Analysis Of Farmers’ Income Status Quo In East Henan Plain Farming Region

The plain farming region in east Henan Province plays an important role in the socio-economic development of the province. However, due to poverty in natural resource, serious natural disasters, high population density, historical reason and many other subjective and objective factors, on the whole this region does not have a fast development and the income of farmers is low. In recent years many problems have emerged, such as structural imbalance of agricultural industries, difficulties in the transfer of rural surplus labor, inefficiency of agricultural support and protection system, inflation of the rural social management system and deterioration of ecological environment in rural areas, which has resulted in the year-on-year decline, even stagnation of farmers’income increase. These problems are constraints on the economic and social development of this region.Using the general theories relating to farmers’income, this paper draws on research fruits at home and abroad, takes into consideration the actual situation of Henan province and the east Henan farming region, reviews the provincial history of increasing farmers’income, and selects as its participants in the survey eight counties in Shangqiu and Zhoukou (two cities in east Henan), including Minquan, Suixian, Ningling, Zhecheng, Xihua, Huaiyang, Taikang and Fugou. The paper analyzes the status quo of farmers’income in this region in terms of structure and difference, explores the reasons for the slow growth of farmers’income, and attempts to figure out the deep-seated reasons so that suggestions and countermeasures can be put forward to promote the continuous increase of farmers’income.The survey indicates that with the sustainable economic development in Henan Province since 2001, GDP of the plain farming area in east Henan Province is on the rise with regional differences. Farmer’s per capita net income tends to increase though the speed slows down. With the diversification of farmers’income structure, the proportion of farmers’rural income goes down while their wages goes up.The survey indicates that those constraints on farmers’income increase in this region fall into five categories: first, the structural imbalance of agricultural industries, small scale and low-level industrialization in agricultural production and management; second, relatively low prices of agricultural products and poor infrastructure of the rural market; third, the relatively low investment in agriculture and poor infrastructure in rural areas; fourth, the stagnating and backward rural education and overall poor education of farmers; and finally, difficulties in rural labor migration, employment and payment.To increase the income of farmers, efforts should be made from the micro as well as the macro scale to find out countermeasures inside and outside agriculture. To increase the income of farmers is a systematic project and entails comprehensive measures. The research indicates that the following possible measures can be adopted to increase the income of farmers in east Henan: first, adjust and optimize the economic structure of agriculture to fully tap the potential of increasing farmers’income through agricultural development; second, promote industrialized operation of agriculture; third, increase investment in agriculture and improve the supporting and beneficial agricultural policies; fourth, vigorously develop the export of labor services and build up a number of famous labor service brands; fifth, speed up the innovation in agricultural science and technology to enhance the role of high tech in increasing farmers’income; finally, strengthen basic education in rural areas and improve the education of farmers.To increase the income of farmers in east Henan, we should not confine ourselves to agriculture and the countryside; but instead a more broad perspective should be taken through the comprehensive use of economic, legal, administrative and other devices. In particular, the scientific outlook on development should be established to adhere to the coordinated development of urban and rural areas. At the same time, the rural policies of the government should be adhered to and implemented to speed up the pace of reform in rural areas and promote effective solution of the issues concerning agriculture, countryside and farmers. This is not only the inevitable course to increase the income of farmers, but a requirement to revive Henan’s economy and build a well-off, harmonious society in an all-round way.