Adoption of intercropping among smallholder rubber farmers in Xishuangbanna, China
While the expansion of rubber plantations in the mountainous areas of Southern China has contributed to poverty reduction among the indigenous ethnic groups, the concerns about the associated negatives on ecosystems and sustainable development of livelihoods is rising. One of the measures suggested...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Taylor & Francis Group
2017-05-01
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| Series: | International Journal of Agricultural Sustainability |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/14735903.2017.1315234 |
| _version_ | 1797681215570968576 |
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| author | Shi Min Jikun Huang Junfei Bai Hermann Waibel |
| author_facet | Shi Min Jikun Huang Junfei Bai Hermann Waibel |
| author_sort | Shi Min |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | While the expansion of rubber plantations in the mountainous areas of Southern China has contributed to poverty reduction among the indigenous ethnic groups, the concerns about the associated negatives on ecosystems and sustainable development of livelihoods is rising. One of the measures suggested to reduce environmental and economic risks is rubber intercropping. This study uses cross-section data of some 600 rubber farmers in Xishuangbanna, as a basis to develop four empirical models in order to analyse adoption of intercropping at farm and at plot level. Our study shows that only a small proportion of rubber farmers have adopted intercropping, with tea being the most frequently adopted intercrop. However, we also find that intercropping is an important source of income for the household in the lower income category. Intercropping adoption is affected by ethnicity, household wealth and family labour. The choice of intercrops depends on the nature of rubber plots, the age of rubber trees and geography. This study contributes to a better understanding of the transformation path from rubber monoculture to more diversified, rubber-based agroforestry systems and thus can provide important information for agricultural extension services charged with the promotion of sustainable rubber-based livelihood systems in the Mekong area. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T23:41:36Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-2dd23723b9f74233b87e78192ab336ce |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1473-5903 1747-762X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T23:41:36Z |
| publishDate | 2017-05-01 |
| publisher | Taylor & Francis Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Journal of Agricultural Sustainability |
| spelling | doaj.art-2dd23723b9f74233b87e78192ab336ce2023-09-19T15:22:19ZengTaylor & Francis GroupInternational Journal of Agricultural Sustainability1473-59031747-762X2017-05-0115322323710.1080/14735903.2017.13152341315234Adoption of intercropping among smallholder rubber farmers in Xishuangbanna, ChinaShi Min0Jikun Huang1Junfei Bai2Hermann Waibel3Leibniz University HannoverChinese Academy of SciencesChina Agricultural UniversityLeibniz University HannoverWhile the expansion of rubber plantations in the mountainous areas of Southern China has contributed to poverty reduction among the indigenous ethnic groups, the concerns about the associated negatives on ecosystems and sustainable development of livelihoods is rising. One of the measures suggested to reduce environmental and economic risks is rubber intercropping. This study uses cross-section data of some 600 rubber farmers in Xishuangbanna, as a basis to develop four empirical models in order to analyse adoption of intercropping at farm and at plot level. Our study shows that only a small proportion of rubber farmers have adopted intercropping, with tea being the most frequently adopted intercrop. However, we also find that intercropping is an important source of income for the household in the lower income category. Intercropping adoption is affected by ethnicity, household wealth and family labour. The choice of intercrops depends on the nature of rubber plots, the age of rubber trees and geography. This study contributes to a better understanding of the transformation path from rubber monoculture to more diversified, rubber-based agroforestry systems and thus can provide important information for agricultural extension services charged with the promotion of sustainable rubber-based livelihood systems in the Mekong area.http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/14735903.2017.1315234rubberintercroppingadoptionxishuangbanna |
| spellingShingle | Shi Min Jikun Huang Junfei Bai Hermann Waibel Adoption of intercropping among smallholder rubber farmers in Xishuangbanna, China International Journal of Agricultural Sustainability rubber intercropping adoption xishuangbanna |
| title | Adoption of intercropping among smallholder rubber farmers in Xishuangbanna, China |
| title_full | Adoption of intercropping among smallholder rubber farmers in Xishuangbanna, China |
| title_fullStr | Adoption of intercropping among smallholder rubber farmers in Xishuangbanna, China |
| title_full_unstemmed | Adoption of intercropping among smallholder rubber farmers in Xishuangbanna, China |
| title_short | Adoption of intercropping among smallholder rubber farmers in Xishuangbanna, China |
| title_sort | adoption of intercropping among smallholder rubber farmers in xishuangbanna china |
| topic | rubber intercropping adoption xishuangbanna |
| url | http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/14735903.2017.1315234 |
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