The Balance of Power and Agricultural Land Use Rights Transfer in Shanpotian Village, Yaoan County, Yunnan Province of China

Abstract

The objectives of this research are (1) to understand the powerrelations and negotiations, and the balance of power relations in theagricultural land-use rights transfer process over the past 10 years inShanpotian village in Yaoan county, Yunnan province, and (2) to propose anappropriate model for the balance of power relations in agriculturalland-use rights transfer for sustainable agricultural land use. A qualitative methodology is utilized. Focus group discussions and in-depth interviews with 45 farmers were implemented. The results of the study show that the agricultural land-use rights transfer process is neither a neutral nor a
peaceful process; powerful groups will attempt to formally and informally use their socioeconomic powers to influence the transfer process to gain more benefits from the negotiation. The poor will always be losers and gain fewer public interests. For balancing power relations, the government must represent the interests of poor farmers and the public, which is vital for controlling market force. Moreover, the third-party monitoring systems should be established during and after the agricultural land use rights
transfer process to assure that appropriate land use is in practice.