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17 pages, 2739 KiB

Open AccessArticle

From Conventional to Organic Agriculture: Influencing Factors and Reasons for Tea Farmers’ Adoption of Organic Farming in Pu’er City

by Hao Li, Shuqi Yang, Juping Yan, Wangsheng Gao, Jixiao Cui and Yuanquan Chen

Sustainability 2024, 16(22), 10035; https://doi.org/10.3390/su162210035 - 18 Nov 2024

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1881

Abstract

As the global pursuit of sustainable agricultural practices continues, organic farming is gaining increasing attention. In Pu’er, one of China’s major tea-producing regions, the factors influencing tea farmers’ willingness to adopt organic agriculture have not yet been fully studied. This study integrates the [...] Read more.

As the global pursuit of sustainable agricultural practices continues, organic farming is gaining increasing attention. In Pu’er, one of China’s major tea-producing regions, the factors influencing tea farmers’ willingness to adopt organic agriculture have not yet been fully studied. This study integrates the diffusion of innovations theory and the theory of planned behavior, using field surveys to thoroughly analyze the key factors and reasons affecting tea farmers in Pu’er in adopting organic farming practices. The findings indicate that perceptions of the economic benefits of organic farming are the primary drivers of farmers’ willingness to adopt. Experience with organic agriculture training and positive views on environmental and health benefits also significantly enhance the willingness to adopt organic farming. Contrary to common assumptions, education level, age, and household income have minimal influence on adoption willingness. However, low-income families that rely on tea cultivation are more inclined to adopt organic farming. Policymakers should prioritize economic incentives, strengthen training support, and enhance the promotion of the benefits of organic agriculture, while simplifying certification processes and expanding market channels to facilitate the transition of tea farmers to organic agriculture. This study offers insights into the sustainable tea industry and organic farming promotion. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Agricultural Economic Transformation and Sustainable Development)

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16 pages, 1077 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Economic Sustainability Foraging Scenarios for Ruminant Meat Production—A Climate Change Adapting Alternative

by Rodica Chetroiu, Steliana Rodino, Vili Dragomir, Petruța Antoneta Turek-Rahoveanu and Alexandra Marina Manolache

Sustainability 2024, 16(22), 9858; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16229858 - 12 Nov 2024

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1410

Abstract

Climate changes affect all agricultural production systems, directly or indirectly, including that of ruminant meat, through the limitation of forage resources sensitive to reduced water regimes and drought. The present paper assessed the economic sustainability of ruminant meat production in the context of [...] Read more.

Climate changes affect all agricultural production systems, directly or indirectly, including that of ruminant meat, through the limitation of forage resources sensitive to reduced water regimes and drought. The present paper assessed the economic sustainability of ruminant meat production in the context of climate change, with a particular focus on integrating bioeconomy principles through the use of drought-resistant crops such as sorghum and millet in livestock feed. This study included scenarios for two farm-level models, a sheep fattening farm and a cattle fattening farm, to determine the economic benefit and impact of integrating resilient crops in the total feed ration. The findings showed that the dry scenario system could offer economic and environmental advantages over traditional water-intensive crops like maize. The results demonstrated that replacing maize with sorghum or millet could result in a reduction in feed costs and enhanced economic benefit over the traditional feed system. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Agricultural Economic Transformation and Sustainable Development)

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18 pages, 900 KiB

Open AccessArticle

What Type of Public Library Best Supports Agricultural Economic Development? An Empirical Study Based on Rural China

by Dimeng Zhang, Jiayao Li, Yingchi Ye, Rong Zhang and Yuntao Zou

Sustainability 2024, 16(19), 8343; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16198343 - 25 Sep 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1181

Abstract

Modernizing agricultural economies requires the infusion of knowledge and industrialization, necessitating the bridging of the “digital divide” and “talent gap” between urban and rural areas. Public libraries, as key knowledge dissemination institutions, play a crucial role in this process. This study aimed to [...] Read more.

Modernizing agricultural economies requires the infusion of knowledge and industrialization, necessitating the bridging of the “digital divide” and “talent gap” between urban and rural areas. Public libraries, as key knowledge dissemination institutions, play a crucial role in this process. This study aimed to explore how the development of such institutions can align with agricultural economic growth. Using China as a case study, where the Rural Revitalization Strategy has been implemented in recent years, including the extensive construction of rural public libraries and other infrastructure, we empirically analyzed the correlation between county-level public libraries and agricultural economic development from 2012 to 2019. The results show that the number of county-level public libraries and their assets, collection sizes, e-books, and professional staff have a significant positive impact on agricultural economics, while non-professional staff and facilities have a negative impact. It is recommended that future rural public library development should focus on enhancing professional standards and advancing digitalization and mobile internet integration, while being cautious about expanding the physical scale and staffing. This study fills a gap in the research on the correlation between rural public libraries and agricultural economics, and the methodology employed has a certain degree of general applicability. However, the applicability of the conclusions may be limited by China’s unique national conditions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Agricultural Economic Transformation and Sustainable Development)

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14 pages, 856 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Evaluating Sustainable Alternatives for Cocoa Waste Utilization Using the Analytic Hierarchy Process

by Natalia Andrea Salazar-Camacho, Liliana Delgadillo-Mirquez, Luz Adriana Sanchez-Echeverri and Nelson Javier Tovar-Perilla

Sustainability 2024, 16(17), 7817; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16177817 - 8 Sep 2024

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2321

Abstract

Cocoa production has emerged as an effective agricultural strategy to reduce conflict in Colombia, transitioning from coca to cocoa cultivation. While this shift has provided economic benefits, it has also resulted in the generation of substantial cocoa by-products. Although there are various alternative [...] Read more.

Cocoa production has emerged as an effective agricultural strategy to reduce conflict in Colombia, transitioning from coca to cocoa cultivation. While this shift has provided economic benefits, it has also resulted in the generation of substantial cocoa by-products. Although there are various alternative methods of utilizing these by-products, many farmers are unaware of them, and others lack the necessary tools to determine which alternative is the best to pursue. This study sought to explore sustainable options for cocoa waste utilization through the application of the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP). By employing technological surveillance, viable options for reusing cocoa residues were identified. The AHP results indicate that pellet production is a promising alternative for rural communities. It is also a potential source of energy that could address the community’s need for alternative energy sources. Initially, other energy production alternatives were not explored. However, in response to the AHP findings, this study also explored the use of cocoa waste combined with animal manure for energy generation through anaerobic digestion. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Agricultural Economic Transformation and Sustainable Development)

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20 pages, 2923 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Agricultural Production Efficiency and Differentiation of City Clusters along the Middle Reaches of Yangtze River under Environmental Constraints

by Lei Wang, Yi Zhang, Jingyi Xia, Zilei Wang and Wenjing Zhang

Sustainability 2024, 16(14), 6126; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16146126 - 18 Jul 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1376

Abstract

The improvement of overall agricultural efficiency in the city clusters along the middle reaches of the Yangtze River is crucial for promoting stable regional agricultural production and ensuring food security. This study employs the SBM (slack-based measure) model with the unexpected environmental outputoutputs, [...] Read more.

The improvement of overall agricultural efficiency in the city clusters along the middle reaches of the Yangtze River is crucial for promoting stable regional agricultural production and ensuring food security. This study employs the SBM (slack-based measure) model with the unexpected environmental outputoutputs, including agricultural surface pollution and agricultural carbon emissions, and the SFA (stochastic frontier approach) model to investigate the overall agricultural efficiency and its influencing factors in 31 prefecture-level cities in the middle reaches of the Yangtze River urban agglomeration from 2008 to 2021. The research findings indicate the following: (1) Without eliminating the impact of environmental variables, the overall agricultural efficiency in the middle reaches of the Yangtze River city clusters shows a rise–fall–stability trend and limited level. The scale of production input is relatively reasonable, but there is inefficiency in the utilization of factor resources. (2) The SFA model reveals that economic development, urbanization construction, industrial structure, and government influence have significant but different impacts on agricultural production factor input. Accelerating economic development is helpful for reducing excessive inputs of agricultural capital, labor, planting area, agricultural film, and irrigation. Increasing the level of urbanization can promote the efficient allocation of planting area and effective irrigation area. The improvement of industrialization level pushes the rational input of planting area and agricultural film, but it may also lead to excessive input of agricultural capital, labor, pesticides, and effective irrigation area. Expanding government influence can restrain the excessive use of pesticides. (3) After eliminating environmental variables, there is a low and slow declining trend of the overall agricultural efficiency over time. Neither production scale efficiency nor pure technical efficiency reached optimal levels; the former one is significantly lower than the latter. In terms of spatial distribution, there exists a “higher in the west and lower in the east” feature, with obvious and expanding regional efficiency differences and high-efficiency areas gradually concentrating in the Wuhan urban circle. In summary, this article puts forward the following suggestions: optimize the structure of the government’s support for agriculture, focusing on the construction of agricultural infrastructure and the support for green production in agriculture; improve the research and development and promotion of green production technology and encourage the establishment of the use of resources and recycling; and absorb the population of farmers who have been transferred to urban areas reasonably and orderly under the adjustment of industrial structure. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Agricultural Economic Transformation and Sustainable Development)

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23 pages, 2045 KiB

Open AccessArticle

An Analysis of the Eco-Efficiency of the Agricultural Industry in the Brazilian Amazon Biome

by Gabriela Mayumi Saiki, André Luiz Marques Serrano, Gabriel Arquelau Pimenta Rodrigues, Carlos Rosano-Peña, Fabiano Mezadre Pompermayer and Pedro Henrique Melo Albuquerque

Sustainability 2024, 16(13), 5731; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16135731 - 4 Jul 2024

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1738

Abstract

The exponential growth of the agricultural industry in the Amazon region has brought about notable economic advancements. However, this growth has substantially cost the region’s ecosystems, manifesting in increased deforestation and biodiversity degradation within the Amazon forest. This article is dedicated to assessing [...] Read more.

The exponential growth of the agricultural industry in the Amazon region has brought about notable economic advancements. However, this growth has substantially cost the region’s ecosystems, manifesting in increased deforestation and biodiversity degradation within the Amazon forest. This article is dedicated to assessing the eco-efficiency of agricultural production in Amazon Biome municipalities. It places particular emphasis on identifying critical determinants through the utilization of the classic Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) model for efficiency computation, super-efficiency models for distinctive characterization, bootstrap computational techniques for robust resampling, and the Malmquist index for calculating annual eco-efficiency indices of each Decision-Making Unit (DMU). An exploration of the correlation between efficiency and meteorological attributes of the municipalities is conducted. The findings of this study reveal the following significant points: Eco-efficient municipalities within the Amazon Biome can serve as benchmarks for other DMUs striving to attain optimal input–output levels, most municipalities in the Amazon Biome operate close to the productive frontier due to the prevalent technology employed in their agricultural activities, the nature of the technological frontier’s return suggests that small and large DMUs possess eco-efficiency potential, and the current dataset does not yield conclusive evidence regarding a direct correlation between the variables. Leveraging this information, strategic pathways can be formulated to drive economic development in tandem with the sustainability of Amazon Biome municipalities. These strategies promise to foster social, economic, and environmental benefits for the populace while providing valuable insights to inform future research within this thematic domain. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Agricultural Economic Transformation and Sustainable Development)

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17 pages, 1235 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Study on Sustainable Operation Mechanism of Green Agricultural Supply Chain Based on Uncertainty of Output and Demand

by Qianyi Wang, Minghui Ni, Wei Wen, Ruijuan Qi and Qiwen Zhang

Sustainability 2024, 16(13), 5460; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16135460 - 27 Jun 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1477

Abstract

A future trend in agricultural development is to promote the green transformation of agriculture and realize the transformation from extensive consumption to environmentally friendly consumption. However, in the process of circulating green agricultural products, the output and demand are uncertain, and the cooperation [...] Read more.

A future trend in agricultural development is to promote the green transformation of agriculture and realize the transformation from extensive consumption to environmentally friendly consumption. However, in the process of circulating green agricultural products, the output and demand are uncertain, and the cooperation of various entities in the supply chain is unstable, which leads to the risk of interruptions to the supply chain, and then leads to ineffective supply chain operations for green agricultural products. Therefore, under the background of double uncertainty of output and demand, combined with CVaR theory and considering the risk avoidance degree of farmers, a Stackelberg game model of a “firm + farmer” two-level green agricultural product supply chain was constructed, and the supply coordination mechanism was studied. The results show that a benefit-sharing contract can effectively coordinate the supply chain of green agricultural products under the double uncertainty of output and demand and obtain optimal greenness, agricultural input, order quantity, and optimal inventory factors under centralized decision making. The optimal production decisions of farmers and the optimal pricing decisions of companies are obtained under decentralized decision making. The benefit-sharing contract is used to coordinate the supply chain, and the overall incomes of farmers, companies, and the supply chain improved after the coordination. The research results can enrich the relevant research on coordinating green agricultural products supply chains under the uncertainty of output and demand and provide a reference for ensuring the effective and stable operation of supply chains. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Agricultural Economic Transformation and Sustainable Development)

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25 pages, 970 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Digital Financial Inclusion, Land Circulation and High-Quality Development of Agriculture

by Qi Xiong, Xiaoyang Guo and Jingyi Yang

Sustainability 2024, 16(11), 4775; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16114775 - 4 Jun 2024

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2256

Abstract

With the deep integration of digital technology and inclusive finance, digital inclusive finance has provided a new opportunity for agricultural high-quality development through “overtaking on curves”. This article empirically examines the impact of digital inclusive finance on agricultural high-quality development and the dynamic [...] Read more.

With the deep integration of digital technology and inclusive finance, digital inclusive finance has provided a new opportunity for agricultural high-quality development through “overtaking on curves”. This article empirically examines the impact of digital inclusive finance on agricultural high-quality development and the dynamic mechanism of land circulation in its transmission process, utilizing panel data from various provinces in China from 2011 to 2021. The research indicates that digital inclusive finance has a significant improvement effect on agricultural high-quality development, and this conclusion remains valid after a series of endogenous treatments and robustness tests. Meanwhile, intelligent manufacturing has a more pronounced role in promoting agricultural high-quality development in China’s eastern regions, regions with sound infrastructure, and regions with high environmental regulation intensity. Further research reveals that digital inclusive finance can promote agricultural high-quality development through the mechanism of promoting land circulation. The research conclusions provide important empirical evidence and policy implications for achieving coordinated development of agricultural economic growth and environmental protection, thereby realizing the beautiful vision of comprehensive rural revitalization. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Agricultural Economic Transformation and Sustainable Development)

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15 pages, 829 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Evaluation of China’s Marine Aquaculture Sector’s Green Development Level Using the Super-Efficiency Slacks-Based Measure and Global Malmquist–Luenberger Index Models

by Deli Yang and Qionglei Wang

Sustainability 2024, 16(8), 3441; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16083441 - 19 Apr 2024

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1609

Abstract

Given China’s rapidly expanding marine aquaculture industry, the associated ecological issues have garnered widespread attention. Therefore, it is crucial to speed up the green growth of marine aquaculture in order to save the environment and use resources sustainably. In order to statically assess [...] Read more.

Given China’s rapidly expanding marine aquaculture industry, the associated ecological issues have garnered widespread attention. Therefore, it is crucial to speed up the green growth of marine aquaculture in order to save the environment and use resources sustainably. In order to statically assess and dynamically analyze the green development efficiency levels of marine aquaculture in nine coastal provinces of China from 2012 to 2021, this study uses the non-expected output super-efficiency Slacks-Based Measure model and the Global Malmquist–Luenberger index method. Additionally, it integrates input–output redundancy rates to analyze the causes of efficiency loss. Static efficiency primarily reflects whether a region’s inputs and outputs at a given point in time reach an effective efficiency level, while the level of dynamic efficiency mainly gauges the dynamic changes in the efficiency of green production. The results show that, from 2012 to 2021, China’s marine aquaculture industry’s average static efficiency of green output was 0.705. The southern marine economic zone exhibited the highest static efficiency value in the green development of marine aquaculture, displaying a stepped distribution pattern of “south–north–east” in decreasing order. The input–output redundancy analysis reveals that the primary causes of static efficiency loss in China’s marine aquaculture industry are attributed to varying degrees of redundant inputs and carbon emission outputs. Looking through the lens of the GML index, the annual average growth rate of the green total factor productivity in China’s marine aquaculture stands at 11.1%, with an annual average change in technical efficiency of 1.8%, while the annual average change in technological progress amounts to 9.1%, suggesting that technological advancement is the primary driver of the rise in green total factor productivity in China’s marine aquaculture sector. According to the study, in order to encourage China’s marine aquaculture industry to grow sustainably, efforts should be made not only to accelerate technological advancements but also to enhance technical efficiency. Policies that are specifically designed for the local environment should be developed to support the sustainable development of the marine aquaculture sector and to make resource allocation easier. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Agricultural Economic Transformation and Sustainable Development)

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19 pages, 12932 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Spatiotemporal Impact of Digital Economy on High-Quality Agricultural Development: Evidence from China

by Qi Li and Zhijiao Liu

Sustainability 2024, 16(7), 2814; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16072814 - 28 Mar 2024

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1863

Abstract

China’s high-quality economic development is strongly supported by the high-quality development of agriculture, and the digital economy has emerged as a key driver for promoting shared prosperity and high-quality economic development. Against this backdrop, investigating the connection between high-quality agricultural development and the [...] Read more.

China’s high-quality economic development is strongly supported by the high-quality development of agriculture, and the digital economy has emerged as a key driver for promoting shared prosperity and high-quality economic development. Against this backdrop, investigating the connection between high-quality agricultural development and the digital economy holds significant importance. This study utilized the entropy-weighted TOPSIS model to evaluate comprehensive evaluation indicators of the two according to panel data from 30 provinces in China between 2011 and 2021. Subsequently, GIS spatial analysis and exploratory spatial data analysis (ESDA) were employed to investigate the spatiotemporal evolution features and spatial correlations. Finally, the spatiotemporal geographically weighted regression (GTWR) model was constructed to examine the spatiotemporal impact of the digital economy on the advancement of high-quality agricultural growth. The results indicate that: (1) from 2011 to 2021, China’s high-quality agricultural development and digital economy both demonstrated a general increasing trend. In terms of spatial distribution, there were significant spatial variations, with a general trend of “Southeast is higher, whereas the Northwest is lower”. The regions with significant value were primarily clustered in the coastal areas in the east and several provincial capitals. (2) Both of the two exhibited significant global spatial self-correlation, and there were also significant spatiotemporal clustering effects in high-quality agricultural growth, gradually forming a high-value cluster centered around Shanghai and a low-value cluster centered around western provinces. (3) The digital economy positively influences the enhancement of high-quality agricultural development, demonstrating notable spatial and temporal heterogeneity. In contrast to the southeastern areas, the influence is more pronounced in the northern and central-western areas. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Agricultural Economic Transformation and Sustainable Development)

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16 pages, 2554 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Innovations in Agricultural Bio-Inputs: Commercial Products Developed in Argentina and Brazil

by Gabriel da Silva Medina, Rosana Rotondo and Gustavo Rubén Rodríguez

Sustainability 2024, 16(7), 2763; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16072763 - 27 Mar 2024

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 5980

Abstract

Innovations in agricultural bio-inputs can lead to sustainable alternatives to replace synthetic fertilizers and pesticides. However, there is no clear understanding of what technologies can become available to farmers as commercial products, particularly in developing countries. This study summarizes the innovations used in [...] Read more.

Innovations in agricultural bio-inputs can lead to sustainable alternatives to replace synthetic fertilizers and pesticides. However, there is no clear understanding of what technologies can become available to farmers as commercial products, particularly in developing countries. This study summarizes the innovations used in commercial products in Argentina and Brazil based on the countries’ official data and on in-depth surveys conducted with 14 bio-input private companies. The results reveal ongoing development efforts to improve traditional products, such as inoculants that help plants fix nitrogen. There is also progress in mastering the formulation of new bio-inputs, such as bio-fertilizers that promote plant growth and bio-pesticides for pest control. Lastly, the next generation of bio-inputs composed of phytovaccines promises to help prepare plants’ immune systems against the attack of pathogenic fungi and bacteria, while bio-herbicides can potentially reduce the use of synthetic herbicides to prepare fields for harvest. Domestic companies based in Argentina and Brazil play an important role in these innovations that can underpin bio-economy growth in developing countries. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Agricultural Economic Transformation and Sustainable Development)

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30 pages, 928 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Relationship of Arable Land Scale and High-Quality Development of Farmers’ Cooperatives: Evidence from Grain Production Cooperatives in China

by Yang Xu, Yujia Huo and Xiangyu Guo

Sustainability 2024, 16(6), 2389; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16062389 - 13 Mar 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1505

Abstract

Sustainable agricultural development relies significantly on the high-quality progression of farmers’ cooperatives. While growing in number, farmers’ cooperatives are still facing the dilemma of improving the quality of their development. Land endowment is the foundation of agricultural production and the farmers’ cooperatives. Clarifying [...] Read more.

Sustainable agricultural development relies significantly on the high-quality progression of farmers’ cooperatives. While growing in number, farmers’ cooperatives are still facing the dilemma of improving the quality of their development. Land endowment is the foundation of agricultural production and the farmers’ cooperatives. Clarifying the correlation between arable land scale and the high-quality development of farmers’ cooperatives is conducive to the optimization of land use and the adoption of scientific land management measures to improve the quality of the development of farmers’ cooperatives. Based on the micro-survey data of 448 farmers’ cooperatives in three major grain-producing provinces, namely Heilongjiang, Henan, and Shandong in China, this paper constructs an evaluation index system for the high-quality development of farmers’ cooperatives and theoretically and empirically explores the impact mechanism of arable land scale on the high-quality development of farmers’ cooperatives. The results suggest the following: (1) there exists a significant “inverted U-shaped” association between the arable land scale and the development quality of cooperatives, and this result remains robust after testing through substitution variable and instrumental variable methods; (2) further research on the “inverted U-shaped” association reveals that the impact of arable land scale on the high-quality development of cooperatives undergoes four stages: “weak impact—rapid improvement—diminished growth effect—decline in development quality”; and (3) mechanism tests suggest that the “inverted U-shaped” association between the arable land scale and the development quality of cooperatives is mainly constrained by industrial development input, and arable land scale and industrial development show a strong complementary relationship. Therefore, in the course of enhancing the quality of farmers’ cooperatives, it is crucial to select appropriate land management strategies based on to their stage, paying special attention to the compatibility between arable land scale and industrial development. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Agricultural Economic Transformation and Sustainable Development)

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33 pages, 1359 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Regional Heterogeneity of the Impact of Agricultural Market Integration on Regional Economic Development: An Analysis of Pre-COVID-19 Data in China

by Xinru Miao, Shaopeng Wang, Jiqin Han, Zhaoyi Ren, Teng Ma and Henglang Xie

Sustainability 2024, 16(5), 1734; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16051734 - 20 Feb 2024

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2710

Abstract

The abrupt onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in late 2019 significantly disrupted China’s domestic agricultural production and supply chain stability. Local governments, responding to urgent circumstances, implemented various trade restrictions that profoundly affected regional economic development. This study, covering data from 2010 to [...] Read more.

The abrupt onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in late 2019 significantly disrupted China’s domestic agricultural production and supply chain stability. Local governments, responding to urgent circumstances, implemented various trade restrictions that profoundly affected regional economic development. This study, covering data from 2010 to 2019 across 31 provinces, investigates agricultural market integration and regional economic development. Employing a dynamic spatial panel Durbin model, it systematically analyzes the complex relationship between these variables. International trade variables related to agricultural products are then introduced to examine their “substitution effect” in promoting regional economic development through agricultural market integration. The research findings are summarized as follows: (1) disregarding international agricultural trade, a one-unit increase in the agricultural market integration index corresponds to a 0.156% rise in regional economic development. (2) In an open economy, the substitution coefficients for agricultural imports, exports, and total trade concerning market integration are −0.00097, −0.0012, and −0.0038, respectively. (3) The strength of the substitution effect from the international agricultural market to the domestic market varies regionally, with coefficients of −0.00099 and −0.00217 for the eastern and western regions, respectively. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Agricultural Economic Transformation and Sustainable Development)

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20 pages, 1755 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Technological Integration and Obstacles in China’s Agricultural Extension Systems: A Study on Disembeddedness and Adaptation

by Xinran Hu, Bin Xiao and Zhihui Tong

Sustainability 2024, 16(2), 859; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16020859 - 19 Jan 2024

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2191

Abstract

In light of China’s evolving agricultural technology extension system, this study investigates a critical issue known as “technological disembeddedness”. This phenomenon, observed in the context of the country’s push towards administrative and market-oriented extension, reflects a significant disconnect between the formalized methods of [...] Read more.

In light of China’s evolving agricultural technology extension system, this study investigates a critical issue known as “technological disembeddedness”. This phenomenon, observed in the context of the country’s push towards administrative and market-oriented extension, reflects a significant disconnect between the formalized methods of technology extension, such as classroom instruction, and the practical needs of farmers. As a consequence, the envisioned improvements in agricultural production efficiency have not materialized as expected. The analysis, based on fieldwork conducted in Shandong Province from 2019 to 2020, identifies that different stakeholder interests have further exacerbated the situation. Agricultural technology extension, driven by diverse agendas, has been utilized as a tool for profit, resulting in a stark disparity in farmers’ access to technology and the emergence of multiple, formalized extension models. This marginalized small-scale farmers and undermined the initial objectives of the extension system. The study proposes a fundamental shift in approach. It advocates for a social-centric perspective on technology extension, suggesting that the solution lies in harnessing local community dynamics to gradually build a technology extension system that aligns with the practical realities of farmers’ production and daily lives. In summary, the study identifies “technological disembeddedness” as a primary challenge within China’s agricultural technology extension system. It underscores the need to reorient the approach towards a more socially connected model, with a focus on the local community’s role in creating a technology extension system that genuinely serves the needs of farmers. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Agricultural Economic Transformation and Sustainable Development)

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20 pages, 2019 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Integration of Water Resources Management Strategies in Land Use Planning towards Environmental Conservation

by Stavros Kalogiannidis, Dimitrios Kalfas, Grigoris Giannarakis and Maria Paschalidou

Sustainability 2023, 15(21), 15242; https://doi.org/10.3390/su152115242 - 25 Oct 2023

Cited by 30 | Viewed by 9287

Abstract

Water resources management is a critical component of environmental conservation and sustainable development. This study examines the integration of water resources management strategies into land use planning and its impact on environmental conservation, with a focus on the case of Greece. This study [...] Read more.

Water resources management is a critical component of environmental conservation and sustainable development. This study examines the integration of water resources management strategies into land use planning and its impact on environmental conservation, with a focus on the case of Greece. This study employed a quantitative research methodology using a cross-sectional survey research design. The target population consisted of environmental experts in Greece, and a sample of 278 participants was selected based on the Krejcie and Morgan table for sample size determination. Data were collected through an online survey questionnaire, and the statistical analysis was conducted using SPSS version 23. The relationships between the study variables were examined through regression analysis. The findings support the hypotheses, demonstrating the importance of integrating water resources management strategies into land use planning to achieve both sustainable development and environmental conservation. This paper discusses various strategies and approaches that can be adopted to effectively manage water resources while considering the impacts of land use decisions on the environment. Better public awareness and better enforcement of water conservation rules result from this integration, which makes it possible for land use authorities and water management agencies to collaborate more effectively. This study acknowledges the need for strategic planning and cooperation between water management and land use authorities to address the growing challenges of water resources management and environmental protection. Emphasizing stakeholder participation, adaptive management, and continuous monitoring can lead to successful outcomes and a more resilient and sustainable future. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Agricultural Economic Transformation and Sustainable Development)

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13 pages, 236 KiB

Open AccessEssay

Empirical Research on Factors Influencing Chinese Farmers’ Adoption of Green Production Technologies

by Xiaojuan Fan, Guanghui Meng and Qingming Zhang

Sustainability 2024, 16(13), 5657; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16135657 - 2 Jul 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1665

Abstract

During a critical period of structural reform in China’s agricultural supply chain, accelerating the promotion and application of green production technologies emerges as a pivotal strategy to ensure the quality and safety of agricultural products while advancing agricultural modernization. This study empirically examines [...] Read more.

During a critical period of structural reform in China’s agricultural supply chain, accelerating the promotion and application of green production technologies emerges as a pivotal strategy to ensure the quality and safety of agricultural products while advancing agricultural modernization. This study empirically examines the factors influencing farmers’ adoption of green production technologies using an ordered logistic model based on survey data collected from 533 respondents in Shandong Province. The survey targeted regions where major economic crops such as corn and soybeans are cultivated, employing simple random sampling to ensure the data’s representativeness and reliability. The findings underscore several critical factors influencing farmers’ willingness to adopt green production technologies, including the presence of quality inspections, evaluations of restrictions on prohibited pesticide use, sales performance of green products, availability of government subsidies, and traceability of agricultural products. To foster greater adoption of green production technologies and propel the transformation of China’s agriculture, it is recommended to advocate and guide green agricultural practices, enhance green agricultural subsidy policies, and strengthen agricultural product market management systems. These measures are essential for ensuring sustainable agricultural development in China. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Agricultural Economic Transformation and Sustainable Development)

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