Impact of the Grain for Green Project on the Well-Being of Farmer Households: A Case Study of the Mountainous Areas of Northern Hebei Province, China

Kun Wang, Piling Sun (), Xin Wang, Junxiong Mo, Nan Li and Jinye Zhang
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Kun Wang: School of Geography and Tourism, Qufu Normal University, Rizhao 276826, China
Piling Sun: School of Geography and Tourism, Qufu Normal University, Rizhao 276826, China
Xin Wang: School of Geography and Tourism, Qufu Normal University, Rizhao 276826, China
Junxiong Mo: School of Geography and Tourism, Qufu Normal University, Rizhao 276826, China
Nan Li: School of Geography and Tourism, Qufu Normal University, Rizhao 276826, China
Jinye Zhang: School of Geography and Tourism, Qufu Normal University, Rizhao 276826, China

Land, 2023, vol. 12, issue 6, 1-22

Abstract: There are close dynamic relationships among the livelihood, well-being, and ecological environment of farmer households. It is of great significance to scientifically clarify the impact of the Grain for Green policy on the livelihoods and well-being of farmer households in mountainous areas. Based on data from a survey of 392 farmer households in Zhangbei County, the system of indicators for livelihood assets and well-being of farmer households were constructed using the sustainable livelihood framework (SLF). The livelihood assets and well-being levels of different types of farmer households were measured, and a multiple linear regression model was used to analyze the impact of the Grain for Green policy implementation on the well-being levels of farmer households. The results showed that (1) the Grain for Green project caused changes in the livelihood of farmer households. The average livelihood diversity of farmer households was 3.008, and the returned farmland households (3.022) were higher than the nonreturned farmland households (2.975) in Zhangbei County. The level of natural assets among the total average livelihood assets of farmer households was the highest at 0.374, while the level of physical assets was the lowest at 0.018. The level of livelihood assets of returned farmland households (0.948) was lower than that of nonreturned farmland households (1.117). (2) The Grain for Green policy had an improving effect on the level of well-being of farmer households, but the effect was not significant. The level of well-being of all farmer households in Zhangbei County was 0.517, with the level of wealth contributing the most to the well-being of farmer households at 40.20% and the quality of the ecological environment contributing the least at 11.99%. The level of well-being of returned farmland households (0.518) was slightly higher than that of nonreturned farmland households (0.514). (3) The influencing degree of each factor on the level of well-being varied significantly. There are three main paths through which the Grain for Green policy affects the well-being of farmer households: by reallocating human assets, optimizing natural assets, and enhancing financial assets. The factor of household size had the highest degree, at 0.366, while educational attainment of household members, household labor capacity, annual household expenditure, livelihood diversity, number of large production tools, and total value of livestock were also important drivers of household well-being, and area of arable land was negatively associated with household well-being. There were also differences in the factors influencing the level of well-being of different types of farmer households.

Keywords: Grain for Green project; livelihood assets; livelihood diversity; well-being of farmer households; mountainous areas of northern Hebei Province (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q15 Q2 Q24 Q28 Q5 R14 R52 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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