Livelihoods of farming and grazing households and land use in farming-pastoral transitional zone: A case study of Uxin Banner in Ordos, Inner-Mongolia

Based on the methods of questionnaire survey, semi-structured interview and mathematical statistics, 153 farming and grazing households in Uxin Banner, situated in Ordos city, Inner-Mongolia, were inquired systematically, and then livelihood strategies, land use pattern of these households were explored. The results are presented as follows. 1) Differences in livelihood strategies exist among distinctive types of households, and therefore income, the degree of living satisfaction, living pressures confronted and improving approaches vary accordingly. The households, engaging in just farming, encounter higher vulnerability and risk due to relatively simple livelihood strategies. Introduction and expansion of non-agricultural activities, and promoting livelihood diversity is a significant approach to reduce livelihood risk for these households. In contrast, households, living on both farming and grazing, confront lower risk as a result of higher and stable income. However, eco-environment is more vulnerable to their production activities. Therefore, developing economic-efficiently and environmental-friendly agro-pastoral industry is the key to address livelihood issues of these households and to protect eco-environment. Furthermore, transferring rural people in grazing regions scientifically, reasonably and effectively is indispensible to mitigate pressure on pasture and to develop modern agro-pastoral industry. 2) Fastening links exist between livelihood and land use types and intensity. Due to the inclination of labor force allocation to non-agricultural industries and the decrease in economic productivity of cropland, the households, engaging in just farming, invest less labors and capital, and so the land-use intensity become lower. In the pastoral area, the cultivated land derives from the reclamation of marginal land, and land users often adjust their investments according to the variations of net profits. When cropland falls into marginalization, grazing households will cease to cultivate. In addition, unreasonable grazing activities give rise to land degradation.