A Research on the Affecting Factors of Farmers’ Comprehensive Utilization of Straw in China

Abstract

Based on the data from the field research of 1038 households from 17 cities in 7 provinces, the author analyzes the current situation of comprehensive utilization of straw and then uses ordered Probit Model to research the factors that affecting the farmers’ comprehensive utilization of straw. The survey attests that nowadays the degree of comprehensive utilization of straw is low, because 53.72% straw isn’t used in any forms. The farmers’ utilization of straw is apparently in direct proportion to the area they have planted, to the situation of whether farmers have ever engaged in livestock breeding, to the degree of farmers’ cognition of its harm, to the situation of whether they have received price subsidies. However, it is in inverse proportion to the share of non-agricultural earnings in farm families’ gross income, the ages and education background of heads of households. It can be inferred that the inadequate agricultural work force, the high opportunity cost of utilization, the small farming scale and the deficient governmental function can serve as the major reasons for the low degree of comprehensive utilization of straw.