Rising labour costs and the future of rubber intercropping in China

verfasst von

Shaoze Jin, Shi Min, Jikun Huang, Hermann Waibel

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.

Organisationseinheit(en)

Institut für Entwicklungs- und Agrarökonomik

Externe Organisation(en)

Research Center for Rural Economy
Huazhong Agricultural University
Peking University

Typ

Artikel

Journal

International Journal of Agricultural Sustainability

Band

20

Seiten

124-139

Anzahl der Seiten

16

ISSN

1473-5903

Publikationsdatum

2022

Publikationsstatus

Veröffentlicht

Peer-reviewed

Ja

ASJC Scopus Sachgebiete

Agronomie und Nutzpflanzenwissenschaften, Volkswirtschaftslehre und Ökonometrie

Ziele für nachhaltige Entwicklung

SDG 2 – Kein Hunger

Elektronische Version(en)

https://doi.org/10.1080/14735903.2021.1918482 (Zugang: Geschlossen)