How does agricultural transformation affect the household food self-sufficiency of smallholders in the upper Mekong region, Southwest China?

authored by: Cong Pan, Shi Min, Hermann Waibel
Abstract: This study investigates the household food self-sufficiency of smallholders in the upper Mekong region of Southwest China, where traditional self-sufficient farming has rapidly transformed into a commercialized economy. Using household survey data from 945 smallholders in Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture, the study employs a two-stage Tobit model to estimate the impact of agricultural transformation on the household food self-sufficiency of smallholders. The results, which are based on 2018 data, reveal that the average self-sufficiency rate for all foods was 40.7%, and that of grain was even lower at 33.4%. Changes in land use, specifically the substitution of food crops with cash crops, and labor allocation, namely, engagement in off-farm labor markets, are the main drivers of the reduction in household food self-sufficiency. A 10% increase in the share of cash crops results in a 4.2% decrease in the rate of household food self-sufficiency, whereas adding one additional crop to the portfolio leads to a 6.4% increase. Moreover, households with at least one family member engaging in off-farm labor have a 13.1% lower self-sufficiency rate than those without. This study contributes to a better understanding of the household food self-sufficiency of smallholders in the context of land use change and rising off-farm employment, while the findings provide a reference for policy design to ensure household food security for smallholders in the upper Mekong region.
Organisation(s): Institute of Development and Agricultural Economics
External Organisation(s): Huazhong Agricultural University
Type: Article
Journal: Food security
No. of pages: 25
ISSN: 1876-4517
Publication date: 18.11.2024
Publication status: E-pub ahead of print
Peer reviewed: Yes
ASJC Scopus subject areas: Food Science, Development, Agronomy and Crop Science
Sustainable Development Goals: SDG 2 - Zero Hunger, SDG 15 - Life on Land
Electronic version(s): https://doi.org/10.1007/s12571-024-01498-1 (Access: Closed)