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。     

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。     

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.     

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。     

新疆参与旅游业牧民生计资本研究——以喀纳斯和乌鲁木齐县南山生态旅游区为例

农牧民生计资本是可持续生计研究框架的基础,决定了农牧民家庭生计策略的选择与结果。文中运用问卷调查与入户访谈相结合的方法,开展了新疆生态旅游发展典型区域内参与旅游业牧民生计资本的实证研究。通过采用计算赋值与标准化的数据预处理方法,借助社会统计软件工具,对样本牧民的生计资本水平进行了比较研究。结果发现样本生计资本总值仅为0.249,处于较低水平状态,其中物质资本水平最低,人力资本水平最高;不同生计资本水平的牧民分布很不均衡,自然资本和物质资本在0.2以下水平的牧民累积百分比分别为52.7%和79.1%;牧民家庭特征中家庭人口数最多的牧户生计资本总值最低,民族及调查区域的生计资本水平差异不大。     

农户生计分化对农民新村建设的影响——基于山东沂水县农村的实证调查

农户生计分化成为快速城镇化背景下农村社会经济发展最显著的特征,当前农民新村建设模式需要适应农户生计分化和农业生产生活的双重要求。以山东省沂水县4个典型村为例,通过实地调研,从农户就业结构、收入结构、就业时间结构三个方面分析农户生计结构呈现的特征,探讨农户生计分化与农民新村建设的影响。结果表明,1)调研村农户生计非农化倾向明显,4个村庄人均非农收入和劳均非农就业时间比重均超出70%,生计收入主要依靠非农业生产,但是农业生产仍然是农户重要的生计方式;2)受县域和外界经济发展的影响,靠近县城的韩家曲村农户生计多元化越突出,县域内就业生计表现明显,而远郊、偏远山区的李家营村、四旺村和东土沟村农户非农化生计以县域外就业为主;3)近郊村非农生计结构突出,其新村建设宜倾向于集中形态;远郊、偏远山区农业生产占据主导,其新村建设宜适当分散布局;4)集中上楼的模式忽略了农村农业生产的需要,农民居住方式超前于农户生计分化,会对农村生产生活造成不利影响。研究表明农民新村建设要考虑农户生计分化出现的新特点,匹配多元化的农民新村建设模式。