ABSTRACT
Marginalisation as a form of uneven development has not only impeded rural poverty reduction, but also exacerbated ecological degradation. If a sustainable rural livelihood is to be achieved in China’s marginal areas, it is commonly recognised that technological innovation will play a vital role. In view of the impacts from the marginal natural and social environment, it may be difficult to find a universal solution for technological policy and innovation organisation. The complex relations between the marginalisation process, ecological degradation and innovation organisation can be illustrated by the experience of Shaanxi province where an empirical survey was conducted in 1996-7. Accordingly, this chapter attempts to address the representatives of rural Shaanxi; to clarify the process and effects of marginalisation and to examine the government innovation strategy and policy. The above targets are addressed by a combination of statistical analysis, field observation and key informant interviews. The chapter consists of four sections. The first presents a picture of rural Shaanxi through both inter-and intra-regional comparisons. This is followed by a focus on the environmental challenges in north Shaanxi. Responses to rural poverty and environmental challenges in the form of government policy on agricultural research and extension are examined in the Section 4.3. Summarising field observations and analysis of secondary data, the final section provides concluding remarks.
