Research On Peasant Household Sustainable Livelihoods In Longnan Region Of Gansu Province

Since the reform and opening up, China has made continuous social and economic development. Poverty has been alleviated significantly, a large number of rural poor population has been out of poverty. However, in rural areas, particularly in western areas with harsh natural conditions and fragile ecological environment there is still a part of the population very hard to get rid of poverty in long-term. With anti- poverty activities promoting continuously as well as the deepening of research on poverty, sustainable livelihoods theory caused more and more attention of experts at home and abroad. Sustainable livelihoods theory covers all aspects of the poverty, which can help experts to analyze poverty causes deeply, explore solutions to solve poverty problem.There is a huge contradiction between the limited land resources and large population in rural areas. A large number of surplus labor appear in rural because of the efficiency of agricultural production improve continuously. Industrialization and urbanization continuous progress, urban has a huge appeal to the rural population under the dual economic and social structure. Under the current socioeconomic background, it is difficult to help farmers in poor areas build sustainable livelihoods only rely on agricultural production, quickly out of poverty. More and more rural surplus labor select to work in urban, farmers livelihood strategies diverse increasingly.Based on the above background and the theory of sustainable livelihoods, this paper has chosen the Longnan of Gansu Province as study area, which is representative in western poor region. Through reviewing literature and so on to collect large amounts of text and data information about the region farmers livelihoods. Combining the DFID sustainable livelihoods analysis framework analyze the farmers livelihoods in this region systematic and comprehensive. Due to limitations of natural and physical capital, agricultural activities in this area have always been very difficult to achieve a breakthrough. Peasant economy remains a dominant position, which can only ensure the farmers basic subsistence. But it is difficult to help farmers build sustainable livelihoods quickly and effectively, then get rid of poverty. Farmers livelihood strategies diverse increasingly, agricultural and non-agricultural production activities are interdependent. Non-agricultural production activities occupy a more and more important position in household livelihood system. With the increase of non-agricultural production activities, farmers cash income has increased year by year, but due to human capital occupancy restrictions, non-agricultural production activities always remain at a low level, which is very difficult to keep growing continuously. On the current phase, the agricultural production activities is still on the basic position in the household livelihood system, which has a key role in ensuring the stability of the local community, but it is very difficult to achieve a breakthrough. Non-agricultural production activities can bring considerable cash income for farmers in short time, providing funds to improve the farmers livelihoods and agricultural production conditions. But it is very difficult to be continuous, which is very unstable. Based on the above article analyzing the reasons for farmer livelihood strategies change and make a distinction between different types of farmer. Put forward policy recommendations for different types of households at last.On the current, agricultural production activities still play a basic role in the farmers sustainable livelihoods, non-agricultural production activities can help farmers improve their livelihoods, which are interdependent and mutually reinforcing. For some farmer lack of livelihood capital seriously, which is difficult to establish sustainable livelihoods by themselves. Relevant government departments need to protect their basic livelihood, with the continuous development of the whole region increasing their level of protection gradually. For the farmer with adequate livelihood capital, relevant government departments should promote the fusion of the two production activities actively. Through their own accumulation improving livelihoods gradually and enhance livelihood sustainability. On the one hand, protect the farmers land rights effectively, which can make migrant farmers no worries. On this basis try to upgrade agricultural industry, improving agricultural productivity and efficiency.On the other hand, increase investment on basic and vocational education, improve health conditions in rural areas, increase farmers’ human capital possession, improve labor output situation. So can attract more capital return and promote the development of agriculture and rural areas.