Farmer-based Rice Cropping Systems in the Poyang Lake Region, China: Analysis of Characteristics and Policy Implications

doi:10.5814/j.issn.1674-764X.2019.03.003

Abstract

Abstract:

This paper examines the spatial characteristics of farmer/household behaviors in regional rice cropping systems (RCS), and the results provide necessary information for developing strategies that will maintain regional food security. Through field study and statistical analysis based on 402 households questionnaires finished in 2014-2015 in the Poyang Lake Region (PLR) of China, we arrived at two main conclusions. First, single- and double cropping rice were found across the study area, but showed a general distribution trend, with double cropping rice in the southeast part (especially in Jinxian county) and single cropping rice in the northwest (particularly in De’an county). Second, the household decisions concerning RCS varied in different parts of the PLR, but double cropping was the dominant type, with about 63.57% of the respondent households in the PLR cultivating double cropping rice. However, the multiple-cropping index of paddy rice was only 1.55. About 3% of interviewed households had altered their RCS during this period. Based on these findings, the local governments should guide farmers’ paddy field cultivation behaviors by increasing the comparative efficiency of rice production, promoting appropriate scale operations and land conversion, as well as optimizing rice growing conditions to improve the multiple cropping index and enhance food provision. Finally, land-use efficiency and more sustainable use of land resources should be improved.

Key words: rice cropping systems, responding strategy, household, Poyang Lake Region (PLR)

Khampheng BOUDMYXAY,LI Peng,XIAO Chiwei,SHEN Lei,ZHONG Shuai. Farmer-based Rice Cropping Systems in the Poyang Lake Region, China: Analysis of Characteristics and Policy Implications[J]. Journal of Resources and Ecology, 2019, 10(3): 256-264.

Figures/Tables 5

References 28

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County	The villages and towns	Sample (households)	Proportion (%)
Nanchang	Bayi town, Wuyang town, Tacheng town, Jingkou village, Wuxing farm, Changdong town, Jiangxiang town, Nanxin village, Fushan village, and Gangshang town	70	17.4
Xinjian	Xixia town, Xiangshan town, Da Tangping village, Liuhu village, and Zhugang farm	27	6.7
Yongxiu	Mukou town, Jiuhe village, Tubu village, Aicheng town, Zhajin town, Baicha town, and Sanjiao village	33	8.2
De’an	Ganlu town, Puting town, and Jinhu village	17	4.2
Xingzi	Zequan village, Sujiadang village, Hengtang town, Liaonan town, Liaohua village, and BaiLu town	27	6.7
Duchang	Chunqiao village, Sushan village, Zuoli town, Beishan village, Wangdun village, Dashu village, Sanshagang town, Dasha village, Tutang town, Mingshan village, and Zhongguan town	53	13.2
Poyang	Youdunjie town, Zhegang village, Youcheng town, Gaojialing town, Sishillijie town, Tuanlin town, Sanmiaoqian town, Sanmaioqian village, Luojia town, Guxiandu village, Raobu village, and Raofeng village	73	18.2
Yugan	Santang village, Jiangbu village, Hongjiazui town, Wuni town, Shikou village, Kangshan village, Ruihong town, and Dongtang village	43	10.7
Jinxian	Jiaqiao town, Quanling town, Wenzhen town, Wengang town, Lidu town, Changshanyan village, Sanyangji village, Qianfang village, Minhe village, Ertang village, Chixi village, Zhongling village, and Sanli village	59	14.7

County	The villages and towns	Sample (households)	Proportion (%)
Nanchang	Bayi town, Wuyang town, Tacheng town, Jingkou village, Wuxing farm, Changdong town, Jiangxiang town, Nanxin village, Fushan village, and Gangshang town	70	17.4
Xinjian	Xixia town, Xiangshan town, Da Tangping village, Liuhu village, and Zhugang farm	27	6.7
Yongxiu	Mukou town, Jiuhe village, Tubu village, Aicheng town, Zhajin town, Baicha town, and Sanjiao village	33	8.2
De’an	Ganlu town, Puting town, and Jinhu village	17	4.2
Xingzi	Zequan village, Sujiadang village, Hengtang town, Liaonan town, Liaohua village, and BaiLu town	27	6.7
Duchang	Chunqiao village, Sushan village, Zuoli town, Beishan village, Wangdun village, Dashu village, Sanshagang town, Dasha village, Tutang town, Mingshan village, and Zhongguan town	53	13.2
Poyang	Youdunjie town, Zhegang village, Youcheng town, Gaojialing town, Sishillijie town, Tuanlin town, Sanmiaoqian town, Sanmaioqian village, Luojia town, Guxiandu village, Raobu village, and Raofeng village	73	18.2
Yugan	Santang village, Jiangbu village, Hongjiazui town, Wuni town, Shikou village, Kangshan village, Ruihong town, and Dongtang village	43	10.7
Jinxian	Jiaqiao town, Quanling town, Wenzhen town, Wengang town, Lidu town, Changshanyan village, Sanyangji village, Qianfang village, Minhe village, Ertang village, Chixi village, Zhongling village, and Sanli village	59	14.7

County	Single cropping rice		Double cropping rice		Mixed planting
County	Sample/ House- hold	%	Sample/ House- hold	%	Sample/ House- hold	%
Nanchang	8	5.67	60	27.27	1	3.85
Xinjian	9	6.38	16	7.27	2	7.69
Yongxiu	24	17.02	3	1.36	2	7.69
De’an	15	10.64	0	0.00	0	0.00
Xingzi	25	17.73	0	0.00	2	7.69
Duchang	39	27.66	6	2.73	4	15.38
Poyang	16	11.35	48	21.82	9	34.62
Yugan	1	0.71	41	18.64	1	3.85
Jinxian	4	2.84	46	20.91	5	19.23
Total	141	100	220	100	26	100

County	Single cropping rice		Double cropping rice		Mixed planting
County	Sample/ House- hold	%	Sample/ House- hold	%	Sample/ House- hold	%
Nanchang	8	5.67	60	27.27	1	3.85
Xinjian	9	6.38	16	7.27	2	7.69
Yongxiu	24	17.02	3	1.36	2	7.69
De’an	15	10.64	0	0.00	0	0.00
Xingzi	25	17.73	0	0.00	2	7.69
Duchang	39	27.66	6	2.73	4	15.38
Poyang	16	11.35	48	21.82	9	34.62
Yugan	1	0.71	41	18.64	1	3.85
Jinxian	4	2.84	46	20.91	5	19.23
Total	141	100	220	100	26	100

County	MCI<1.0		1.0≤MCI<1.5		1.5≤MCI<2.0		MCI≥2.0
County	Samples (household)	%	Samples (household)	%	Samples (household)	%	Samples (household)	%
Nanchang	8	11.59	1	1.45	10	14.49	50	72.46
Xinjian	6	22.22	8	29.63	5	18.52	8	29.63
Yongxiu	24	82.76	2	6.90	2	6.90	1	3.45
De’an	15	100.00	0	0.00	0	0.00	0	0.00
Xingzi	25	92.59	2	7.41	0	0.00	0	0.00
Duchang	38	77.55	5	10.20	1	2.04	5	10.20
Poyang	13	17.81	20	27.40	9	12.33	31	42.47
Yugan	1	2.33	1	2.33	7	16.28	34	79.07
Jinxian	4	7.27	9	16.36	2	3.64	40	72.73
Total	134	34.63	48	12.40	36	9.30	169	43.67