| In view of the optimum effect for a farmer household to be a micro-economic individual, with the theoretical analysis of economics, sociology, and the quantitative analysis, this paper evaluates the determinants of farmers'decisions to adopt " Rainwater harvesting and supplementary irrigation technology (RHSIT) "," Pasture-crop rotation (PCR)"," Shed-feeding","Grain-for-Green project" and its elasticity of adoption in the rain-fed farming systems in the semiarid areas of Loess Plateau.The paper selects decisive variables in order to provide micro-theoretical evidence for sustainable development in the semiarid areas. Some concludes and suggestions are as follows:Fanners are full rational, their adoption decision for technologies and polices is the results of their livelihood within specific conditions and social economic structures in the semiarid areas.The results indicate that 12 variables are significant in explaining farmers' adoption of RHSIT. Farmers' educational background,active labor force size, contact with extension, participation in the Grain-for-Green project,and positive attitudes towards RHSIT,the diversity of irrigated crops are some of the variables that have significantly positive effects on adoption of RHSIT, while farmer's age and distance from water storage tanks to farmers' dwellings have significantly negative correlation with adoption. The probability of adoption also increases with increased targeting of institutional variables: credit obtained, assistance obtained, and technical training received. Farmers in villagesthat have more erosion problems are more likely to adopt RHSIT. Variables such as family size, off-farm activity, level of family income, risk preference, and land tenure do not significantly influence adoption. This information will help prioritize the factors that affect adoption decisions and provide insight on pathways to increase the adoption of RHSIT.Using a logistic regression model, this paper evaluated the determinants of adoption of PCR among smallholder farmers in rain-fed farming systems in the Loess hilly area of the Loess Plateau. Results indicated that socio-economic characteristics of the farmers, and farm related factors and institutional factors, significantly affect their decision regarding adoption of PCR. Firstly, the age of the farmers, the size of their family, the number of ruminants owned, and the fanners' attitudes towards PCR have significant positive effects on the adoption of PCR, where the level of the family income is negative. Secondly, the slope of the field, and fallow practice variables also play a critical role in the adoption of PCR, suggesting the importance of targeting the promotion of PCR to farmers in areas with problems of soil erosion. The analysis also showed that farmers' perception of the problem of soil erosion is positively correlated, having the most significant impact with the highest estimated elasticity. Thirdly, the institutional variables, which are represented by contacts with extension workshops, a participatory approach, the credit and training facilities obtained, and participation in the Grain-for-Green project (PGFG) all have significant positive effects on the adoption of PCR. On the other hand, participation in the rainwater-harvesting project and in the supplementary irrigation project did not show any correlation to the adoption of PCR by farmers.With the Logistic regression, this paper evaluates some social economic factors for farmers to adopt shed-feeding technology, the conclusions are: the higher the farmers' educational level and the more the farmers' numbers of work power, the easier for farmers to adopt shed-feeding technology; there are more arable lands, there are preferable conditions for Grain-for-Pasture. Whether or not farmers are satisfied with the shed-feeding technology, it depends on the effective results of application with the shed-feeding technology; the economic effects are fundamental reasons and drivers for farmers to adopt technologies. The principles for preferable economic benefits and basic ecologic effects should be followed and it is quite material for farmer to promote their management, technologies. Both the low-income and shortage of funds result in the failure for farmer to adopt the shed-feeding, there are obvious effects in fuel variables on farmers. So factors such as fuels, forages are preferable conditions for the development of shed-feeding, or the utilization of technology will meet the reaction of livelihood reality. In respect of results, without the application of improved breeding sheep, fanners would have no interesting. There exists significant influence of the variables of Pasture-crop rotation\Grain-for-Green project,this explain the reason why the three variables of Grain-for-Green project,pasture-crop rotation,shed-feeding interact and. promote one anther.With the rotation, the structure of plantation will turn the two elements of grain -economic crops into the three elements of "grain - economic crops -forage". This will be the optimum for farmers to deal with fragile livelihood and carry out livestock husbandry without calamity.With the expiration of allowances for Grain-for-Green project, it will turn out a practical problem for farmers to restore cultivation on theforests and grassland (Green-for-Grain) for their livelihood again. Therefore, on consideration of sustainable livelihood and of selection of key policies those have effect on decision regarding adoption of destroying forest and grassland to farm; an approach can be found for the final realization of Grain-for-Green, conclusions and suggestions are as follows: Sustainable livelihood framework supplies a new view and a method for the research on sustainable of Grain-for-Green project, the base stone of Grain-for-Green project should be sustainable livelihood.In respect of results of the mode, there exists relationship between fundamental farmland variable and adoption of destroying forest and grassland to farm, therefore, the farmland eco-environmental construction should be made to secure livelihood of farmers. There are obviously relative among the farmers' variables of age, education, and non-farm employment, it shows that the lower-quality screen effect of farmers will prevent the transfer of income to increase possibility of destroying forest and grassland to farm. Results show that the more the personnel in a family, the more possibility the destroying forest (grassland). So it should be considered that combination between Grain-for-Green project and social securities.Results show that the more the farmers who have good relationship, i.e. social capital, the more the strength for farmers to put the sustainable livelihoods strategy into practice. Variables between policies and its support are positive relative. Allowances, loans, and technologies can promote abilities for farmers to make use of combined funds. Nursery for its adoption is the restrict factor that has influence on sustainable of Grain-for-Green project. Allowances variable shows the sustainable of Grain-for-Green will depend on the prospect of farmers for their future income. The development of follow-up industry of conversion of cropland to forest and grassland will prevent the destroying forest (grassland). The numbers of sheep kept by farmers are positively relative to the rainwater harvesting supplementary irrigation. The mode of ecologic agriculture with rainwater harvesting put forward a solution to sustainable livelihood, an interactive method composed of RHSIT, PCR, and Shed-feding,Grain-for-Green Project. Rainwater Harvesting Supplementary Irrigation can increase the grain yield per unit by large scale and offset the grain yield reduction due to grain-for-green, providing the drive for sustainable improvement. Meanwhile, Rainwater Harvesting Agriculture can reduce the risk of drought disaster and facilitate the sustainable improvement of the regional agriculture as well. Under this mode, the rearrangement of agricultural structure, promotion of pasture-crop rotation, the development of mode among shed-feeding, the formation of grain-grass-cash crop, the transfer of industries structure, are important means for Grain-for-Green project.This paper suggested that the farmers make decisions on whether to adopt ecological agriculture system based on the facts of poverty and weakness of sustainable livelihood, the economic return on the technology, the shortage of social overhead capital, and the lack of human resources. Therefore, it is possible to realize the sustainable development of technology to bring the sustainable livelihood of the poverty-stricken fanners into the framework of ecological control policy and agricultural technology R&D and extension, and to build the capability of the farmers. Consisted of normative theory analysis and positive research, this paper is characterized of microcosmic research, which enables it innovation both theoretically and practically.
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