Family care, rural labour migration and land lease: A case study of Jiangxi Province, China

Abstract

ABSTRACT The farmland lease is an important way to improve the scale of farmland management and agricultural modernization. Based on survey data for 578 rural households in Jiangxi Province, a Tobit model, and intermediary effect analysis method were used to determine how family care affects farmland lease by influencing off-farm employment. The main conclusions were as follows: (1) When more members of a family needed care, more rural households tended to rent in farmland. Care for the elderly and care for children aged 0–4 years had no significant impact on farmland lease, but care for children aged 5–15 years had a significant and positive influence on farmland rent-in. (2) The number of members in need of care within the family did not significantly affect farmland rent-out, but the care of children aged 0–4 years significantly reduced the possibility of farmers renting out their farmland. (3) Family care reduced the possibility of farmers renting out land but promoted land rent-in by inhibiting labour migration. (4) The intermediary effect of out-county off-farm employment in the influence of family care on farmland lease was significant, but the intermediary effect of local off-farm employment was not significant.