Details
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 281-293 |
| Number of pages | 13 |
| Journal | Mountain Research and Development |
| Volume | 37 |
| Issue number | 3 |
| Publication status | Published - 1 Aug 2017 |
Abstract
While the expansion of smallholder rubber farming in southwest China has contributed to the local rural economy, it has also had negative environmental consequences. The economics and potential risks of smallholder rubber farming remain unclear due to the lack of quantitative evidence. Based on data collected in a comprehensive survey of 612 smallholder rubber farmers in Xishuangbanna, this paper quantifies economic aspects of rubber farming including land use, inputs and outputs, household income composition, and risks. In particular, we compare differences in these parameters associated with ethnicity and elevation. Our results suggest that rubber has taken over the rural economy in the rubber-planting region of Xishuangbanna, where almost 80% of agricultural land is devoted to rubber. On average, rubber farming provides over 40% of smallholder incomes. While smallholder rubber farming is generally highly profitable, it is also highly vulnerable to price fluctuations. Rubber expansion has also reduced diversification and thereby increased household income risk. Most importantly, our analysis shows that the economic performance of smallholder rubber farming differs for different ethnic groups and at different elevations. The results of this study provide important quantitative information on smallholder rubber farming that can inform policymaking and guide future research.
Keywords
- Agenda 2030, break-even analysis, ethnic minorities, income diversification, input-output analysis, Natural rubber, Sustainable Development Goals
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Environmental Science(all)
- Environmental Chemistry
- Social Sciences(all)
- Development
- Environmental Science(all)
- General Environmental Science
Sustainable Development Goals
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In: Mountain Research and Development, Vol. 37, No. 3, 01.08.2017, p. 281-293.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer review
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - The Economics of Smallholder Rubber Farming in a Mountainous Region of Southwest China
T2 - Elevation, Ethnicity, and Risk
AU - Min, Shi
AU - Waibel, Hermann
AU - Cadisch, Georg
AU - Langenberger, Gerhard
AU - Bai, Junfei
AU - Huang, Jikun
N1 - Funding information: This study was conducted within the framework of the Sino-German SURUMER Project, funded by the Bundesministerium fu€r Wissenschaft, Technologie und Forschung (FKZ 01LL0919). We also acknowledge funding support from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Project 71333013). We are
PY - 2017/8/1
Y1 - 2017/8/1
N2 - While the expansion of smallholder rubber farming in southwest China has contributed to the local rural economy, it has also had negative environmental consequences. The economics and potential risks of smallholder rubber farming remain unclear due to the lack of quantitative evidence. Based on data collected in a comprehensive survey of 612 smallholder rubber farmers in Xishuangbanna, this paper quantifies economic aspects of rubber farming including land use, inputs and outputs, household income composition, and risks. In particular, we compare differences in these parameters associated with ethnicity and elevation. Our results suggest that rubber has taken over the rural economy in the rubber-planting region of Xishuangbanna, where almost 80% of agricultural land is devoted to rubber. On average, rubber farming provides over 40% of smallholder incomes. While smallholder rubber farming is generally highly profitable, it is also highly vulnerable to price fluctuations. Rubber expansion has also reduced diversification and thereby increased household income risk. Most importantly, our analysis shows that the economic performance of smallholder rubber farming differs for different ethnic groups and at different elevations. The results of this study provide important quantitative information on smallholder rubber farming that can inform policymaking and guide future research.
AB - While the expansion of smallholder rubber farming in southwest China has contributed to the local rural economy, it has also had negative environmental consequences. The economics and potential risks of smallholder rubber farming remain unclear due to the lack of quantitative evidence. Based on data collected in a comprehensive survey of 612 smallholder rubber farmers in Xishuangbanna, this paper quantifies economic aspects of rubber farming including land use, inputs and outputs, household income composition, and risks. In particular, we compare differences in these parameters associated with ethnicity and elevation. Our results suggest that rubber has taken over the rural economy in the rubber-planting region of Xishuangbanna, where almost 80% of agricultural land is devoted to rubber. On average, rubber farming provides over 40% of smallholder incomes. While smallholder rubber farming is generally highly profitable, it is also highly vulnerable to price fluctuations. Rubber expansion has also reduced diversification and thereby increased household income risk. Most importantly, our analysis shows that the economic performance of smallholder rubber farming differs for different ethnic groups and at different elevations. The results of this study provide important quantitative information on smallholder rubber farming that can inform policymaking and guide future research.
KW - Agenda 2030
KW - break-even analysis
KW - ethnic minorities
KW - income diversification
KW - input-output analysis
KW - Natural rubber
KW - Sustainable Development Goals
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85030093939&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1659/MRD-JOURNAL-D-16-00088.1
DO - 10.1659/MRD-JOURNAL-D-16-00088.1
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85030093939
VL - 37
SP - 281
EP - 293
JO - Mountain Research and Development
JF - Mountain Research and Development
SN - 0276-4741
IS - 3
ER -