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Livelihood Assets and Strategies among Rural Households: Comparative Analysis of Rice and Dryland Terrace Systems in China

Author

Listed:
  • Lun Yang

    (Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 11A Datun Road, Beijing 100101, China
    University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 19A Yuquan Road, Beijing 100049, China)

  • Moucheng Liu

    (Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 11A Datun Road, Beijing 100101, China)

  • Fei Lun

    (College of Land Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
    Key Laboratory of Agricultural Land Quality, Ministry of Land and Resources, Beijing 100193, China)

  • Qingwen Min

    (Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 11A Datun Road, Beijing 100101, China
    University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 19A Yuquan Road, Beijing 100049, China)

  • Canqiang Zhang

    (Research Center for Rural Economy, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Beijing 100810, China)

  • Heyao Li

    (Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 11A Datun Road, Beijing 100101, China
    University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 19A Yuquan Road, Beijing 100049, China)

Abstract

The livelihood of peasant households is one of the selection criteria of Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems and a critical factor that affects agricultural heritage system conservation and inheritance. Taking the Honghe Hani Rice Terraces System (HHRTS) and Shexian Dryland Terraces System (SDTS) as examples, we investigated 304 households through a participatory rural appraisal method to discuss the livelihood assets and strategies of households in agricultural heritage systems. From the viewpoint of livelihood strategies, household strategies can be divided into pure agricultural, nonagricultural, and part-time agricultural strategies. The livelihood strategies of households in the HHRTS feature a higher proportion of nonagricultural, while those in the SDTS have a diverse distribution. With respect to livelihood assets, we constructed a livelihood assets accounting framework to highlight the important role of traditional culture and information technology in agricultural activities. The average livelihood assets value in the HHRTS and SDTS was 2.249 and 1.832, respectively. Then, applying the multinomial logit model, we quantitatively analyzed the relationship between livelihood assets and strategies. The results show that in both terrace systems, the understanding of traditional agricultural knowledge is important to suppress the shift of pure agricultural households to nonagricultural or part-time agricultural households. Therefore, in order to achieve dynamic conservation of terrace systems, it is necessary to effectively increase the cultural assets level of households, especially farmers’ understanding of traditional agricultural knowledge.

Suggested Citation

  • Lun Yang & Moucheng Liu & Fei Lun & Qingwen Min & Canqiang Zhang & Heyao Li, 2018. "Livelihood Assets and Strategies among Rural Households: Comparative Analysis of Rice and Dryland Terrace Systems in China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(7), pages 1-18, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:10:y:2018:i:7:p:2525-:d:158739
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    2. Ghulam Raza Sargani & Yuansheng Jiang & Abbas Ali Chandio & Yun Shen & Zhao Ding & Asif Ali, 2023. "Impacts of livelihood assets on adaptation strategies in response to climate change: evidence from Pakistan," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 25(7), pages 6117-6140, July.
    3. Adeyemo, Temitayo, 2021. "The 4th Industrial Revolution: What Role Does Infrastructure Play in Livelihood Choices and Outcomes of Agrarian Households?," 2021 Conference, August 17-31, 2021, Virtual 315136, International Association of Agricultural Economists.
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    5. Xuan Fang & Zhujun Gu & Ying Zhu, 2023. "Quantification of Agricultural Terrace Degradation in the Loess Plateau Using UAV-Based Digital Elevation Model and Imagery," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(14), pages 1-16, July.
    6. Qianru Chen & Yuyang Wen & Xinmin Zhang & Zhenhong Zhu, 2022. "Evolutionary Overview of Terrace Research Based on Bibliometric Analysis in Web of Science from 1991 to 2020," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(13), pages 1-17, June.
    7. Enrico Pomatto & Marco Devecchi & Federica Larcher, 2022. "Coevolution between Terraced Landscapes and Rural Communities: An Integrated Approach Using Expert-Based Assessment and Evaluation of Winegrowers’ Perceptions (Northwest Piedmont, Italy)," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(14), pages 1-27, July.
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    10. Tran, Dung Duc & Huu, Loc Ho & Hoang, Long Phi & Pham, Tien Duy & Nguyen, Au Hai, 2021. "Sustainability of rice-based livelihoods in the upper floodplains of Vietnamese Mekong Delta: Prospects and challenges," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 243(C).
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