Transformation of the Rural Economy in Rubber producing Areas in Southwest China

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Rural areas in developing countries in Asia underwent significant changes. Productivity in agriculture has increased, commercialization and diversification of the rural economy has taken place and ultimately poverty has declined. At the same time the transformation of agriculture from traditional, self-sufficiency and low input systems to market orientated systems with high external inputs has caused degradation of natural resources and the environment. Furthermore, agriculture has experienced significant outmigration of laborers which has led to the shortage of labor and to major changes in the social life of rural villages. Hence, there is a challenge for research to generate a much better understanding of these processes and to identify ways that can help to minimize downside effects and identifying sustainable development paths. A good example of a rapid transformation of the rural economy in challenging environments is the Dai Autonomous Prefecture (XSBN) of Yunnan Province in Southwest China. The region is typical for the mountainous areas of Southeast Asia especially in the Mekong countries. In this region a diversity of ethnic minority groups can be found who are also present in neighboring countries like Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam. As a project member of the a BMBF funded research project Sustainable Rubber in the Mekong Region (SURUMER) the applicant in cooperation with his Chinese research partner have undertaken prior research related to this topic. In particular, a unique panel with two waves in 2013 and 2015 of some 600 rubber farmers in XSBN has been established. The core of this proposal is to enhance the existing panel by adding another panel wave and expand the sample to include also non rubber farmers. With a panel data expanded to three periods the proposed project offers the unique opportunity to generate a deeper understanding of agricultural transformation in less favored and ecologically sensitive regions in developing countries which is based on strong empirical observations and at the same time offers high potential for methodological improvements.