Cash gifts, perception of social sphere and distribution of water resources for rural farmers in a typical oasis area in Northwest China

摘要

Face-to-face interviews (n=860) were conducted to determine cash-gift behavior,cognition and complexity of social relations,and family water consumption for agricultural production in a typical oasis area in Northwest China.The survey results revealed cash gifts to be the second-largest expenditure (1,330 Yuan) for rural households,far beyond the average spending on health (854.1 Yuan) or education (890.8 Yuan).The amount of cash-gift expenditures indirectly reflects a family's social relations level,and our developed Social Relations Extent Coefficient—based on cash-gift and food expenditures—can directly reflect the extent or level of these relationships.Different types of farmers or farming families have different coefficients.The coefficient also shows how social station affects a family's water resource utilization,and how water is distributed among different types of farmers.Despite the current inequities,however,promotion of better agricultural techniques and large-scale cultivation in this area could help distribute water resources more equitably and effectively.