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Food supply

Farmland Abandonment Threatens Food Security, Ecological Stability in China's Hilly and Mountainous Regions

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

A new study on farmland abandonment in China's Chengdu-Chongqing Economic Circle has revealed that dryland abandonment exceeds 20% and paddy field abandonment surpasses 8% in peripheral mountainous zones. The research, conducted by Qiang Wu and colleagues from the School of Business, identified household labor aging, low net farming income, and land fragmentation as significant drivers of farmland abandonment. The study's findings emphasize the need for targeted rural revitalization policies to address labor shortages, enhance agricultural returns, and promote sustainable land use in mountainous regions.

Key Takeaways:

  • Farmland abandonment poses a critical threat to food security, ecological stability, and sustainable rural development in China's hilly and mountainous regions.
  • Dryland abandonment exceeds 20% and paddy field abandonment surpasses 8% in peripheral mountainous zones.
  • Household labor aging (b = 1.218; marginal effect: 27.1%), low net farming income (below 7500 RMB/hectare; 21.4%), high dependence on hired labor (18.3%), and land fragmentation (b = 0.217; 5.3%) are significant drivers of farmland abandonment.
  • Higher educational attainment, access to agricultural subsidies, greater policy awareness, and larger household size significantly reduce abandonment likelihood.
  • Socioeconomic variables, such as labor aging and income, have a more statistically robust influence on farmland abandonment decisions than natural and institutional factors.
  • Targeted rural revitalization policies are needed to address labor shortages, enhance agricultural returns, and promote sustainable land use in mountainous regions.

Statistics:

  • 20%: the extent of dryland abandonment in peripheral mountainous zones.
  • 8%: the extent of paddy field abandonment in peripheral mountainous zones.
  • $7,500: the threshold for low net farming income (in RMB/hectare).
  • 27.1%: the marginal effect of household labor aging on farmland abandonment.
  • 21.4%: the proportion of farmland abandoned due to low net farming income.
  • 18.3%: the proportion of farmland abandoned due to high dependence on hired labor.
  • 5.3%: the marginal effect of land fragmentation on farmland abandonment.

Sources:

  • NewsRx. New Farmland Study Findings Recently Were Published by Researchers at School of Business (When farmers walk away: a mixed-methods investigation of farmland abandonment through land-use change and farmer interviews in the Chengdu-Chongqing ...). China Weekly News. September 2, 2025; p 241.
  • Qiang Wu, Peng Zhou, Yunchuan Dai. When farmers walk away: a mixed-methods investigation of farmland abandonment through land-use change and farmer interviews in the Chengdu-Chongqing economic circle, southwestern China. Frontiers in Environmental Science, 2025,13. (Frontiers in Environmental Science - http://www.frontiersin.org/environmental_science)

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