Abstract

This paper analyzed the factors influencing the relationship between population, cultivated land and grain on the shifting of surplus farm labors and providing grain subsidy in the Loess Plateau of northern Shaanxi Province of China. We supposed four scenes about cultivated land pressure index from 1998 to 2008, and introduced Mann-Kendall’s non-parametric test method. The results showed that cultivated land pressures assume significant downward trend in Suide, Mizhi, Jiaxian and Zizhou Counties; however, cultivated land pressures in Wubu and Qingjian County are descending with limited effect by shifting of surplus farm labors and providing grain subsidy. The results implied that, the government should guide to further implement the Grain for Green Project.

Key words: Plateau, pressure index, cultivated land, surplus farm labors.