Circular economy and sustainable agriculture ecosystems a case of hybrid paper mulberry in the Yellow River Basin, China

Abstract HPM is a woody forage crop that has the potential to strengthen the agriculture ecosystems, as it can be grown on waste and degraded lands under varying climatic conditions. It is economically viable and profitable. Despite the promotional initiatives, farmers response has been lukewarm in...

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Main Authors: Lan Le, V. Ratna Reddy, Jianjun Jin, Dil B. Rahut
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Springer 2025-05-01
Series:Discover Sustainability
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1007/s43621-025-01298-3
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author Lan Le
V. Ratna Reddy
Jianjun Jin
Dil B. Rahut
author_facet Lan Le
V. Ratna Reddy
Jianjun Jin
Dil B. Rahut
author_sort Lan Le
collection DOAJ
description Abstract HPM is a woody forage crop that has the potential to strengthen the agriculture ecosystems, as it can be grown on waste and degraded lands under varying climatic conditions. It is economically viable and profitable. Despite the promotional initiatives, farmers response has been lukewarm in expanding the area under HPM. This paper examines the economic as well as non-economic reasons behind the farmers decisions of adoption and dis-adoption of HPM plantations in the Yellow River Basin of China. The analysis is based on the field survey covering 485 sample households, 4 processing industries and 38 end users of HPM products spread over three counties in two provinces of the Yellow River Basin, China. The analysis brought out clearly that though economic reasons like low returns at the farmer level are important, non-economic reasons like land constraints and social restrictions are also equally, if not more, important in explaining the farmers decisions of low adaptation of HPM plantings. Interestingly, farmers are not inclined to accept compensation for planting HPM. The reasons include: risks associated with planting, lack of family labour and high investment costs. Thus, non-economic factors appear to be important in explaining the farmers decisions. The analysis suggests a failure in translating and transferring the research findings and policy initiatives to farm level. Besides, some of the contradictions observed at the field level also vindicate the gap between ‘lab to land’ and ‘policy to practice’.
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spelling doaj-art-e483730cbb884d17a50deee4dea2e4552025-08-20T03:22:14ZengSpringerDiscover Sustainability2662-99842025-05-016111510.1007/s43621-025-01298-3Circular economy and sustainable agriculture ecosystems a case of hybrid paper mulberry in the Yellow River Basin, ChinaLan Le0V. Ratna Reddy1Jianjun Jin2Dil B. Rahut3Agriculture, Food, Nature, and Rural, Development Sector Office (SG-AFNR), Asian Development Bank (ADB)Livelihoods and Natural, Resources Management InstituteBeijing Normal UniversityAsian Development Bank InstituteAbstract HPM is a woody forage crop that has the potential to strengthen the agriculture ecosystems, as it can be grown on waste and degraded lands under varying climatic conditions. It is economically viable and profitable. Despite the promotional initiatives, farmers response has been lukewarm in expanding the area under HPM. This paper examines the economic as well as non-economic reasons behind the farmers decisions of adoption and dis-adoption of HPM plantations in the Yellow River Basin of China. The analysis is based on the field survey covering 485 sample households, 4 processing industries and 38 end users of HPM products spread over three counties in two provinces of the Yellow River Basin, China. The analysis brought out clearly that though economic reasons like low returns at the farmer level are important, non-economic reasons like land constraints and social restrictions are also equally, if not more, important in explaining the farmers decisions of low adaptation of HPM plantings. Interestingly, farmers are not inclined to accept compensation for planting HPM. The reasons include: risks associated with planting, lack of family labour and high investment costs. Thus, non-economic factors appear to be important in explaining the farmers decisions. The analysis suggests a failure in translating and transferring the research findings and policy initiatives to farm level. Besides, some of the contradictions observed at the field level also vindicate the gap between ‘lab to land’ and ‘policy to practice’.https://doi.org/10.1007/s43621-025-01298-3Hybrid paper mulberrySustainable agricultureEcosystemsForageYellow River Basin
spellingShingle Lan Le
V. Ratna Reddy
Jianjun Jin
Dil B. Rahut
Circular economy and sustainable agriculture ecosystems a case of hybrid paper mulberry in the Yellow River Basin, China
Discover Sustainability
Hybrid paper mulberry
Sustainable agriculture
Ecosystems
Forage
Yellow River Basin
title Circular economy and sustainable agriculture ecosystems a case of hybrid paper mulberry in the Yellow River Basin, China
title_full Circular economy and sustainable agriculture ecosystems a case of hybrid paper mulberry in the Yellow River Basin, China
title_fullStr Circular economy and sustainable agriculture ecosystems a case of hybrid paper mulberry in the Yellow River Basin, China
title_full_unstemmed Circular economy and sustainable agriculture ecosystems a case of hybrid paper mulberry in the Yellow River Basin, China
title_short Circular economy and sustainable agriculture ecosystems a case of hybrid paper mulberry in the Yellow River Basin, China
title_sort circular economy and sustainable agriculture ecosystems a case of hybrid paper mulberry in the yellow river basin china
topic Hybrid paper mulberry
Sustainable agriculture
Ecosystems
Forage
Yellow River Basin
url https://doi.org/10.1007/s43621-025-01298-3
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AT vratnareddy circulareconomyandsustainableagricultureecosystemsacaseofhybridpapermulberryintheyellowriverbasinchina
AT jianjunjin circulareconomyandsustainableagricultureecosystemsacaseofhybridpapermulberryintheyellowriverbasinchina
AT dilbrahut circulareconomyandsustainableagricultureecosystemsacaseofhybridpapermulberryintheyellowriverbasinchina