Relations between Agricultural Natural Disasters and Rural Poverty Based on Analysis of Panel Data in Anhui Province, China

Abstract

The occurrence of natural disasters has a tremendous negative effect on agricultural production. The effect of natural disasters in undeveloped areas is more serious and even leads to the occurrence of poverty due to the weak capacity to handle these disasters. Although there is much research based on qualitative analysis, the quantitative research is rare. This article aims to cover the previous quantitative research gap. On the basis of the analysis of panel data in Anhui province, it is evident that there is a negative correlation between the proportion of the area affected by agricultural natural disasters to the total sown area and the incidence of rural poverty, which is not compatible with the previous studies. Therefore, the authors make a possible explanation. On the basis of the empirical results, some policies are recommended in the final part of this article on a correct understanding of agricultural natural disasters and rural poverty, such as building a rural natural defense system and strengthening the response capacity of farmers in impoverished areas.