷款难度都呈显著影响;社会资本中,是否有村干部和是否经常参加村会议都呈显著影响。在此结果基础上,提出了要发挥政府主导作用,加大相关宣传,也要因地制宜,在稳定的承包关系下,根据村庄实际情况选择土地承包权调整方式的政策建议。     

中国地方政府财政民生支出效率实证分析

利用DEA方法计算出2009-2013年5年间全国31个省份财政民生支出资金配置的综合技术效率、纯技术效率、规模效率三种效率值,分析出各省份政府财政民生支出所处规模报酬阶段.结果显示：大部分省份的政府财政民生支出DEA得分在0.9以上,说明虽然效率没有达到最优水平,但是总体来说效率水平还是比较高的.另外,各省市财政民生产出存在较大的差异,东部地区综合产出水平高于中西部地区,其中,西部地区效率最低,改进空间最大.     

土地综合整治对农户生计韧性的影响效应及机制分析 ——以湖北省部分县市为例

研究土地综合整治对农户生计韧性的影响，对科学研判土地综合整治的实践效应、实现农户生计的可持续发展具有重要意义。本文基于湖北省部分县市的农户调研数据，运用双重差分模型探讨土地综合整治对农户生计韧性的影响效应。基准回归结果表明，土地综合整治可促使农户生计脆弱性显著降低，并显著提高其生计恢复力和生计韧性，且多种检验均显示研究结果稳健。异质性分析发现，土地综合整治对不同类型农户生计韧性的提升作用呈现“低收入—低依赖”>“高收入—低依赖”>“低收入—高依赖”>“高收入—高依赖”的分异特征，还受到地貌类型差异的影响，平原地区土地综合整治对农户生计韧性的提升效果大于丘陵地区。因此，土地综合整治应遵循“以人为本、夯实民生”的发展理念，树立统筹协调的系统治理观，全面优化农地功能与效能，构建低环境风险、良性运转的土地可持续利用格局，坚持“输血”与“造血”并举，因地制宜挖潜区域产业特色，才能有效降低农户生计脆弱性、增强其内生发展动力，实现农户生计的韧性发展。