Part-Peasant, Part-Trader: A Study of the Rural Poor in Republican Shanxi

Rural China ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 262-290
Author(s):  
Aiming Zhang
Keyword(s):  
Household Income ◽  
Household Labor ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Rural Poor ◽  
Survival Strategy ◽  
Efficient Allocation ◽  
Market Prices ◽  
Surplus Labor ◽  
Commercial Activities ◽  
Poor Peasant

Abstract Mixed occupations are a prominent feature of China’s smallholder peasant economy. For poor peasant households with little land, working in multiple occupations is a survival strategy that represents a more rational or efficient allocation of household labor. In central Shanxi in the 1930s and 1940s, the growth of the commercial economy encouraged peasant households to dedicate their surplus labor to small-scale commercial activities (including itinerant trade and shopkeeping apprenticeship), thus leading to the formation of a mixed “part-peasant, part-trader” 半耕半商 economy. This economy was characterized by the following practices: First, many young, able-bodied men farmed during the busy seasons and peddled goods in the slack seasons. Second, other able-bodied men engaged in off-farm commercial activities year-round, while female and elderly dependents did the farming—often with the help of relatives and neighbors. This represented a rational gendered and intergenerational allocation of labor that undercut labor market prices to maximize household income. Third, any surplus income from commerce, after satisfying basic consumption needs, was used to purchase more land as subsistence insurance against the vagaries of the commercial economy. These mixed practices of mutually supporting agriculture and commerce developed into a robust and competitive part-peasant, part-trader economic system.

scholarly journals Determinants of Domestic Savings Mobilization Among the Rural Poor: The contribution of Table Banking in Kenya

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joyce Kimosop ◽  
Josephat Cheboi
Keyword(s):  
Financial Services ◽  
Household Income ◽  
Senior Citizens ◽  
National Average ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
General Notion ◽  
Rural Poor ◽  
Essential Services ◽  
Domestic Savings ◽  
Small Scale Farmers

This study examined the determinants of domestic savings mobilization among the rural poor in Uasin-Gishu county, Kenya. The general notion is that the subsistence farmers are too poor to save. This seems to be unfounded given the fact that they are general excluded from formal financial services and studies on poverty in the country show that the average propensity of the rural households to save is higher than the national average. What are the factors which motivate small scale farmers to save? The study was conducted on 446 table banking groups under the aegis of JOYWO, a table banking grouping in Kenya. Data was collected using structured questionnaires from members of groups under the umbrella of JOYWO. The findings of the study indicates that household income had a positive and significant effect on savings mobilization while dependency ratio had a negative and significant effect on savings mobilization. Household size was not significant. The results point to the need to expose the rural poor to informal savings and financing models expected to enhance income generating capabilities of the rural poor and lower the level dependency through government welfare funding for senior citizens and essential services for the young.

scholarly journals Characterization of small-scale fisheries in the Camamu-Almada basin, southeast state of Bahia, Brazil

2008 ◽  
Vol 68 (4) ◽  
pp. 711-719 ◽  
Author(s):  
TCM. Souza ◽  
M. Petrere-Jr
Keyword(s):  
Low Income ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Income Generation ◽  
Target Species ◽  
Market Prices ◽  
Marine Fishery ◽  
Small Scale Fisheries ◽  
Main Factor ◽  
Stock Abundance

In the Camamu-Almada basin, marine fishery is exclusively small-scale, with several structural deficiencies such as boats with low or absent navigational technology, lack of credit and low income. Local fishers complain that shrimp and lobster trawling fishing is the main factor responsible for low stock abundance, but they still persist in these activities as these two species command the highest market prices. So they feel that the target species are already over-fished. We suggest that proper management action, alternative ways of income generation and the payment of job insurance would help to mitigate the problem.

scholarly journals De-commoditizing Ethiopian coffees after the establishment of the Ethiopian Commodity Exchange: an empirical investigation of smallholder coffee producers in Ethiopia

2019 ◽  
Vol 22 (4) ◽  
pp. 499-518
Author(s):  
Tinsae Demise Handino ◽  
Marijke D’Haese ◽  
Freaw Demise ◽  
Misginaw Tamirat
Keyword(s):  
Value Chain ◽  
Household Income ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Sustainable Livelihood ◽  
Commodity Exchange ◽  
Propensity Score Model ◽  
Southwestern Ethiopia ◽  
Score Model ◽  
Sustainable Livelihood Approach ◽  
The Impact

The repercussions of reforming an agricultural market are mainly observed at the most vulnerable segment of the value chain, namely, the producers. In the current commodity market created with trade through the Ethiopian Commodity Exchange (ECX), coffee is less traceable to its producers. Only cooperatives that sell certified coffee through the unions they belong to, are allowed to bypass the more commodified ECX market. This study aims to investigate if small-scale coffee producers in southwestern Ethiopia that sell coffee through the certified cooperative are better off. It is assumed that the coffee sales through, and membership of, a cooperative, allows farmers to improve their coffee production as well as to improve other aspects of their livelihood. A sustainable livelihood approach was used as the inspiration for the welfare indicators that needed to be considered, data collected amongst members and non-members of certified cooperatives, and a propensity score model to investigate the impact of cooperative membership on the livelihood indicators. Results suggest that members of certified cooperatives indeed receive, on average, better prices. Yet, no evidence was found that indicates that the higher price is translated into better household income. Furthermore, coffee plantation productivity of those members who were interviewed was lower than that of the non-members. This finding could explain the failure to find an overall effect. Since the majority of the producers’ income emanate from coffee, a sustainable way of enhancing the productivity of the coffee could revitalize the welfare of the coffee producers.

scholarly journals The benefits of geographical indication certification through farmer organizations on low-income farmers: the case of Hoa Vang sticky rice in Vietnam

2021 ◽  
Vol 30 ◽  
pp. 46
Author(s):  
Huaiyu Wang ◽  
Dao The Anh ◽  
Paule Moustier
Keyword(s):  
Low Income ◽  
Household Income ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Econometric Methods ◽  
Farmer Organizations ◽  
Quality Upgrading ◽  
Small Scale Farmers ◽  
Household Incomes ◽  
Farmer Organization

Origin labeling and quality upgrading through farmer organizations have been considered as solutions to reduce transaction costs and improve market bargaining power. This paper explores whether belonging to a farmer organization that improves and signals quality can help increase yields and household incomes of small-scale farmers for a specific quality product, Hoa Vang sticky rice in Vietnam. The paper is based on primary data on 185 households collected in 2013 and on 149 households collected in 2015. Different econometric methods were applied to investigate the effect based on rice yield, rice income and household income as the outcome variables. The results show that membership of farmer organization does not significantly improve household income compared to non-membership. However, members of farmer organizations have less resources in terms of land and inputs than non-members. These results suggest that the economic results achieved by farmers with fewer opportunities to access markets are similar to those obtained by farmers with more opportunities thanks to the involvement of farmer organizations in marketing. The specificities of the Hoa Vang sticky rice are still not reflected in higher farmer sales prices and incomes. More dialogue between farmer organizations and their customers is thus required, as well as better public control of labeling fraud.

scholarly journals Intrahousehold Bargaining Power in Spain: An Empirical Test of the Collective Model

2022 ◽  
Author(s):  
José Alberto Molina ◽  
Jorge Velilla ◽  
Helena Ibarra
Keyword(s):  
Household Income ◽  
Bargaining Power ◽  
Empirical Test ◽  
Empirical Support ◽  
Household Labor ◽  
Collective Model ◽  
Intrahousehold Bargaining ◽  
Sharing Rule ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Unique Data

AbstractThis paper analyzes the intrahousehold bargaining power of spouses in Spanish families, in a collective framework. We estimate household labor supply equations and, under certain testable restrictions, we obtain a theoretically derived sharing rule for household income, which characterizes intrahousehold bargaining power. Then, using unique data on decision-making in the household, we construct Pareto weights, and study the validity of the collective model by comparing the theoretical sharing rule and the constructed Pareto weight. The results reveal that both the observed Pareto weight and the theoretical sharing rule display qualitative similarities, thus providing direct empirical support to the collective model. Furthermore, the results suggest that Spanish wives behave more altruistically, while husbands behave more egoistically. This should be taken into account by policy makers and researchers when analyzing inequality in the household, and contemplating specific policies affecting the household.

scholarly journals The Small-Scale Dairy Value Chain Analysis: Challenges And Opportunities For Dairy Development In Mymensingh District Of Bangladesh

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 213-226 ◽  
Author(s):  
H Rahman ◽  
FA Happy ◽  
AH Efan ◽  
MHR Hera
Keyword(s):  
Value Chain ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
Easy Access ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Value Chain Analysis ◽  
Grazing Land ◽  
Market Prices ◽  
Challenges And Opportunities ◽  
Chain Map ◽  
Small Scale Dairy

This study examined the prevailing dairy value chain based on primary data collected from 70 small-scale milk producers of Mymensingh district of Bangladesh. The total cost and net return per month per cow were Tk. 4024.30 and Tk. 3165.70, respectively. The net value additions of Tk. 2091.42, Tk. 495.00, Tk. 655.00, Tk. 503.25, Tk. 309.70 were estimated for milk producers, collectors, Faria, Bepari and retailers respectively. Different actors spent highest marketing cost ranged from Tk.49 to Tk.80 for transportation compared to other marketing functions. Actors mostly dependent on the on-going market prices for setting price of milk in the value chain. A value chain map was developed showing the relationships and linkages among value chain actors of small-scale dairy. The study identified some critical factors for successful dairy marketing. The factors were understanding consumer behaviour, technology and transportation, improved business relationships, reduced transaction costs, and improved information flow, and organized market structure. Milk producer’s share in consumers’ price was highest for channel- I followed by channel- V. Expensive, inadequate, low quality feed, lack of grazing land, green grass, inadequate capital, knowledge about cost of production, weak extension services, high fees and unavailability of veterinary doctors, were some of the major problems of milk producers. Supply of adequate feed at subsidized price, ensuring easy access to institutional credit at a lower interest rate, adequate medicine and veterinary services, allocation of khas land for producing fodder/grass, were suggested to solve the problems. SAARC J. Agri., 17(2): 213-226 (2019)

Rural finance and aquaculture.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Md. Rahman
Keyword(s):  
Well Being ◽  
The Self ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Rural Poor ◽  
Rural Finance ◽  
Self Employment ◽  
Employment Sector ◽  
Rural Aquaculture ◽  
Lending Institutions ◽  
Micro Credit

Abstract The aquaculture sector in Bangladesh has made an enormous and often under-recognized contribution to the well being of the nation; around 2 million t of food fish are produced for local consumption and export earnings. The sector is in transition from subsistence to a commercially oriented sector. Financing of aquaculture and other aquaculture-related activities has not yet attracted enough interest from banks and other money lending institutions in Bangladesh. To ensure the necessary credit flow to the aquaculture sector for dynamic growth, an annual programme-based credit monitoring support has been necessary. The rural aquaculture financial system is fragmented and does not meet the lending and saving needs of the rural poor. Commercial banks and other financial institutions have not responded significantly to the self-employment initiatives of the rural poor and to small-scale aquaculture farmers. The large numbers of micro-credit operating NGOs have played an important role in aquaculture with remarkable success. The disbursement and recovery of micro-credit support by NGOs in the self-employment sector is about twice as large as the disbursement of aquaculture credit by banks (BB, 2003).

Fuel Trade: People, Places, and Transformations along the Coal Briquetting Chain

2018 ◽  
pp. 171-184
Author(s):  
Annuska Derks
Keyword(s):  
Impact Dynamics ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Cooking Fuel ◽  
Place And Space ◽  
Commercial Activities ◽  
Production Site

This chapter focuses on those who produce, distribute and use an everyday, but increasingly shunned cooking fuel, the beehive coal briquette. It looks in particular at the inter-linkages between people, things and places along the briquetting chain. By tracing the journey of the coal briquette backwards, from the stove to the trolley in which it is transported and to the production site in which it is made, the chapter illustrates how the changing uses and meanings of place and space impact dynamics and networks of small-scale commercial activities in urban Vietnam.

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