Sustainable land use by smallholder rubber farmers in Southwest China: Acceptance, adoption and governance of environmental programs
Shaoze Jin, Shi Min, Jikun Huang, Hermann Waibel
This study deals with the implementation of sustainable land use systems in Southern China. The objective of the study is to assess the opportunities and constraints of introducing environmentally friendly rubber plantation (EFRP) among smallholder farmers in the Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture. We developed three models: (i) an OLS to identify the determinants of EFRP acceptance by smallholders; (ii) a panel model to analyze the changes in intercropping adoption between 2012 and 2014; (iii) an endogenous switching model to account for possible endogeneity and selection bias with respect to intercropping adoption. We find that the success of a program like EFRP in China is affected by economic conditions. Decline in rubber profitability and non-farm income opportunities pose major challenges. We conclude that without a well-designed implementation plan, i.e. a targeted extension program, and appropriate and attractive incentive schemes a program like EFRP is unlikely to achieve its expected goals.
Event: Land Governance in an Interconnected World_Annual World Bank Conference on Land and Poverty_2018
Only personal, non-commercial use of this document is allowed.