Details
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 124-139 |
| Number of pages | 16 |
| Journal | International Journal of Agricultural Sustainability |
| Volume | 20 |
| Issue number | 2 |
| Early online date | 9 May 2021 |
| Publication status | Published - 2022 |
Abstract
This study identifies the role of labour constraints in the use of rubber intercropping among smallholder farmers in Southwest China, drawing on a panel dataset collected from a sample of over 600 farm households in the Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture (XSBN). The analysis is based on two models: (i) a panel model to analyze the factors responsible for the decline in the use of rubber intercropping among smallholder farmers; (ii) an instrumental variable and endogenous switching model to assess the specific effects of off-farm labour market participation on the use of intercropping. We find a strong effect of the costs of labour on rubber intercropping. The decline in the use of intercropping has a potentially negative impact on environmental sustainability and endangers the government’s environmentally friendly rubber programme. The paper explores possibilities of how farmers can maintain intercropping under increasing labour constraints such as more engagement of elderly and female household members. This may require modifications in intercropping technologies and training. The paper recommends that the government should encourage the continuation of intercropping by a combination of well-balanced measures that include on-farm research, participatory farmer training, payment for environmental services, and effective monitoring.
Keywords
- China, intercropping, labor costs, Rubber, smallholders
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Agricultural and Biological Sciences(all)
- Agronomy and Crop Science
- Economics, Econometrics and Finance(all)
- Economics and Econometrics
Sustainable Development Goals
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In: International Journal of Agricultural Sustainability, Vol. 20, No. 2, 2022, p. 124-139.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer review
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Rising labour costs and the future of rubber intercropping in China
AU - Jin, Shaoze
AU - Min, Shi
AU - Huang, Jikun
AU - Waibel, Hermann
N1 - Funding Information: We acknowledge the funding support from the National Natural Science Foundation of China, project number 71761137002. This study was also conducted in the framework of the Sino-German ‘SURUMER Project,’ funded by the Bundesministerium für Wissenschaft, Technologie und Forschung (BMBF), FKZ: 01LL0919A.
PY - 2022
Y1 - 2022
N2 - This study identifies the role of labour constraints in the use of rubber intercropping among smallholder farmers in Southwest China, drawing on a panel dataset collected from a sample of over 600 farm households in the Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture (XSBN). The analysis is based on two models: (i) a panel model to analyze the factors responsible for the decline in the use of rubber intercropping among smallholder farmers; (ii) an instrumental variable and endogenous switching model to assess the specific effects of off-farm labour market participation on the use of intercropping. We find a strong effect of the costs of labour on rubber intercropping. The decline in the use of intercropping has a potentially negative impact on environmental sustainability and endangers the government’s environmentally friendly rubber programme. The paper explores possibilities of how farmers can maintain intercropping under increasing labour constraints such as more engagement of elderly and female household members. This may require modifications in intercropping technologies and training. The paper recommends that the government should encourage the continuation of intercropping by a combination of well-balanced measures that include on-farm research, participatory farmer training, payment for environmental services, and effective monitoring.
AB - This study identifies the role of labour constraints in the use of rubber intercropping among smallholder farmers in Southwest China, drawing on a panel dataset collected from a sample of over 600 farm households in the Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture (XSBN). The analysis is based on two models: (i) a panel model to analyze the factors responsible for the decline in the use of rubber intercropping among smallholder farmers; (ii) an instrumental variable and endogenous switching model to assess the specific effects of off-farm labour market participation on the use of intercropping. We find a strong effect of the costs of labour on rubber intercropping. The decline in the use of intercropping has a potentially negative impact on environmental sustainability and endangers the government’s environmentally friendly rubber programme. The paper explores possibilities of how farmers can maintain intercropping under increasing labour constraints such as more engagement of elderly and female household members. This may require modifications in intercropping technologies and training. The paper recommends that the government should encourage the continuation of intercropping by a combination of well-balanced measures that include on-farm research, participatory farmer training, payment for environmental services, and effective monitoring.
KW - China
KW - intercropping
KW - labor costs
KW - Rubber
KW - smallholders
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85105892441&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1080/14735903.2021.1918482
DO - 10.1080/14735903.2021.1918482
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85105892441
VL - 20
SP - 124
EP - 139
JO - International Journal of Agricultural Sustainability
JF - International Journal of Agricultural Sustainability
SN - 1473-5903
IS - 2
ER -