Sustainable Rural Development Research Articles

Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Beef Cattle Farming through the Implementation of Animal Welfare Principles, as Part of Sustainable Rural Area Development

The beef cattle farming industry is facing a dual challenge - the need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to combat climate change and the imperative to enhance the daily weight gain of cattle to meet growing global demand for meat. The integration of animal welfare principles stands out as a crucial and multifaceted solution that not only mitigates greenhouse gas emissions but also improves the daily weight gain of beef cattle. The results of this study indicate that the implementation of animal welfare guidelines plays a pivotal role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. By providing cattle with appropriate nutrition, minimizing stress, and ensuring a healthy and stress-free environment, the emission of methane, a potent greenhouse gas, can be significantly lowered. This approach is not just ecologically responsible; it is essential for meeting international climate commitments and preserving the health of the planet's ecosystems. In addition to its environmental benefits, the integration of animal welfare practices has a profound economic impact. Healthy and content cattle are more likely to exhibit efficient digestion and increased feed utilization, leading to higher daily weight gains. This directly improves the productivity and profitability of beef cattle farming operations. Furthermore, the production of higher-quality meat from well-cared-for animals can drive market demand and revenue, strengthening the industry's economic viability.

Exploring the potentialities of industrial hemp for sustainable rural development

This literature review paper explores the potential sustainable applications of industrial hemp, contextualizing it within the UN Agenda 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Hemp is a dioecious, herbaceous, anemophilous (wind-pollinated) annual crop that grows from one to five meters in height. However, monoecious varieties have been developed through breeding and selection. Historically versatile, Cannabis sativa L. has faced stigmatization and unfounded prohibitions, having played crucial roles in different civilizations, including during World War I. A member of the Cannabaceae family, it is a versatile non-psychoactive crop, with low concentrations of THC. Recently, the global market for hemp has grown. It is an eco-friendly option in the food, textile, pharmaceutical, and energy sectors. This study is based on bibliographic research covering primary and secondary sources, including technical reports, academic journals, and scientific repositories. The origin, characteristics and cultivation methods of industrial hemp are discussed, besides its practical applications, including the production of fibers, health food grains, medicinal phytocannabinoids, biofuels, sustainable biomass energy, and carbon offsetting. Its potential to contribute to sustainable agriculture and achieve SDG targets stands out, considering environmental benefits, product diversification, resistance, and integration into agroforestry systems. Regenerative agriculture is explored as a promising approach, aligned with the principles of sustainable agriculture and the SDGs, aiming to restore agricultural ecosystems, promote soil health, and improve climate resilience. The research highlights the importance of reforming cannabis-related policies to achieve goals relating to health, justice, and global partnerships, emphasizing the need for sustainable approaches to exploiting this natural resource.

Study on the Challenges Encountered by Eri Silkworm Rearers in Tapioca Cultivation and Eri Rearing in Udalguri District of Assam

Sericulture, specifically eri silk production, plays a crucial role in sustainable rural development and employment generation. This study investigated the constraints faced tapioca cultivation and eri rearing in Udalguri district, Assam. Primary data were collected from 120 respondents through a snowball sampling technique. The rearers encountered personal, social, land utilization, rearing, managerial, economic, marketing, transportation, and institutional challenges. Notable issues included lack of formal education, high labour wages, land scarcity, inadequate rearing facilities, limited knowledge on scientific practices, insufficient capital, price fluctuations, poor marketing infrastructure, transportation costs, and lack of need-based training. The respondents suggested interventions such as government support for infrastructure and equipment, need-based training, formation of cooperatives, effective marketing channels, financial assistance, value-added product training, community rearing centers, land allocation, and extensive plantation of secondary feed plants. Addressing these constraints through targeted strategies is essential for fostering the long-term sustainability of eri silk production and enhancing the socio-economic status of rearers.

Analysis of Dilemmas Faced by Rural Revitalization in the Context of Digital Governance and the Path of Promotion: Taking Xi'an City as an Example

This paper provides an in-depth analysis of the dilemmas and paths currently faced by rural revitalization under the digital governance framework, using Xi'an, China, as an example. Rural revitalization is an important agenda in many developing countries, where integrating digital technologies into the governance process presents opportunities and challenges, focusing on how to use digitalization, a key component of modern governance, to promote socio-economic development in rural areas. This paper aims to reveal the complexities involved through analysis. The study is based on a mixed-methods approach, incorporating qualitative data from unstructured interviews with residents, as well as quantitative data from surveys and regional economic reports. It includes technology gaps, infrastructure constraints, digital literacy of the rural population, and how governance policies are adapted to local needs that affect the implementation and effectiveness of digital governance in rural revitalization. The study also explores the relationship between digital governance and rural revitalization, the relevance of digital governance ruralization, an analysis of rural digital governance, and rural digital governance practices. Ultimately, the thesis suggests potential ways to solve these dilemmas. And, it emphasizes the necessity that digital talent cultivation should be increased, new types of infrastructures should be improved, a rural governance system should be constructed, and policy frameworks for narrowing the urban-rural digital divide should be developed. This study contributes to the understanding of rural revitalization in the era of digital governance and provides insights into sustainable rural development and digital transformation. At the same time, the study results in the Xi'an region case may provide experience in solving similar situations globally.

Rainfall’s impact on agricultural production and government poverty reduction efficiency in China

The quest to eradicate poverty, central to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), poses a significant global challenge. Advancement in sustainable rural development is critical to this effort, requiring the seamless integration of environmental, economic, and governmental elements. Previous research often omits the complex interactions among these factors. Addressing this gap, this study evaluates sustainable rural development in China by examining the interconnection between agricultural production and government-led poverty reduction, with annual rainfall considered an influential factor of climate change impacts on these sectors and overall sustainability. Utilizing a Meta-frontier entropy network dynamic Directional Distance Function (DDF) within an exogenous Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) model, we categorize China’s 27 provinces into southern and northern regions according to the Qinling-Huaihe line for a comparative study of environmental, economic, and governmental efficiency. This innovative approach overcomes the limitations of previous static analyses. The findings reveal: (1) Rainfall, as an exogenous variable, significantly affects agricultural production efficiency. (2) The overall efficiency in both southern and northern regions increases when accounting for rainfall. (3) Government effectiveness in poverty reduction is comparatively lower in the northern region than in the southern region when rainfall is considered. These insights underscore the importance of including climatic variables in sustainable development policies and emphasize the need for region-specific strategies to bolster resilience against climatic challenges.

How does digital inclusive finance improve rural economic resilience? Evidence from China

This study investigates the role of digital inclusive finance (DIF) in strengthening rural economic resilience in China. Analyzing data from 31 Chinese provinces over 2011–2020, it explores how DIF impacts rural economic resilience, considering factors like the market environment and rural transportation infrastructure. The research identifies the positive influence of DIF, particularly in regions with poor market environment and transportation infrastructure. It also highlights the mediating effects of increased rural entrepreneurship and the reduction of the urban–rural income gap on enhancing rural economic resilience. The findings underscore DIF's potential in promoting sustainable rural economic development.

Promoting Sustainable Development in Urban–Rural Areas: A New Approach for Evaluating the Policies of Characteristic Towns in China

The Sustainable Development Goals, adopted by all United Nations Member States, emphasize sustainable cities and communities, aiming to strengthen development planning and foster positive links between urban and rural areas by 2030. As the newly leading platform for urbanization development, characteristic towns (‘Tese Xiaozhen’ in Chinese) contribute to the target of sustainable urbanisation, wherein town policies are especially important for leading the sound development of characteristic towns. However, the effect of these characteristic towns policies remains uncertain. Additionally, most related studies have utilized qualitative methodologies in policy evaluation, which may be inadequate to guide actual practice. Thus, in order to accurately acknowledge the effect of characteristic towns policies, a policy evaluation framework is established in this paper, utilising the multiple streams theory, text mining and the Policy Modelling Consistency Index model (PMC-Index model). Then, taking 225 policy documents promulgated in China from 2015 to 2022 as the research objects, policy evaluation indicators were selected by combining the multiple streams theory to improve the PMC-Index model and a text mining method. Thereafter, an empirical analysis was conducted to evaluate the consistency of 10 characteristic towns policies chosen. The results indicate that the mean value of the PMC indexes of the 10 examined policies is 7.13 in the total of 9 points, which means that the general performance of the characteristic town policies is satisfactory, yet the low scores in terms of effectiveness, content, and guarantee. In the end, some recommendations and suggestions are proposed for clarifying administrative attributes, optimizing the integration of urban and rural resources, and adjusting the policy hierarchy to a bottom-up approach. This study not only provides a policy evaluation framework to comprehensively understand the consistency of global urbanization policies but also offers a beneficial reference for promote urban–rural sustainable development.

Investigating the Construction of a Post-earthquake Shelter Using the Super Adobe Method in Herat, Afghanistan

Earthquakes, as one of the most destructive natural disasters, have always posed significant challenges to humanity. The construction of temporary housing in post-earthquake conditions is very necessary and should be considered as a life-saving measure. To ensure the safety and health of the people affected by the earthquake, it is necessary to provide solutions for cheap, fast, and safe housing. Construction solutions for cheap and fast housing in times of crisis require the use of earthquake-resistant technologies. Among the types of post-earthquake temporary housing, housing construction using Super Adobe is one of the solutions that speed up the construction process and reduce costs. The purpose of this article is to investigate the need and construction of an emergency shelter using the Super Adobe method after the deadly earthquake in Herat, Afghanistan in 2023. The research paradigm is qualitative and comparative methods and logical analysis have been used in it. In the first part, the types of emergency shelters were compared and the construction of emergency shelters using the Super Adobe method in Herat was evaluated. Then 38 samples made in the Sanjab village of Herat were examined. The results of the research show that according to the geographical, economic, social, physical, and rural conditions of the region, the problems and challenges in the preparation of materials, and the construction of earthquake-resistant shelters, the Super Adobe method is the most suitable option for the construction of emergency shelters in this region. The ability to implement in a short time, the use of local materials, compatibility with the rural context, resistance to cold, heat, and climatic conditions of the region, resistance to earthquakes, low cost, and compatibility with sustainable rural development are the main reasons for the compatibility of this plan with the existing post-earthquake conditions.

A Study on Farmers Investment Habit in Antharam Ranga Reddy District

This research investigates the investment habits of farmers in Antharam, Ranga Reddy District, shedding light on the economic decisions that shape agricultural practices in the region. Agriculture, being a pivotal sector in the district, is influenced by various factors, and understanding the investment behavior of farmers is crucial for sustainable rural development. The study employs a comprehensive research design that combines surveys, interviews, and on-site observations to capture the nuances of farmers' investment preferences, risk perceptions, and decision-making processes.

The Influence of Gender on the Performance of Village-Owned Enterprises in the Province of East Java, Indonesia

Village-owned enterprises constitute a significant facet of the government's endeavours to bolster rural economic growth; however, the current scenario in Indonesia showcases a concerning trend of underperformance within these enterprises. This study delves into the impact of female managers on the performance of village-owned enterprises, employing cross-sectional data sourced from 100 such enterprises in East Java, Indonesia. The data was subjected to analysis through an ordered probit model. The principal finding of this study underscores the noteworthy and statistically significant influence exerted by female managers on the performance of village-owned enterprises. This observation implies that enterprises led by female managers tend to exhibit superior performance compared to those managed by their male counterparts. Concurrently, the study underscores the pivotal role of demographic profiles, such as age and education, in shaping managerial performance. These findings carry significant implications for policy formulation. They underscore the urgent need to enhance women's empowerment in rural areas, specifically by encouraging their active participation in village-owned enterprises. Additionally, the study underscores the broader importance of augmenting the knowledge and skills of both male and female managers. Such efforts hold the potential to substantially enhance the contributions of village-owned enterprises to Indonesia's economic landscape. In summary, the study's findings emphasize the pivotal role of female managers in boosting the performance of village-owned enterprises. These insights underscore the necessity of empowering women in rural settings and cultivating knowledge across genders. By addressing these imperatives, policymakers can harness the potential of village-owned enterprises for driving sustainable rural economic development in Indonesia.

Agriculture-livestock-forestry nexus and household income diversification: Experiences from selected villages of West Bengal, India

CONTEXTThe COVID-19 pandemic has posed unprecedented challenges to the livelihoods of rural households, especially in developing countries. The reverse migrated workers faced the most economic crisis. They have created additional pressure on local resources and opportunities to maintain their livelihood. In this connection the agriculture-livestock-forestry nexus plays a significant role by providing them livelihood opportunities. OBJECTIVESThis paper attempts to understand the resource use patterns during the post-COVID period, and analyse the impact of agriculture-livestock-forest nexus on household income diversification and poverty reduction. METHODSThe present study uses a novel approach to fulfil the objectives of the study. A well-designed survey was conducted to collect the necessary primary data from sixteen sample villages of West Bengal, India. The scientific design of the survey and data collection procedure is maintained. Moreover, geospatial techniques are used to examine the land use and land cover patterns of the study areas. The econometric models are estimated to inspect the role of agriculture-livestock-forest nexus and household characteristics on household level income diversification and the reduction of poverty. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONSOur analysis reveals that a significant number of the sample households depend on agriculture, livestock and forestry to maintain their livelihoods. The reverse migration of workforce has created additional pressure on these activities. This is mainly due to non-availability of other non-farm employment opportunities locally. The analysis of econometric models shows that while engagement in different activities of the primary sector makes income diversified, it is more so when the households possess necessary technologies, skills and financial supports. All of these are crucial given that income diversification helps households to overcome of poverty. SIGNIFICANCEThe intricate web of the agriculture-livestock-forestry nexus serves as a critical source of livelihood for a substantial number of households, yet the challenges and opportunities it presents necessitate targeted policy interventions. Enabling technology transfer, fostering skill development, and extending financial support emerge as key measures to diversify rural livelihoods, thereby fostering sustainable rural development and poverty reduction in the post-pandemic landscape. The integration of socioeconomic data and geospatial satellite information offers an invaluable basis for formulating effective policy strategies in this evolving era.

The Social Construction of Organizational Communication Through Extension in The Mitigation Model of The Consultation on Village Development in Indonesia

Purpose: Understanding the social construction of organisational communication and deliberation is crucial to mitigating village development deliberation in Indonesia. Discrepancies in the outcomes of development deliberation from village to sub-district to district have implications for changes in the quality and quantity of development projects, which may not conform to the rules and policies set by the head village.   Methods: This study employs a constructive approach and a normative qualitative method to examine village development. Primary and secondary materials, as well as legal norms, are used to collect data. The data is collected through literature review, observation, interviews, and narrative analysis based on inductive syllogism.   Results and Conclusion: Organizational communication is crucial for the sustainability of development. Counseling on the concept of village development can help achieve this. The village head's policy implementation needs improvement in terms of quality and motivation. It is important to adhere to legal norms for village development.   Research implications: This research examines the norms of sustainable rural development in Indonesia, providing knowledge, understanding, and skills to all parties involved. It identifies areas for improvement in the planning and implementation of development budgets to ensure quality and transparent development.   Originality/value: Analyze the importance of integrating the village development budget plan with existing regulations with the social demands of the community to ensure the immediate realization of certainty and stability of development quality to lead to a special development sector in the rural economic sector that encourages economic growth of the village community.

Beekeeping as a Tool for Sustainable Rural Development

The symbiotic relationship between bees and the environment underscores the potential of apiculture as a sustainable practice. Bees, as pollinators, play a crucial role in ecosystem health and biodiversity conservation. Their pollination services are essential for the reproduction of numerous plant species, including many crops that constitute the backbone of agricultural economies. Beekeeping can diversify income sources, reducing dependence on single crops and enhancing household resilience to economic shocks. The aim of this paper is to explore the multifaceted role of apiculture as a tool for sustainable rural development. In conclusion, apiculture holds immense promise as a tool for sustainable rural development, offering a pathway towards economic prosperity, social inclusion, and environmental stewardship. By harnessing the synergies between bees, biodiversity, and community development, beekeeping has the potential to transform rural landscapes and livelihoods. However, realizing this potential requires concerted efforts to address the challenges and barriers that hinder the widespread adoption of beekeeping practices. Through collaborative action and integrated approaches, it can unlock the transformative power of apiculture and build resilient, vibrant, and sustainable rural communities for generations to come.

Analysis of the Promotion Effect of Agricultural Economic Management on Rural Economic Development Based on VAR Model

Under the background of my country’s new rural construction and the implementation of the rural revitalization strategy, the rural economy has ushered in an unprecedented opportunity for development. Agricultural economic management plays a catalytic role in providing direction guidance for rural economic development, promoting sustainable rural economic development, and providing a good environment for rural economic development. However, there are some drawbacks in agricultural economic management, which are mainly reflected in the imperfect agricultural economic management system and the lag in information infrastructure construction. In view of this, the author puts forward corresponding the advanced VAR model from the aspects of improving the agricultural economic management system, improving the application level of information technology, and improving the quality of the agricultural economic management team. Research shows that: through effective management of agricultural economy, the obstacles to agricultural economic development can be reduced from the source, thereby promoting the healthy and sustainable development of rural economy.

Rural revitalization mechanism based on spatial governance in China: A perspective on development rights

The effective allocation of rural development rights is crucial for achieving the ambitious goal of rural revitalization. However, China's current urban-rural spatial development rights system, with its differentiated allocation logic, has suppressed rural development rights, hindering the successful implementation of rural revitalization policies. In response to these challenges, there is a pressing need to innovate the rural spatial governance model. This paper aims to construct a comprehensive framework for analyzing rural development rights, grounded in the spatial governance concept of “matter-organization-ownership”. It explores the implementation path for rural development rights, encompassing spatial development and utilization rights, spatial value dominance rights, and spatial self-development rights. To illuminate the internal mechanisms driving the realization of rural development rights within a rural spatial governance context, this study focuses on empirical research conducted in Houwei village, Nanjing, China. The findings reveal that Houwei village has effectively mobilized diverse stakeholders, encouraging their active participation in the rural spatial governance system, particularly through the promotion of rural tourism. This innovative approach has integrated “top-down” spatial control transmission with a “bottom-up” spatial innovation model, catalyzing rural spatial development and utilization rights. Furthermore, the comprehensive governance of multidimensional space in Houwei village has clarified property rights over space, fostering the appreciation, realization, and circulation of rural space values, thus enhancing rural spatial value dominance rights. Additionally, the strengthened spatial relationship system has empowered local farmers to engage in self-organized learning, innovation, and development. By advocating for a comprehensive approach to rural spatial governance, this paper outlines an implementation path towards realizing rural development rights. It aims to provide valuable insights for refining rural revitalization strategies and practices, contributing to the overarching goal of sustainable rural development.

Exploring the impact of college graduates' place attachment on entrepreneurial intention upon returning to hometowns: A study based on the theory of planned behavior.

The issue of the continuing decline of rural areas caused by urbanization has become a global concern. Encouraging college graduates to return to their hometowns to start businesses is an important initiative for countries to achieve sustainable rural development. Drawing from the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB), this study introduces two additional variables: place attachment and entrepreneurial self-efficacy. Through a series of three model refinements, a comprehensive theoretical framework has been formulated to elucidate Chinese college graduates' hometown-based entrepreneurial intention and behavior. The samples for this study were 1151 college graduates selected from diverse universities across China. This study aims to explore the influence of college graduates' hometown-based entrepreneurial intention using Structural Equation Modelling. This analytical approach illuminates how variables such as college graduates' place attachment, entrepreneurial self-efficacy, subjective norm for hometown-based entrepreneurship, and attitude towards hometown-based entrepreneurship affected their hometown-based entrepreneurial intention. The research findings reveal the following insights: (1) The overall levels of college graduates' place attachment and hometown-based entrepreneurial intention were relatively low. (2) College graduates' place attachment, entrepreneurial self-efficacy, subjective norm for hometown-based entrepreneurship, and attitude towards hometown-based entrepreneurship, had a positive impact on their hometown-based entrepreneurial intention. (3) College graduates' place attachment and subjective norm for hometown-based entrepreneurship had a significant impact on their hometown-based entrepreneurial intention through the mediating variable of entrepreneurial self-efficacy. This study then makes policy recommendations from theoretical and managerial aspects.

Tourism Development and Rural Land Transfer-Out: Evidence from China Family Panel Studies

For a long time, the decline in agricultural comparative returns and the urban–rural development gap in China have prompted the outflow of rural labor. Land transfer policies, which allow farmers to retain their land contracting rights while transferring their management rights, were instituted to mitigate the impact of labor outflow on land use and agricultural production. In recent years, tourism has contributed to the diversification of the rural economy and has had an essential impact on the urban–rural allocation of elements such as labor. In this paper, we adopt a probit model to investigate the impact of tourism development on rural land transfer-out by using data from the China Family Panel Studies. The results show that the marginal effect of tourism development is significantly negative, indicating that the probability of rural land transfer-out was significantly reduced with tourism development. The results are still valid after a series of robustness tests. A mechanism analysis indicates that tourism development inhibits land transfer by enhancing local vitality, such as increasing the local employment of rural labor and promoting participation in agricultural production. Moreover, from the perspective of rural welfare and asset prices, further research finds that tourism development contributes to poverty alleviation and increases land value. These results suggest that tourism development inhibits land transfer while promoting rural sustainable development, helping to understand the impact of tourism on rural land use and household asset allocation from a more comprehensive perspective.

From Crops to Kilowatts: An Empirical Study on Farmland Conversion to Solar Photovoltaic Systems in Kushida River Basin, Japan

In Japan, rural areas are grappling with population decline and aging, leading to a shortage of labor for farmland maintenance. This has resulted in the abandonment of farmland or its conversion for solar photovoltaic (PV) use. However, this unplanned conversion raises concerns about agricultural productivity decline, landscape degradation, biodiversity loss, water resource maintenance, and disaster prevention. This study focuses on the Kushida watershed, examining (1) accurate farmland classification using remote sensing data, (2) the geographical distribution of farmland converted to PV systems from 2016 to 2021 and concentrated along the river, especially on north-facing slopes, (3) the highest conversion rates in wheat fields, followed by legume fields, tea fields, and paddy fields, and (4) no clear correlation between farmland conversions and changes in the number of farmers, but associations with farmland geography and solar radiation levels. These findings contribute to a nuanced understanding of sustainable rural development in Japan, emphasizing the importance of considering geographical factors in the conversion of farmland to PV.

An improved case-based reasoning approach for sustainable rural development applied to strategic responses

Sustainable development has become a worldwide consensus in recent years. It has become increasingly important to study how to make effective management decisions in rural areas to achieve sustainable development. In this paper, we develop a new approach to strategic responses for sustainable rural development by using case-based reasoning (CBR), the bi-direction Choquet integral (BDCI), and the Shapley index (SI). First, to deal with the complexity of sustainable rural development, we develop an ontology-based sustainable rural development domain model. Second, we propose a case retrieval algorithm based on BDCI to improve the case retrieval method used in CBR to solve the problem of the relationship between the features. Third, we propose a case reuse method that is inspired by SI, in which each solution is evaluated relative to its value, and the implementation step for the response strategy is determined based on its priority. The proposed strategy response method for sustainable rural development is demonstrated through a case study and its effectiveness is demonstrated empirically.

Spatial-temporal evolution and driving factors of rural resilience in the urban agglomerations in the middle reaches of the Yangtze River, China.

How to maintain the balanced stability and resilient development of rural systems is an important issue that needs urgent attention in the field of sustainable rural development at present. In this paper, the entropy method, spatial autocorrelation model, and Geodetector were used to explore the rural resilience level, spatial distribution characteristics, and driving factors of 31 cities in the urban agglomerations in the middle reaches of the Yangtze River (UAMRYR), and to put forward corresponding policy suggestions. The results are as follows: (1) From 2005 to 2020, rural resilience in the UAMRYR showed an upward trend with an average annual growth rate of 8.26%. The ranking of the three major urban agglomerations is Changsha-Zhuzhou-Xiangtan urban agglomerations > Wuhan urban agglomerations > Poyang Lake urban agglomerations. (2) During the study period, the spatial distribution of rural resilience gradually developed from a negative correlation to a strong positive correlation and generally showed the characteristics of high in the west and low in the east. (3) The urbanization rate, the size and structure of the economy, the difference in consumption and income between urban and rural areas, the local fiscal revenue, and the number of village committees are the key factors affecting the level of rural resilience. On this basis, we proposed policy recommendations to improve the economic, social, and ecological resilience of rural areas in the UAMRYR. The findings of this paper are expected to provide insights into the policy formulation of China's rural revitalization strategy.