Increase of Income of Farmers and Herdsmen in Tibet in the New Period

Xuelin YAO，Gonggajiabu，Xinjian ZHANG，Lianjiu SONG *，Qianlu SUN

1.Department of Plant Science，Agricultural and Animal Husbandry College of Tibet University，Nyingchi860000，China；2.Organization Department，Agricultural and Animal Husbandry College of Tibet University，Nyingchi860000，China

1 Introduction

Since the Eighteenth National Congress，in the new period of realizing strategic objective of comprehensively buildingwell-off society，government at all levels of Tibet deeply implements spirit of major speeches of President Xi Jinping，key requirements of Tibet works，especially strategic idea of"running the whole country needs governing the frontier，governing the frontier needs stabilizing Tibet"，and implements instruction of"governing Tibet in compliancewith laws and building Tibet for a long term"of vice president Yu Zhengsheng.Besides，it constantly increases investment of agriculture-related funds，implements measures for increasing income and efficiency of agriculture and animal husbandry，and further opens new channels for increase of their income.Family income of farmers and herdsmen realizes rapid growth，which improves people's livelihood and ensures harmony and stability of Tibet.

However，the disposable income per capita of rural residents in Tibetwas7471 yuan in 2014.There is a high gap with the national average disposable income per capita of rural residents（10489 yuan）.Thus，it is urgent to increase income of farmers and herdsmen in Tibet.Constant increase of income of farmersand herdsmen not only concerns improvement of their living conditions，but also promotes new socialist countryside construction and thewell-off society construction.Besides，it is favorable for keeping frontier stability，ensuring sound and sustainable development of Tibet economy.It is also an essential guarantee for Tibet smoothly realizing the objective of building a well-off society.In this study，we analyzed methods for increasing income of farmers and herdsmen in Tibet，major factors restricting increase of their income，and approaches for increasing their income.It isexpected to provide certain reference for further expanding ideas of increase of their income in the new period.

2 Current situations and characteristics of income of farmers and herdsmen in Tibet

2.1 Incomemainly comes from sales of primary production meansIn recent 5 years，the growth rate of income of farmers and herdsmen in Tibet ranked the first place in thewhole country.The per capita net family income of farmers and herdsmen in 2014 increased 0.8 timesof the year2010.The annual growth rate is up to 16%，as listed in Table 1.Increase of income mainly comes from sales of primary productionmeans.Chinese caterpillar fungus is a famous health care product.Farmers and herdsmen in Tibet rely highly on collection of Chinese caterpillar fungus［1］，but the processing industry of Chinese caterpillar fungus is backward and their income mainly comes from sales of raw Chinese caterpillar fungus.The growth condition of Chinese caterpillar fungus is very harsh，and it is closely connected with altitude，vegetation and climate.Chinese caterpillar fungus ismainly distributed in Qinghai-Tibet Plateau areas and surrounding areas.The total annual excavation of Chinese caterpillar fungus accounts for more than 98%of the world，the total yield is 120-200 tons［2］.The production areas include Tibet，Qinghai，Sichuan，Yunnan，and Gansu.According to estimation of the Agriculture and Animal Husbandry Department of Tibet，the resource volume of Chinese caterpillar fungus in Tibet is about65-70 tons；according to statistical data at Tibetworking conference on December 26，2012，the yield of 45 tons had total revenue of 3 billion yuan，and the yield in Naqu and Changdu accounts for 80%of total yield in Tibet［3］.In 2013，the yield of Chinese caterpillar fungus in Tibet was53.7 tons，while in 2014，the figure was about 30 tons.By now，study is still at exploration stage for cultivation of Chinese caterpillar fungus through hyphae and artificial breeding of bats and insects，aswell asartificial inoculation.The Chinese caterpillar fungus is still preciousmedicinal plants completely relied on wild growing.Some scholars hold that 1／3 of farmers and herdsmen in Tibet obtain incomemainly relying on Chinese caterpillar fungus，1／3 of net income of farmers and herdsmen comes from collection of Chinese caterpillar fungus，so Chinese caterpillar fungus has become an essential resource influencing income of farmers and herdsmen［2］.What's more，agriculture and animal husbandry of Tibet also just startand farmers and herdsmen obtain income mainly from selling products or preliminarily processed products.

Table1 Per capita net income of farmers and herdsmen in Tibet

2.2 Transfer of rural surp lus laborSince the democratic reform，Tibethasmade considerable achievements in developmentof science，technology，culture and education，and educational level of farmers and herdsmen is greatly improved.However，the overall labor quality is still relatively low.In 2008，the average years of education of Tibetan people reached 6.3，but there is still a large gap with the national average years of education（8.5 years）for the people older than 15 years old.The enrolment rate of higher education and education popularization rate still lag far behind the national level.Due to influence of religious belief and historical culture，there are still some backward ideas in farmers and herdsmen，such as deifying natural environment，unwilling to properly develop natural resources，sincerely believing in destiny，and unwilling to pursuewealth but only towait support and relief.In addition to not understanding Chinese language，most farmers and herdsmen remain in weak position when competing with other labors flowing to Tibet.In their local region，they have to work in industrieswith high intensity of labor，low skill requirement and low wages，such as building industry.The proportion of non-agricultural labor to rural labor is the primary factor influencing income of farmers and herdsmen，so it is required to energetically increase transfer of rural labor to cities.

2.3 Policy subsidies of government［2］Inminority areas，Tibet is the only one enjoying fixed amountof central subsidies.According to statistics，financial revenue of thewhole Tibetwas only 6.7%of total expenditure.According to economic indicators of Tibet in 1978-2008，even if in the year 2014 when the economy realized rapid growth，the financial revenue of Tibet in the first three quarters reached 1.09 billion yuan，and financial expenditure was 80.32 billion yuan，the revenue accounts for 13.6%of expenditure［4］.Tibetan farmers and herdsmen enjoy a series of preferential policies，such as fine seed subsidy，directgrain subsidy，general subsidies for purchasing agricultural supplies，fine breed subsidies for livestock and poultry，subsidies for conceding the land to forestry，compensation of ecological public welfare forest，etc.in addition to further preferential policies，farmers and herdsmen enjoymore preferential policies.The transfer income of Tibetan rural residents per capita ranks the first in thewhole country.Policy subsidies of central government and preferential policies of Tibet aremajor factor promoting increase of Tibetan rural residents.

3 Main factors restricting increase of income of farmers and herdsmen in Tibet

3.1 Restriction of natural environment conditions［4］Aswe all known，agriculture and animal husbandry rely highly on natural conditions.Natural conditions directly determine production effect of agriculture and animal husbandry.Situated in hinterland of Qinghai-Tibet Plateau，Tibet has special geographical position.Areaswith altitude higher than 4000m account for 86.11%of total Tibet area.Highmountains and canyons in the east and plateau in north provide Tibet vulnerable ecological environment［5］.In consequence，Tibet suffers from frequent natural disasters.Common natural disasters，such as landslide，mudflow，snow disaster，mountain torrents，and frost，as well as plateau，meadow soil，saline-alkali soil，and desert seriously influence development of agriculture and animal husbandry in Tibet.Then，itwill greatly influence income of farmers and herdsmen.

3.2 Imbalance of industrial structureResearches have shown that industrial structure of Tibet has following problems：high proportion of primary industry，relatively low proportion of secondary industry，and extremely high proportion of tertiary industry；there are some big structural problemswithin sectors of industries and between levels of industries，and the output value structure is not coordinated with employment structure［6］.In other words，the situation of low deviation of industrial structure is serious.The connection between industries is low，and industrial development ismutually separated.Mutual connection between three industries is relatively weak，industrial chain is loose and short，and the connection relationship is vulnerable.Since peaceful liberation of Tibet，industrial policies play a great role in promoting developmentof industriesand evolution of industrial structure.Till the recent times，industrial policy of Tibet starts to become comprehensive and systematic gradually，but still not complete，lack of powerful and operable industrial organization policies and industrial technologies.Economic marketization of Tibet starts later.Smallmarket，weak expansion capability，and indifferentmarket awareness greatly influence marketization of Tibet economy.The above factors result in difficulty in labor transfer and accordingly influence increase of income of farmers and herdsmen.

3.3 Low quality of technical training for farmersand herdsmenAgriculture and animal husbandry departments of Tibet always carefully provide technical training for farmers and herdsmen.However，trainingmethods and forms are simple.In gener-al，mostareas provide training still in the form of distributing leaflet or giving lectures.There are nomodern facilities.Even，some farmers and herdsmen reflect that cadres and technicians just distribute technical materials but seldom provide technical training activities.Due to limitation of cultural quality，farmers and herdsmen have no ability of accepting new knowledge，information，and applying new technology and equipment，lack market awareness，scientific management ability，and lack confidence of shaking off poverty.Many farmers let out their greenhouses tomigrant farmers，and theymay go to work in these greenhouses to obtainmeager income［7］.Some trainings fail to conform to local actual situations and fail to satisfy local demands.

4 Major measures and approaches for increasing income of farmers and herdsmen

4.1 Constantly strengthening development of tourismTibet is located in southwest of China and the hinterland of Qinghai-Tibet Plateau，which is the third pole of theworld.Tibet is vast in territory but sparse population density.Besides，with relatively low level of industrialization，Tibet still remains in the original natural state.There are unique plateau natural ecological tourist resources.In addition，there are also alpinemeadows，Chayu permafrost zone，alpinemountain desert，vasthighland pastures，and world known Grand Canyon Himalayas.In sum，Tibet is full of clear water and blue sky.Such primitive and natural ecosystem is just the thing people eager to appreciate and experience.Thus，Tibet has gifted advantages in these natural beauties［8］.Tibet has long history and ancient traditional culture，and unique cultural system and mystery flavor of Tibetan Buddhist.Picturesque rivers and lakes，beautifulglaciersand snow hills，brilliantancientmonasteries are unique cultural environment and tourist resources.All of these attractworld wide pilgrims to go there.Therefore，Tibet has significant comparative advantages in developing tourism.In the new period，Tibet should continue to energetically develop tourism.In 2014，Tibet received 15.53 million tourists and obtained income up to 20.4 billion yuan［9］，accounting for 22%of total output value of Tibet.It is of great significance to further strengthen tourism infrastructure construction，enhance ecological tourism，cultural tourism，and characteristic tourism，especially rural tourism in Tibet.These will greatly promote increase of income of farmers and herdsmen.

4.2 Constantly increasing policy support of processing industries of agricultural and livestock productsIndustrialization of agriculture and animal husbandry is the optimum form for developing agriculture and animal husbandry and also the onlyway for realizing building a moderately prosperous society.Green brand will become a growth point for economic development of Tibetwhen people shift to focus on health from having enough food and clothes.It is able to greatly promote increase of income of farmers and herdsmen through bringing into play natural and pollution-free advantages of agricultural and livestock products of Tibet，expanding production and supply ofharmless food，green food and organic food，and building new brand of plateau green economy.Due to influence of geographical position and weak industrial foundation，government should provide guidance，support and services and provide model demonstration and information services.It is recommended to encourage farmers and herdsmen and agricultural and livestock product processing enterprises to establish a mechanism of mutual reciprocity and mutual benefit，and enterprises should guide agricultural technological departments to provide technical advisory and services for farmers and herdsmen in the whole process of production.At present，some production enterprises have difficulty in sales of their products due to weak technologiesor low productivity，so it isnecessary to enhance policy support and guidance.

4.3 Constantly increasing guidance on transfer of surp lus labor in farm ing and pastoral areasRural labor transfer is the breakthrough point of Tibetan farmers and herdsmen to increase income and get rich，is an important approach for realizing constant income increase of farmers and herdsmen，and also an essentialmeasure for building new socialist countryside，and ensuring social stability and healthy economic development.For this，it is required to bring into full play functions of government，create fair competition labor market environment，provide high quality and efficient public services，establish perfect social security system，and implementproactive employment priority policies，to solve fair flow and fair security problem of rural labor transfer in Tibet.Besides，it is recommended to provide powerful financial support，such as in finance and taxation.Through energetically improving investment environment，it is required to improve infrastructure and public service facilities.In addition，it is recommended to strengthen economic radiating ability，encourage and guide township enterprises to develop in a centralized way，to promote business，catering and service sectors of small towns，and use characteristic industries to support long-term，healthy and sustainable development of urban areas and towns.At the same time of further adjustmentof industrial structure and optimum resource allocation，itwill generate huge radiation and attraction to surrounding areas，which will attract transfer of numerous rural surplus labors and realize income increase of farmers and herdsmen.Furthermore，it is recommended to increase financial support，establish proper urban social security system with social insurance，socialassistance，and socialwelfare as basis，basic endowment，basicmedical care，and minimum living security system as key points，and philanthropy and commercial insurance as supplement.Also，it is recommended to improve integrated urban and rural social security system，establish employment support system，increase investment in communication and traffic infrastructure，and improve production and living conditions of farmers and herdsmen，to provide material foundation for rapid transfer of surplus rural labor.

4.4 Constantly strengthening technical training of farmers and herdsmenIt is recommended to increase fund input in elementary education of farming and pastoral areas，popularize rural compulsory education，improve teaching quality of elementary ed-ucation，conveymarketawareness and competition awareness，and promote liberation of ideas of farmers and herdsmen and improvement of overall quality.With the aid of high pertinence and practical feature of vocational education，it is recommended to help farmers and herdsmen to grasp a vocational skill in the situation of low overall educational level.Besides，local government should increase investment in skill training of farmers and herdsmen，and actively organize multi-level and multi-skill training for farmers and herdsmen on a regular interval or from time to time in the manner of pre-assigned，order and entrusted training［10］.Apart from some common skill training，it is recommended to strengthen training of farmersand herdsmen in safeguarding rightsand professional quality，enhance guidance of rural labor transfer，and establish integrated training and employment service mechanism.Agricultural，animal husbandry，and agricultural development departments and colleges and universities should enhance effort of converting technologies，and use advanced technologies to promote income increase of farmers and herdsmen.

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