Study On Alternative Livelihood Choice In Farmers Willingness

After grazing forbidden, the livelihoods of farmers (mainly for grazing),in theYellow River water supply area，suffered serious influence.To establish a sustainablealternative livelihood, the research on sustainable alternative livelihoods is of greatsignificance to regional sustainable development and the improvement of the farmerslivelihood ability. The research result can give some guidance to implement thereasonable alternative livelihoods according to herdsmen circumstances.In this paper, basing on the survey in the studying area, the results andcharacteristics of the present livelihoods and alternative livelihoods choice wereanalyzed. Then, the logistic regressive model was set up to analyze factors affectingthe herdsmen’s choice to alternative livelihoods. After evaluating the effectiveness ofthe alternative livelihoods, the paper gives some advices to the region alternativelivelihood. Results are drawn as follows:①The highest diversity degree of thelivelihood activities is the farming area, and the diversity index reaches2.36;thesecond is the farming-pastoral area with1.97;the lowest is the pasturing area, withonly1.91.②As to the selection to alternative livelihoods, the herdsmen in purepastoral areas mainly choose special products processing, business, modern livestockhusbandry; The herdsmen, in agricultural region and agro-pastoralist region, mainlychoose business,go out to work, tourism services.③The choice of alternativelivelihoods have strong path dependence, do business has the strong path dependence,the second is Animal husbandry; The present livelihood diversified index hasmoderate correlation with alternative livelihood index, and the correlation coefficientis0.68; Alternative livelihood choice and the diversity of choice have obvious spatialheterogeneity;④The livelihood capitals have influence on herdsmen’s choicepreferences of alternative livelihoods. Different capital type, such as natural capital,social capital, the overall labors in the Family, the education level of family members,the amount of cattle and sheep, the education background and age of the householder,have different significant influence on the choice of different alternative livelihoods.⑤Modern animal husbandry, Tourism, Unique species industry, work outside thehome and business are the area sustainable alternative industry. Farmers may chooseto engage in these alternative livelihood activities according to their own conditions. In order to improve herdsmen livelihood level as soon as possible, the localgovernment should dig into the choice characteristics of alternative livelihoods andthe factors affecting the livelihoods choice, vigorously develop the sustainableindustry, then make respective transformation policy according to different familiescircumstances.