IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jagris/v11y2021i12p1230-d696462.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

An Assessment of Poverty Alleviation Measures and Sustainable Livelihood Capability of Farm Households in Rural China: A Sustainable Livelihood Approach

Author

Listed:
  • Fang Su

    (School of Economics and Management, Shaanxi University of Science and Technology, Xi’an 710021, China)

  • Nini Song

    (School of Economics and Management, Shaanxi University of Science and Technology, Xi’an 710021, China)

  • Nannan Ma

    (School of Economics and Management, Shaanxi University of Science and Technology, Xi’an 710021, China)

  • Altynbek Sultanaliev

    (School of Economics and Management, Shaanxi University of Science and Technology, Xi’an 710021, China)

  • Jing Ma

    (College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730030, China)

  • Bing Xue

    (Key Lab for Environmental Computation and Sustainability of Liaoning Province, Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang 110016, China)

  • Shah Fahad

    (School of Economics and Management, Leshan Normal University, Leshan 614000, China)

Abstract

This paper aims to identify effective mechanisms for government poverty alleviation measures based on the livelihood sustainability of farm households in Southern Shaanxi province, China. The paper utilizes data from 414 farm households, collected through field observations and in-depth interviews in 24 rural communes in Qinba Mountain Area of Shaanxi province, China. Using theoretical research methods and employing the sustainable livelihood approach (SLA) framework, this paper analyzes poverty alleviation measures as well as the impact of varied capital availability on sustainable livelihood. The study shows that developing local industries and governmental financial support improve the sustainable livelihood of farmers and eradicate absolute poverty. The findings of this study further indicate that there is a positive correlation between poverty alleviation measures and natural and social capital for sustainable livelihood. The paper provides empirical and quantitative evidence on alleviation of poverty, and the findings will help improve the sustainability of livelihood capability of farming households. This study suggests impactful approaches to stabilizing mechanisms for poverty alleviation in rural areas over the longer term.

Suggested Citation

  • Fang Su & Nini Song & Nannan Ma & Altynbek Sultanaliev & Jing Ma & Bing Xue & Shah Fahad, 2021. "An Assessment of Poverty Alleviation Measures and Sustainable Livelihood Capability of Farm Households in Rural China: A Sustainable Livelihood Approach," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 11(12), pages 1-16, December.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jagris:v:11:y:2021:i:12:p:1230-:d:696462
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/11/12/1230/pdf
    Download Restriction: no

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/11/12/1230/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Reed, M.S. & Podesta, G. & Fazey, I. & Geeson, N. & Hessel, R. & Hubacek, K. & Letson, D. & Nainggolan, D. & Prell, C. & Rickenbach, M.G. & Ritsema, C. & Schwilch, G. & Stringer, L.C. & Thomas, A.D., 2013. "Combining analytical frameworks to assess livelihood vulnerability to climate change and analyse adaptation options," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 94(C), pages 66-77.
    2. Dominique Philippe Martin, 2019. "Knowledge transfer models and poverty alleviation in developing countries: critical approaches and foresight," Third World Quarterly, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 40(7), pages 1209-1226, July.
    3. B. K. Downie & P. Dearden & L. King, 2018. "Exploring paradoxes in the search for sustainable livelihoods: a case study from Tanzania," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 20(2), pages 527-542, April.
    4. Ingrid Robeyns, 2005. "The Capability Approach: a theoretical survey," Journal of Human Development and Capabilities, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 6(1), pages 93-117.
    5. Xianhui Hou & Jingming Liu & Daojun Zhang, 2019. "Regional sustainable development: The relationship between natural capital utilization and economic development," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 27(1), pages 183-195, January.
    6. Liu, Mingyue & Feng, Xiaolong & Wang, Sangui & Qiu, Huanguang, 2020. "China’s poverty alleviation over the last 40 years: successes and challenges," Australian Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics, Australian Agricultural and Resource Economics Society, vol. 64(1), January.
    7. Sawada, Yasuyuki & Takasaki, Yoshito, 2017. "Natural Disaster, Poverty, and Development: An Introduction," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 94(C), pages 2-15.
    8. Zhang, Yanlong & Zhou, Xiaoyu & Lei, Wei, 2017. "Social Capital and Its Contingent Value in Poverty Reduction: Evidence from Western China," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 93(C), pages 350-361.
    9. Bjoern Soergel & Elmar Kriegler & Benjamin Leon Bodirsky & Nico Bauer & Marian Leimbach & Alexander Popp, 2021. "Combining ambitious climate policies with efforts to eradicate poverty," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 12(1), pages 1-12, December.
    10. Xuanye Zeng & Zhuoying Fu & Xin Deng & Dingde Xu, 2021. "The Impact of Livelihood Risk on Farmers of Different Poverty Types: Based on the Study of Typical Areas in Sichuan Province," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 11(8), pages 1-18, August.
    11. van Krevel, Charan, 2021. "Does natural capital depletion hamper sustainable development? Panel data evidence," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 72(C).
    12. Kemkes, Robin J., 2015. "The role of natural capital in sustaining livelihoods in remote mountainous regions: The case of Upper Svaneti, Republic of Georgia," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 117(C), pages 22-31.
    13. Wan, Guanghua & Hu, Xiaoshan & Liu, Weiqun, 2021. "China's poverty reduction miracle and relative poverty: Focusing on the roles of growth and inequality," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 68(C).
    14. Dominique Philippe Martin, 2019. "Knowledge transfer models and poverty alleviation in developing countries: critical approaches and foresight," Post-Print halshs-02096325, HAL.
    15. Pramod K Singh & Harpalsinh Chudasama, 2020. "Evaluating poverty alleviation strategies in a developing country," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 15(1), pages 1-23, January.
    16. Yansui Liu & Yuanzhi Guo & Yang Zhou, 2018. "Poverty alleviation in rural China: policy changes, future challenges and policy implications," China Agricultural Economic Review, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 10(2), pages 241-259, May.
    17. Sen, Amartya, 1999. "Commodities and Capabilities," OUP Catalogue, Oxford University Press, number 9780195650389.
    18. Bremer, Leah L. & Farley, Kathleen A. & Lopez-Carr, David & Romero, José, 2014. "Conservation and livelihood outcomes of payment for ecosystem services in the Ecuadorian Andes: What is the potential for ‘win–win’?," Ecosystem Services, Elsevier, vol. 8(C), pages 148-165.
    19. Lisset Pérez Marulanda & Patrick Lavelle & Martin Rudbeck Jepsen & Augusto Castro-Nunez & Wendy Francesconi & Karen Camilo & Martha Vanegas-Cubillos & Miguel Antonio Romero & Juan Carlos Suárez & Anto, 2020. "Farmscape Composition and Livelihood Sustainability in Deforested Landscapes of Colombian Amazonia," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 10(12), pages 1-20, November.
    20. Thulstrup, Andreas Waaben, 2015. "Livelihood Resilience and Adaptive Capacity: Tracing Changes in Household Access to Capital in Central Vietnam," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 74(C), pages 352-362.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Caihua Xu & Qian Wang & Shah Fahad & Masaru Kagatsume & Jin Yu, 2022. "Impact of Off-Farm Employment on Farmland Transfer: Insight on the Mediating Role of Agricultural Production Service Outsourcing," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 12(10), pages 1-16, October.
    2. Cui, Yu & Khan, Sufyan Ullah & Sauer, Johannes & Kipperberg, Gorm & Zhao, Minjuan, 2023. "Agricultural carbon footprint, energy utilization and economic quality: What causes what, and where?," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 278(PA).
    3. Shah Fahad & Mohammad Shakhawat Hossain & Nguyen Thi Lan Huong & Abdelmohsen A. Nassani & Mohamed Haffar & Muhammad Rashid Naeem, 2023. "An assessment of rural household vulnerability and resilience in natural hazards: evidence from flood prone areas," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 25(6), pages 5561-5577, June.
    4. Jun Fan & Sichuan Luo & Attachai Jintrawet & Xingming Fan & Ruijia Guo, 2022. "A Framework of Development-Oriented Poverty Alleviation Implementation Projects in Rural China: The Case of Jinggu County," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 12(9), pages 1-19, September.
    5. Wangbing Liang & Zhao Li & Yinggang Bao & Bing Xia, 2022. "Risk Perception of COVID-19 as a Cause of Minority Ethnic Community Tourism Practitioners’ Willingness to Change Livelihood Strategies: A Case Study in Gansu Based on Cognitive-Experiential Self-Theor," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(1), pages 1-19, December.
    6. Nanang Dwi Wahyono & Niswatin Hasanah & Rita Parmawati & Wing-Keung Wong, 2023. "Improving Economic Welfare through Capital Development: Case Study of Smallholder Dairy Farmers in Pujon District," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(11), pages 1-13, May.
    7. Hong Tang & Jian Liu & Xiaowen Dai & Yun Zhang & Wendai He & Qi Yin & Feng Huang & Ruiping Ran & Yunqiang Liu, 2022. "Household Groups’ Land Use Decisions Investigation Based on Perspective of Livelihood Heterogeneity in Sichuan Province, China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(15), pages 1-26, August.
    8. repec:thr:techub:v:2:y:2022:i:3:p:38-62 is not listed on IDEAS
    9. Hameeda Sultan & Jinyan Zhan & Wajid Rashid & Xi Chu & Eve Bohnett, 2022. "Systematic Review of Multi-Dimensional Vulnerabilities in the Himalayas," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(19), pages 1-20, September.
    10. Achmad Syamsu Hidayat & Ismi Rajiani & Deasy Arisanty, 2022. "Sustainability of Floodplain Wetland Fisheries of Rural Indonesia: Does Culture Enhance Livelihood Resilience?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(21), pages 1-17, November.
    11. Jianjian He & Siqi Wang & Reinout Heijungs & Yi Yang & Shumiao Shu & Weiwen Zhang & Anqi Xu & Kai Fang, 2024. "Interprovincial food trade aggravates China’s land scarcity," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 11(1), pages 1-14, December.
    12. Rong Wang & Jinlong Wang & Wenhao Chen, 2023. "The Coordinated Development of Ecosystem Services and Farming Household Livelihood Security: A Case Study of the Dongting Lake Area in China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(14), pages 1-18, July.
    13. Jiajun He & Xin Fan & Lin Chen & Zirui Huang & Yiming Zhao & Chenzhi Zhang, 2023. "Improving the Livelihood Resilience of Poverty-Stricken Population under Rural Revitalization: A Case Study of Chongqing M Reservoir Area," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(18), pages 1-19, September.
    14. Yao Zhang & Jianjun Huai, 2023. "A Case Study of Farmers’ Behavioral Motivation Mechanisms to Crack the Fractal Multidimensional Relative Poverty Trap in Shaanxi, China," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 13(11), pages 1-22, October.
    15. Jingjing Zhou & Yaoyu Zhang & Yong Sha & Jianfang Zhou & Hang Ren & Xin Shen & Hui Xu, 2022. "The Effect of the “Triple-Layer Medical Security” Policy on the Vulnerability as Expected Poverty of Rural Households: Evidence from Yunnan Province, China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(19), pages 1-22, October.
    16. Mengdi Wang & Xiaobing Peng, 2023. "How to Develop Sustainably after Poverty Alleviation in Poverty-Stricken Areas under Paired Assistance: A Quantitative Assessment Framework Based on System Dynamics Model," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(6), pages 1-17, March.
    17. Berio, Mark Jason M., 2022. "Analysis of the Sustainability, Vulnerability, and Challenges of Aquaculture Livelihood Projects," Technium Business and Management, Technium Science, vol. 2(3), pages 38-62.
    18. Rong Ran & Lei Hua & Tingrou Li & Yejing Chen & Junfu Xiao, 2023. "Why Have China’s Poverty Eradication Policy Resulted in the Decline of Arable Land in Poverty-Stricken Areas?," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(10), pages 1-18, September.
    19. Huong Hoang-Thi & Shah Fahad & Ashfaq Ahmad Shah & Tung Nguyen-Huu-Minh & Tuan Nguyen-Anh & Song Nguyen-Van & Nguyen To-The & Huong Nguyen-Thi-Lan, 2023. "Evaluating the farmers’ adoption behavior of water conservation in mountainous region Vietnam: extrinsic and intrinsic determinants," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 115(2), pages 1313-1330, January.
    20. Wang, Wei & Rehman, Mubeen Abdur & Fahad, Shah, 2022. "The dynamic influence of renewable energy, trade openness, and industrialization on the sustainable environment in G-7 economies," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 198(C), pages 484-491.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Chen Wang & Guoqing Shi & Yongping Wei & Andrew William Western & Hang Zheng & Yan Zhao, 2017. "Balancing Rural Household Livelihood and Regional Ecological Footprint in Water Source Areas of the South-to-North Water Diversion Project," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(8), pages 1-20, August.
    2. Jun Fan & Sichuan Luo & Attachai Jintrawet & Xingming Fan & Ruijia Guo, 2022. "A Framework of Development-Oriented Poverty Alleviation Implementation Projects in Rural China: The Case of Jinggu County," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 12(9), pages 1-19, September.
    3. Yuting Sun & Shu-Nung Yao, 2022. "Sustainability Trade-Offs in Media Coverage of Poverty Alleviation: A Content-Based Spatiotemporal Analysis in China’s Provinces," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(16), pages 1-26, August.
    4. Hongyu Wang & Xiaolei Wang & Apurbo Sarkar & Lu Qian, 2021. "Evaluating the Impacts of Smallholder Farmer’s Participation in Modern Agricultural Value Chain Tactics for Facilitating Poverty Alleviation—A Case Study of Kiwifruit Industry in Shaanxi, China," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 11(5), pages 1-19, May.
    5. Anh Thu Quang Pham & Pundarik Mukhopadhaya, 2022. "Multidimensionl Poverty and The Role of Social Capital in Poverty Alleviation Among Ethnic Groups in Rural Vietnam: A Multilevel Analysis," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 159(1), pages 281-317, January.
    6. Ryan, Mark, 2022. "The ethics of dietary apps: Technology, health, and the capability approach," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 68(C).
    7. Deka, Devajyoti, 2022. "Trip deprivation among older adults in the context of the capability approach," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 100(C).
    8. Malida Mooken & Roger Sugden, 2014. "The Capabilities of Academics and Academic Poverty," Kyklos, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 67(4), pages 588-614, November.
    9. Lennon, Mick & Douglas, Owen & Scott, Mark, 2019. "Responsive environments: An outline of a method for determining context sensitive planning interventions to enhance health and wellbeing," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 80(C), pages 68-78.
    10. Xue Yang & Shili Guo & Xin Deng & Wei Wang & Dingde Xu, 2021. "Study on Livelihood Vulnerability and Adaptation Strategies of Farmers in Areas Threatened by Different Disaster Types under Climate Change," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 11(11), pages 1-21, November.
    11. Veronika V. Eberharter, 2018. "Capability Deprivation, and the Intergenerational Transmission of Social Disadvantages—Empirical Evidence from Selected Countries," Social Sciences, MDPI, vol. 7(12), pages 1-22, December.
    12. Chaigneau, Tomas & Brown, Katrina & Coulthard, Sarah & Daw, Tim M. & Szaboova, Lucy, 2019. "Money, use and experience: Identifying the mechanisms through which ecosystem services contribute to wellbeing in coastal Kenya and Mozambique," Ecosystem Services, Elsevier, vol. 38(C), pages 1-1.
    13. Libang Ma & Xinglong Che & Junhui Zhang & Fang Fang & Meimei Chen, 2019. "Rural Poverty Identification and Comprehensive Poverty Assessment Based on Quality-of-Life: The Case of Gansu Province (China)," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(17), pages 1-18, August.
    14. Christian Arndt & Jürgen Volkert, 2006. "Amartya Sens Capability-Approach: ein neues Konzept der deutschen Armuts- und Reichtumsberichterstattung," Vierteljahrshefte zur Wirtschaftsforschung / Quarterly Journal of Economic Research, DIW Berlin, German Institute for Economic Research, vol. 75(1), pages 7-29.
    15. Joanna Coast & Cara Bailey & Alastair Canaway & Philip Kinghorn, 2021. "“It is not a scientific number it is just a feeling”: Populating a multi‐dimensional end‐of‐life decision framework using deliberative methods," Health Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 30(5), pages 1033-1049, May.
    16. Jiajun He & Xin Fan & Lin Chen & Haoruo Chen & Jin Luo & Zirui Huang, 2023. "Influencing Factors of the Post-Relocation Support Policy’s Satisfaction Degree for Rural Household: A Case Study of County M, Sichuan Province," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(12), pages 1-21, June.
    17. Hong Sun & Xiaohong Li & Wenjing Li & Jun Feng, 2022. "Differences and Influencing Factors of Relative Poverty of Urban and Rural Residents in China Based on the Survey of 31 Provinces and Cities," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(15), pages 1-15, July.
    18. Tang, Jianjun & Gong, Jiaowei & Ma, Wanglin & Rahut, Dil Bahadur, 2022. "Narrowing urban–rural income gap in China: The role of the targeted poverty alleviation program," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 75(C), pages 74-90.
    19. Liao, Chuan & Fei, Ding & Huang, Qingxu & Jiang, Lu & Shi, Peijun, 2021. "Targeted poverty alleviation through photovoltaic-based intervention: Rhetoric and reality in Qinghai, China," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 137(C).
    20. Christian Arndt & Juergen Volkert, 2009. "Poverty and Wealth Reporting of the German Government: Approach, Lessons and Critique," IAW Discussion Papers 51, Institut für Angewandte Wirtschaftsforschung (IAW).

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jagris:v:11:y:2021:i:12:p:1230-:d:696462. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.