Exploration of Informal Farmland Leasing Mode: A Case Study of Huang Village in China

Tingting Fang, Yuefei Zhuo, Cifang Wu, Yihu Zhou, Zhongguo Xu and Guan Li
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Tingting Fang: School of Public Affairs, Zhejiang University, Yuhangtang Road, 866, Hangzhou 310058, China
Yuefei Zhuo: Law School, Ningbo University, No.818 Fenghua Road, Ningbo 315211, China
Cifang Wu: School of Public Affairs, Zhejiang University, Yuhangtang Road, 866, Hangzhou 310058, China
Yihu Zhou: College of Public Administration, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
Zhongguo Xu: Law School, Ningbo University, No.818 Fenghua Road, Ningbo 315211, China
Guan Li: Law School, Ningbo University, No.818 Fenghua Road, Ningbo 315211, China

Land, 2022, vol. 11, issue 5, 1-18

Abstract: How to effectively promote the large-scale and market-oriented farmland leasing process in China is one of the most important practical issues concerning the current academic circle and decision makers. However, restricted by the current situation of rural social development, farmers’ spontaneous and informal farmland leasing is still widespread. Exploring the long-term evolution characteristics of informal farmland leasing at the village scale is of great significance for optimizing the process of farmland leasing, perfecting the farmland leasing market, and promoting moderate-scale farmland management. Therefore, based on field survey data from the whole village and social network analysis methods, this research conducted a detailed empirical study on the characteristics, development process, and consequences of informal farmland leasing behavior in a traditional rural society in central China. The results show that with the development of time, the scope of informal farmland leasing in Huang village has been expanding, of which more than 70% of the farmland in 2020 was leased among acquaintances. Farmland leasing among acquaintances is becoming a trend toward informal farmland leasing in some villages. At present, 13 large-scale households lease 73.9% of the total area of farmland leasing in Huang village. The informal farmland leasing in the village has basically formed a centralized circulation pattern with the villager group as the core, which can promote moderate-scale farming to a certain extent. However, there are also problems, such as the ability of a simple internal leasing mode to resist external risks is limited. The findings may be helpful in rethinking China’s farmland leasing policy and provide useful insights into the multifaceted rural sustainability of other similar traditional villages.

Keywords: informal farmland leasing; traditional village; large-scale farmers; social network analysis; China (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q15 Q2 Q24 Q28 Q5 R14 R52 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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