Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/2440/105405
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Type: Journal article
Title: Water shortage and inequality in Minqin Oasis of northwest China: Adaptive policies and farmers’ perceptions
Author: Tan, Y.
Liu, X.C.
Citation: Local Environment: the international journal of justice and sustainability, 2017; OnilnePubl(8):1-18
Publisher: Taylor and Francis
Issue Date: 2017
ISSN: 1354-9839
1469-6711
Statement of
Responsibility: 
Yan Tan and Xuchun Liu
Abstract: Minqin oasis, located at the lower reaches of the Shiyang River in northwest China, is one of the driest regions in the world. Severe water shortage has exacerbated the vulnerability of local ecosystems and the agricultural livelihood of farmers, and ecological failure threatens the environmental security of the region. Since 2007 China has implemented a range of strategic programmes and policies on water management which involve governments at all levels and include a diversity of adaptive actions in this region. However, rural households do not benefit equally from the policies and programmes. This study addresses two questions: first, how are inequality issues addressed in water-related policies and programmes? And second, what demographic and socioeconomic factors at the household level are significantly related to the inequality in benefit sharing arisen from the implementation of these policies? The study employs a mixed method approach, integrating a qualitative approach that investigates policy documents with a quantitative approach that analyses primary data collected from a household survey in Minqin in 2012. The study finds that there are inadequate financial and instrumental resources put in place to address the causes of inequality. Unequal holdings of household capital, especially social capital and political status, significantly influences whether or not farmers can benefit from the water-related policies and schemes as practiced in the study area. Addressing the root causes of unequal benefits from water-related policies is urgent if China aims to achieve policy goals and sustainable development in this ecologically vulnerable region.
Keywords: Water scarcity; water-related policy; inequality; Minqin oasis; northwest China
Rights: © 2017 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group
DOI: 10.1080/13549839.2017.1309368
Published version: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/13549839.2017.1309368
Appears in Collections:Aurora harvest 8
Australian Population and Migration Research Centre publications

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