Arid Zone Research ›› 2025, Vol. 42 ›› Issue (4): 766-774.doi: 10.13866/j.azr.2025.04.16

• Agricultural Ecology • Previous Articles    

Evaluation of farmers’ perspective on the effectiveness of high-standard farmland construction in the Ili River Basin

HUANG Weihao1(), LAN Shan1, ZHANG Yiwei1, ZHANG Hengrui1, CAO Wenxin1, ZHAO Xinyue1, GUO Yaxin1, CHEN Pengpeng2, LI Shaoshuai3, WU Wenliang1, WANG Qinggang1()   

  1. 1. College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, and Key Laboratory of Biodiversity and Organic Farming of Beijing City, China Agricultural University,Beijing 100193, China
    2. College of Water Conservancy & Architectural Engineering, Shihezi University/Key Laboratory of Modern Water-Saving Irrigation of Xinjiang Production & Construction Group, Shihezi 832003, Xinjiang, China
    3. Land Consolidation and Rehabilitation Center, Ministry of Natural Resources, Beijing 100035, China
  • Received:2024-12-16 Revised:2025-01-24 Online:2025-04-15 Published:2025-04-10
  • Contact: WANG Qinggang E-mail:15777761544@163.com;wangqg@cau.edu.cn

Abstract:

Utilizing abundant water resources for high-standard farmland construction is a key task in agricultural development in the Ili River Basin. However, there is limited research evaluating these projects from farmers’ perspectives. This study surveyed 98 farmers from 11 counties in the Ili River Basin who are involved in high-standard farmland construction to assess the effectiveness of these projects. The results show that 92.9% of the farmers expressed satisfaction or strong satisfaction with the projects. Specifically, 89.9%, 99.9%, 52.1%, 50%, 87.7%, and 98.0% of the farmers acknowledged significant improvements in irrigation conditions, crop yield, land leveling, reduction of field obstacles, field road construction, and mechanization levels, respectively. Only 9.2% and 30.6% perceived reductions in pesticide and fertilizer use after the projects. Compared with small-scale farmers (cultivating <6.667 hm2), large-scale farmers (cultivating >6.667 hm2) have a more pronounced perception of improvements in land leveling, reduction of field obstacles, field road construction, mechanization levels, pesticide use reduction, and yield improvement. Both Han and minority ethnic farmers expressed high overall satisfaction with the projects. However, Han farmers perceived more significant improvements in yield and field road construction than minority ethic farmers. This study indicates that farmers in the Ili River Basin are generally satisfied with the high-standard farmland constructions, particularly improvements in irrigation conditions, field road construction, mechanization levels, and yield improvement. It is recommended to gradually enhance the ecological aspects of high-standard farmland constructions to promote the green transformation of agricultural development in the region.

Key words: high-standard farmland construction, questionnaire survey, Ili River Basin