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Agriculture
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Agricultural Policies toward Sustainable Farm Development
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Agricultural Policies toward Sustainable Farm Development

A special issue of Agriculture (ISSN 2077-0472). This special issue belongs to the section "Agricultural Economics, Policies and Rural Management".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 25 August 2024 | Viewed by 14676

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Pan Dan

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Finance, Jiangxi University of Finance and Economics, No.168, East Shuanggang Road, Nanchang 330013, China
Interests: agriculture sustainable development; agricultural policy evaluation; farmers’ behavior; livestock pollution management; waste management
Prof. Dr. Fanbin Kong

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Economics and Management, Zhejiang A&F University, Hangzhou, China
Interests: rural revitalization; rural environment; forestry management; farmers’ behavior

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Sustainable farm development is a pivotal force to address the pressing challenges of food security, environmental pollution, climate change, and biodiversity loss. Promoting sustainable farm development is the main content of Sustainable Development Goals and is imperative to ensuring the harmonious coexistence of agricultural growth and environmental preservation.

Agricultural policy plays a vital role in driving sustainable farm development. Well-designed policies can provide incentives for farmers to adopt sustainable practices, such as offering subsidies for organic certification or promoting the use of renewable energy sources in agriculture. Moreover, agricultural policies can facilitate the dissemination of knowledge and best practices through training programs and extension services, empowering farmers to make informed decisions and implement sustainable farming methods. Policy interventions can also address market failures and ensure fair pricing mechanisms, which can incentivize farmers to invest in sustainable practices without compromising their economic viability.

This Special Issue aims to shed light on the crucial aspects of sustainable farm development and the pivotal role played by agricultural policy in achieving this goal. More specifically, the topics of interest include but are not limited to the following:

  • Evaluate the impact of agricultural policies on sustainable farm development;
  • The assessment of sustainable farm development levels in different regions;
  • Some case studies of successful policy interventions on sustainable farm development;
  • Farmers' preference for agricultural policies toward sustainable farm development;
  • The influencing factors of farmers' sustainable farm practices adoption behavior;
  • The welfare effects of sustainable farm development.

Prof. Dr. Pan Dan
Prof. Dr. Fanbin Kong
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Agriculture is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • agricultural policy
  • sustainability
  • farm development
  • sustainable farm practices
  • governance and economics
  • environmentally friendly agricultural technology adoption
  • farmers’ behavior
  • welfare effects

Published Papers (13 papers)

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Research

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21 pages, 5688 KiB  
Article
Exploring Symbiosis: Innovatively Unveiling the Interplay between the Cold Chain Logistics of Fresh Agricultural Products and the Ecological Environment
by Yingdan Zhang, Xuemei Fan, Yingying Cao and Jiahui Xue
Agriculture 2024, 14(4), 609; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture14040609 - 12 Apr 2024
Viewed by 631
Abstract
Cold chain logistics are crucial for reducing agricultural product loss, yet the environmental impact of energy and packaging consumption, among others, demands attention, making the search for eco-friendly development modes essential. Based on data from 30 provinces in China from 2015 to 2021, [...] Read more.
Cold chain logistics are crucial for reducing agricultural product loss, yet the environmental impact of energy and packaging consumption, among others, demands attention, making the search for eco-friendly development modes essential. Based on data from 30 provinces in China from 2015 to 2021, this study analyzes the basic correlation between the development of cold chain logistics of fresh agricultural products (CCLFAP) and the ecological environment (EE) by using a random forest regression model in comparison with the XGBoost model. Correlation heatmaps were used to analyze the relationships between the cold chain logistics of fresh agricultural products and various factors of the ecological environment. The generalized additive model was then used to establish the connection between cold chain logistics and the ecological environment, identifying significant factors impacting EE. The results demonstrate that a higher development level of cold chain logistics corresponds to a better development trend of EE. The economic efficiency and technical aspects of cold chain logistics for fresh agricultural products are closely related to ecological pressures and responses. The number of employees in the logistics industry, the trading volume of fresh agricultural products, the number of refrigerated vehicles, and the capacity of the cold room have significant positive correlations with the ecological environment, while the per capita consumption of fresh agricultural products, the number of cold chain logistics patent applications, and the road density had significant negative correlations with the ecological environment. The effects of the number of cold chain logistics enterprises and the freight turnover of agricultural products transported by the cold chain on the ecological environment fluctuated. These findings contribute to reducing climate and environmental emergencies throughout the life cycle, offering sustainable development solutions for the fresh agricultural product cold chain logistics industry. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Agricultural Policies toward Sustainable Farm Development)
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16 pages, 611 KiB  
Article
Analysis of the Club Convergence and Driving Factors of China’s Green Agricultural Development Levels
by Silin Chen and Xiangyu Guo
Agriculture 2024, 14(4), 553; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture14040553 - 31 Mar 2024
Viewed by 659
Abstract
Green agricultural development opens up a feasible way for China to construct sustainable communities and promote rural revitalization strategies. However, a clear gap on the subject sets apart various regions in China, resulting in off-balance development. This paper, based on the panel data [...] Read more.
Green agricultural development opens up a feasible way for China to construct sustainable communities and promote rural revitalization strategies. However, a clear gap on the subject sets apart various regions in China, resulting in off-balance development. This paper, based on the panel data from 31 provinces (municipalities and autonomous regions) in China from 2013 to 2020, established an evaluation index system for China’s green agricultural development levels, measured the green agricultural development in different regions, and applied the log(t) model, the Ordered Probit model, and the Ordered Logit model to identify convergence trends and causes of China’s green agricultural development level club convergence, respectively. Our research found the following: (1) The green agricultural development levels in various regions in China are on the rise, and regional gaps are still significant. The output of green agricultural products is the focus of various regions in promoting green agricultural development. (2) The green agricultural development levels in China’s 31 provinces (municipalities and autonomous regions) have converged to four clubs. China is gradually forming a convergence pattern of green agricultural development levels, with the main agricultural production areas as the core. (3) The regional gap at the level of environmental regulation for green agricultural development first narrows, then expands, and then narrows. The intensity of environmental regulation in most areas is in the first stage. This indicates that China should continue to maintain the current intensity and promote green agricultural development levels to converge towards high-level clubs. In addition, the GDP, grain production area, fiscal support for agriculture, and rural human capital can narrow the gaps in green agricultural development levels between regions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Agricultural Policies toward Sustainable Farm Development)
26 pages, 28640 KiB  
Article
Analysis of Dynamic Evolution and Driving Factors of Low-Carbon Utilization Efficiency of Cultivated Land in China
by Yuan Tian and Xiuyi Shi
Agriculture 2024, 14(4), 526; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture14040526 - 26 Mar 2024
Viewed by 773
Abstract
In order to cope with global climate warming, measurement of the low-carbon utilization efficiency (LCUE) of cultivated land, considering carbon sink and carbon emission effects, is proposed. To address this, based on the data of 30 provinces in China, this study conducts a [...] Read more.
In order to cope with global climate warming, measurement of the low-carbon utilization efficiency (LCUE) of cultivated land, considering carbon sink and carbon emission effects, is proposed. To address this, based on the data of 30 provinces in China, this study conducts a LCUE evaluation system by the MinDS-U-M productivity index model in order to analyze the spatiotemporal patterns and driving factors of LCUE with the geographic detector model and GTWR model. The results show the following: (1) Over the past 20 years, the average LCUE value exhibits a slow increasing trend from 2001 to 2021, which ranges from 0.9864 to 1.0272. Provinces with mid-level LCUE ranging from 1.0000 to 1.0990 account for the highest proportion in each period. (2) The annual growth rate of LCUE in the central region is the highest, where the promotion of green technology and farmland protection policies have played important roles. (3) According to the Geodetector analysis, urbanization rate (UR), irrigation index (IR), grain output value (GOV), precipitation (PR), arable land area (ALA), and environmental pollution control (EPC) are important drivers of the spatial difference of LCUE. (4) The GTWR model shows that the positive effects of ALA and SRT have always been concentrated in the main grain-producing areas over time. UR and PR have strong explanatory power for the space/time differentiation of LCUE, especially in eastern coastal regions. IR has an increasing effect on LCUE in the Western region, and the positive effect of EPC on the LCUE is concentrated in the central region. In order to coordinate regional LCUE contradictions, it is suggested to be wary of land resource damage caused by economic development, warn about the impacts of climate change, and strengthen the supervision of land remediation projects in order to achieve sustainable land management. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Agricultural Policies toward Sustainable Farm Development)
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16 pages, 2632 KiB  
Article
How Does Developing Green Agriculture Affect Poverty? Evidence from China’s Prefecture-Level Cities
by Xingling Jiang, Yong Sun, Mou Shen and Lixia Tang
Agriculture 2024, 14(3), 402; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture14030402 - 01 Mar 2024
Viewed by 782
Abstract
Eradicating poverty and improving human well-being are pivotal objectives for achieving global sustainable development. Sustainable agriculture, as a key domain, plays a crucial role in addressing poverty. However, to date, there remains insufficient research on the specific impact of agricultural green development on [...] Read more.
Eradicating poverty and improving human well-being are pivotal objectives for achieving global sustainable development. Sustainable agriculture, as a key domain, plays a crucial role in addressing poverty. However, to date, there remains insufficient research on the specific impact of agricultural green development on poverty. To bridge this gap, we utilize panel data from 273 prefecture-level cities in China from 2006 to 2022 to explore how agricultural green development affects poverty based on constructing a regional multidimensional poverty index and an index of green agriculture. Our study reveals that agricultural green development effectively reduces poverty, particularly in regions of deep poverty and the eastern part of China. Further mediating analysis indicates the alleviation of poverty by agricultural green development through the infrastructure, the industrial structure, and the green technology innovation effect. Our findings offer valuable insights for informing policies on agricultural green development and poverty reduction, as well as for improving government resource allocation and strengthening resilience in impoverished areas. By deepening our understanding of the link between green agriculture and poverty, this research significantly contributes to global agricultural sustainability and expedites poverty eradication worldwide. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Agricultural Policies toward Sustainable Farm Development)
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19 pages, 1455 KiB  
Article
Balancing Acts: Unveiling the Dynamics of Revitalization Policies in China’s Old Revolutionary Areas of Gannan
by Wenmei Liao, Ruolan Yuan, Xu Zhang, Na Li and Hailan Qiu
Agriculture 2024, 14(3), 354; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture14030354 - 23 Feb 2024
Viewed by 638
Abstract
A series of revitalization policies (RPs) have been implemented in China’s Old Revolutionary Areas (ORAs). Evaluating the impact of these RPs is of paramount importance for refining policy design and achieving the goal of common prosperity. This study focuses on the ORAs in [...] Read more.
A series of revitalization policies (RPs) have been implemented in China’s Old Revolutionary Areas (ORAs). Evaluating the impact of these RPs is of paramount importance for refining policy design and achieving the goal of common prosperity. This study focuses on the ORAs in Gannan (ORAG) and employs the Propensity Score Matching Difference-in-Differences (PSM-DID) method to assess the effects of the RPs from two perspectives: stimulating economic growth and increasing farmers’ income, utilizing county-level data spanning from 2006 to 2019. The findings of this study reveal that while the RP restrains the growth of per capita GDP in ORAG, it significantly promotes the growth of farmers’ income. Moreover, it plays a crucial role in reducing the income gap between ORAG and Jiangxi Province, thus promoting the common prosperity of farmers in ORAG. A detailed examination using quantile regression shows that the RP has a significant and consistent negative impact on GDP per capita GDP at different quantile points. At the same time, it has a significant positive effect on increasing farmers’ income at the 25% quantile point, effectively reducing income inequality among farmers at all quantile levels. The mechanism analysis shows that the RP has stimulated increased government investment in ORAG, leading to an increase in farmers’ incomes and a reduction in income disparities. However, the study also highlights the existence of a “policy trap” that has hindered the RP’s effectiveness in ORAG. Drawing upon these findings, this paper offers policy recommendations to enhance the impact of RP in ORAs. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Agricultural Policies toward Sustainable Farm Development)
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16 pages, 294 KiB  
Article
The Effect of Hog Futures in Stabilizing Hog Production
by Chunlei Li, Gangyi Wang, Yuzhuo Shen and Anani Amètépé Nathanaël Beauclair
Agriculture 2024, 14(3), 335; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture14030335 - 20 Feb 2024
Viewed by 773
Abstract
China’s large-scale hog farmers are playing an increasingly important role in promoting the stable development of the hog industry. Taking large-scale hog enterprises as samples, based on hog sales data from January 2019 to July 2022, this paper adopts a two-way fixed-effects model [...] Read more.
China’s large-scale hog farmers are playing an increasingly important role in promoting the stable development of the hog industry. Taking large-scale hog enterprises as samples, based on hog sales data from January 2019 to July 2022, this paper adopts a two-way fixed-effects model to test the impact, mechanism, and heterogeneity of hog futures on the production stability of large-scale hog farmers. The study found that hog futures help promote stable production of large-scale farmers. This finding still holds after a series of robustness tests. The mechanism analysis found that, first, hog futures help large-scale farmers expand their risk management factor inputs. Second, hog futures help reduce the impact of hog price risk on production. Finally, hog futures help stabilize farmers’ production expectations. The moderating effects analysis found that the stabilizing effect of hog futures will enhance as farmers’ share of hog farming operations increases. Heterogeneity analysis found that when hog prices fluctuate negatively, hog futures help promote the stable production of large-scale farmers. When hog prices fluctuate positively, the production stabilization effect of hog futures is not obvious. Therefore, hog enterprises should be encouraged to participate in hog futures hedging transactions to promote stable hog production. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Agricultural Policies toward Sustainable Farm Development)
25 pages, 610 KiB  
Article
Impacts of Capital Endowment on Farmers’ Choices in Fertilizer-Reduction and Efficiency-Increasing Technologies (Preferences, Influences, and Mechanisms): A Case Study of Apple Farmers in the Provinces of Shaanxi and Gansu, China
by Yihan Chen, Wen Xiang and Minjuan Zhao
Agriculture 2024, 14(1), 147; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture14010147 - 19 Jan 2024
Viewed by 960
Abstract
On the basis of data collected from 1208 apple farmers in the provinces of Shaanxi and Gansu, this study utilizes the weighted-frequency method to investigate the priority sequence of farmers’ preferences in choosing fertilizer-reduction and efficiency-increasing technologies. Subsequently, ordered-probit models, a mediating-effect model, [...] Read more.
On the basis of data collected from 1208 apple farmers in the provinces of Shaanxi and Gansu, this study utilizes the weighted-frequency method to investigate the priority sequence of farmers’ preferences in choosing fertilizer-reduction and efficiency-increasing technologies. Subsequently, ordered-probit models, a mediating-effect model, and a moderating-effect model are employed to empirically analyze the influence of capital endowment on farmers’ choices related to fertilizer-reduction and efficiency-increasing technologies and their underlying mechanisms. The study further examines how agricultural-technology extension moderates these mechanisms. The main findings are: (1) The priority sequence of farmers’ choices concerning fertilizer-reduction and efficiency-increasing technologies is as follows: organic fertilizer substitution, new efficient fertilizers, soil testing and formula fertilization, green manure cultivation, straw mulching, fertilizer-reduction application, and deep mechanical application. (2) Capital endowment significantly enhances farmers’ choices in fertilizer-reduction and efficiency-increasing technologies. (3) The mechanism analyses indicate that capital endowment can promote farmers’ choices in fertilizer-reduction and efficiency-increasing technologies by improving their information-acquisition capabilities. (4) Moderation effects reveal that agricultural-technology extension methods, such as technical training, financial subsidies, and government publicity, significantly and positively moderate the relationship between information-acquisition capabilities and farmers’ choices in fertilizer-reduction and efficiency-increasing technologies. The moderating effects of educational attainment and generational differences on different agricultural-technology extension methods are heterogeneous. Technical training, financial subsidies, and government publicity can effectively enhance the positive impact of information-acquisition capabilities on farmers with a higher educational attainment. Financial subsidies can effectively strengthen the positive impact of information-acquisition capabilities on the older generation of farmers. Therefore, it is recommended to prioritize the accumulation of farmers’ capital endowment, improve their information-acquisition capabilities, and intensify agricultural-technology extension efforts, especially taking into account farmers’ educational attainment and generational differences. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Agricultural Policies toward Sustainable Farm Development)
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17 pages, 848 KiB  
Article
Impact of Agricultural Cooperatives on Farmers’ Collective Action: A Study Based on the Socio-Ecological System Framework
by Xiaoyan Zhu and Guangyao Wang
Agriculture 2024, 14(1), 96; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture14010096 - 04 Jan 2024
Viewed by 1559
Abstract
Agricultural cooperatives greatly influence agricultural and rural modernization in China. Based on 381 farmer samples in the arid Tarim River Basin, this empirical study aimed to construct an index system for the exploration of the relationship between cooperatives and farmers’ collective action by [...] Read more.
Agricultural cooperatives greatly influence agricultural and rural modernization in China. Based on 381 farmer samples in the arid Tarim River Basin, this empirical study aimed to construct an index system for the exploration of the relationship between cooperatives and farmers’ collective action by using the Socio-Ecological System framework. The results showed that agricultural cooperatives helped to empower farmers to act collectively. Agricultural cooperatives, with the mechanisms of collective decision making, institutional constraints, and internal supervision, could realize the integration of resources required for farmers’ collective action and promote the sharing of risks and benefits. By providing financing support and a platform for resource integration, cooperatives could reduce constrains induced by economic difference among farmers; enhance village leadership, organization, and coordination; and promote the accumulation of social capital and villagers’ sense of identity with the village. Particularly, cooperatives could support farmers to adopt water-saving irrigation technologies and reduce their over-dependence on chemical pesticides and fertilizers, thus promoting farmers’ collective action. Therefore, the development of agricultural cooperatives will help enhance farmers’ collective action, promote the modernization of rural governance, and realize rural revitalization. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Agricultural Policies toward Sustainable Farm Development)
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16 pages, 1689 KiB  
Article
The Impact of Digital Technology Use on Farmers’ Land Transfer-In: Empirical Evidence from Jiangsu, China
by Hengyuan Zeng, Jingru Chen and Qiang Gao
Agriculture 2024, 14(1), 89; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture14010089 - 01 Jan 2024
Viewed by 1755
Abstract
In China, characterized by its vast population and limited land, expanding the scale of agricultural operations through the transfer of land management rights is a crucial pathway to achieving agricultural modernization. Using data from the China Land Economic Survey (CLES), we empirically explored [...] Read more.
In China, characterized by its vast population and limited land, expanding the scale of agricultural operations through the transfer of land management rights is a crucial pathway to achieving agricultural modernization. Using data from the China Land Economic Survey (CLES), we empirically explored the influence of digital technology use on land transfer-in by farmers. Employing the Probit model and the KHB method, this study examined the mechanisms underlying this relationship and addressed the issue of endogeneity through the Conditional Mixed Process (CMP) model, grounded in the instrumental variable method. Key findings include: (1) both the accessibility and the depth of digital technology use significantly facilitated land transfer-in by farmers. For every one-unit increase in digital technology accessibility, the likelihood of land transfer-in escalated by 6.2%; similarly, a one-unit rise in the depth of digital technology use increased this probability by 2.6%. (2) An analysis of the mechanisms indicates that social networks and credit availability played partial mediating roles in the impact of digital technology accessibility and depth on land transfer-in, with social networks exhibiting a stronger mediation effect. (3) Heterogeneity analysis suggests that the impact of digital technology use on land transfer-in was more pronounced in peri-urban villages and among farmers with higher literacy levels. In light of these findings, we proposed policy recommendations to accelerate the development of rural digital infrastructure, enhance digital skill training for farm households, and vigorously promote rural digital inclusive finance. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Agricultural Policies toward Sustainable Farm Development)
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16 pages, 1616 KiB  
Article
Rural E-Commerce and Agricultural Carbon Emission Reduction: A Quasi-Natural Experiment from China’s Rural E-Commerce Demonstration County Program Based on 355 Cities in Ten Years
by Kaiwen Ji, Qiaoyun Hou, Yi Yu and Dan Pan
Agriculture 2024, 14(1), 75; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture14010075 - 30 Dec 2023
Viewed by 908
Abstract
Reducing carbon emissions is of paramount importance to the accomplishment of the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals. The effect of rural e-commerce on agricultural carbon emissions (ACEs) is controversial, and particularly the mechanism behind the effect is unknown. To identify the impact of rural [...] Read more.
Reducing carbon emissions is of paramount importance to the accomplishment of the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals. The effect of rural e-commerce on agricultural carbon emissions (ACEs) is controversial, and particularly the mechanism behind the effect is unknown. To identify the impact of rural e-commerce on agricultural carbon emissions and its mechanisms, we take advantage of China’s Rural E-Commerce Demonstration County Program (REDCP) as a quasi-natural experiment and use the multi-period difference-in-difference (DID) model to investigate the relationship between rural e-commerce and agricultural carbon emissions. Our data are based on panel data of 355 prefecture-level cities from 2010 to 2019 in China. We identify that rural e-commerce can reduce agricultural carbon emissions by an average of 14.4%, but this effect is not long-lasting. Mechanism analyses suggest that the reduction effect of rural e-commerce on agricultural carbon emissions is mainly due to fostering agricultural economic growth, increasing the share of low-carbon industry, and improving agricultural total factor productivity (TFP). Further heterogeneity analyses demonstrate that rural e-commerce has better carbon emissions reduction performance in eastern cities as well as in non-major grain-producing cities in China. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Agricultural Policies toward Sustainable Farm Development)
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18 pages, 1015 KiB  
Article
Does Outsourcing Service Reduce the Excessive Use of Chemical Fertilizers in Rural China? The Moderating Effects of Farm Size and Plot Size
by Bowei Li, Yanjun Qian and Fanbin Kong
Agriculture 2023, 13(10), 1869; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture13101869 - 25 Sep 2023
Viewed by 1162
Abstract
The excessive use of chemical fertilizers (OCF) is one of China’s main sources of agricultural nonpoint source pollution. It is debatable whether outsourcing service adoption (FOS) reduces OCF. This article argues that farm size and plot size can moderate the effectiveness of FOS [...] Read more.
The excessive use of chemical fertilizers (OCF) is one of China’s main sources of agricultural nonpoint source pollution. It is debatable whether outsourcing service adoption (FOS) reduces OCF. This article argues that farm size and plot size can moderate the effectiveness of FOS in reducing OCF. Particularly, organizations earn more profits when they provide outsourcing services to large-sized farms and plots, thereby preventing their opportunistic behavior and reducing the OCF. Based on the survey data of wheat growers from six major grain-producing counties in Anhui Province, China, the Cobb–Douglas production function is used to measure the OCF, and ordinary least squares (OLS) estimation is used as a benchmark. In addition, propensity score matching (PSM) is used to eliminate the selection bias, and two-stage least squares estimation (IV-2sls) is used to eliminate endogeneity. The results indicate that approximately 90% of the sampled households used excessive fertilizers, signifying that the excessive use of chemical fertilizers in China’s agricultural production remains a serious problem. FOS reduces the OCF on large farms and plots. However, the effectiveness of FOS in reducing OCF disappeared when it was provided to small farms and plots. Extending FOS and organizing efficient land transfers should receive equal consideration from policymakers. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Agricultural Policies toward Sustainable Farm Development)
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20 pages, 644 KiB  
Article
The Impact of Rural Industrial Integration on Agricultural Green Productivity Based on the Contract Choice Perspective of Farmers
by Han Zhang and Dongli Wu
Agriculture 2023, 13(9), 1851; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture13091851 - 21 Sep 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1175
Abstract
Promoting farmers’ participation in rural industrial integration and driving farmers’ agricultural production with cooperatives and agribusinesses are conducive to realizing cost saving, efficiency, and green production and guaranteeing food security and sustainable agricultural development. Based on the microsurvey data of 1039 grain farmers [...] Read more.
Promoting farmers’ participation in rural industrial integration and driving farmers’ agricultural production with cooperatives and agribusinesses are conducive to realizing cost saving, efficiency, and green production and guaranteeing food security and sustainable agricultural development. Based on the microsurvey data of 1039 grain farmers in Henan Province, China in 2022, this paper examined the impact of contractual choices of farmers’ participation in rural industrial integration on agricultural green productivity while analyzing the mechanism of action by using OLS regression, a causal mediation analysis of instrumental variables, propensity score matching, and two-stage least squares (2SLS). The study found that: (1) farmers’ participation in a contract, driven by cooperatives or agribusinesses to carry out agricultural production, is conducive to improving their agricultural green productivity, but the effect of each main body to drive farmers varies; (2) farmers’ participation in a contract, through cooperatives or agribusinesses to obtain all kinds of agricultural production services—such as agricultural machinery services, agricultural supply services, and technical guidance services—improves the use of agricultural machinery, the standardization of chemical fertilizers, pesticides, and other agricultural materials’ use, increases technical guidance, and improves agricultural green productivity. The findings of this paper suggest policy and practical implications for safeguarding food security and promoting sustainable agriculture, as well as enriching research on agricultural productivity. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Agricultural Policies toward Sustainable Farm Development)
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Review

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15 pages, 5095 KiB  
Review
Mapping the Research into Mental Health in the Farming Environment: A Bibliometric Review from Scopus and WoS Databases
by Manel Díaz Llobet, Manel Plana-Farran, Micaela L. Riethmuller, Victor Rodríguez Lizano, Silvia Solé Cases and Mercè Teixidó
Agriculture 2024, 14(1), 88; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture14010088 - 31 Dec 2023
Viewed by 1291
Abstract
A significant part of the world economy is devoted to agriculture. The sector accounts for 27% of global employment and 4% of global GDP. Approximately 28.5 million farms are located in Europe and Latin America. In this sector, many uncertainties negatively impact farmers’ [...] Read more.
A significant part of the world economy is devoted to agriculture. The sector accounts for 27% of global employment and 4% of global GDP. Approximately 28.5 million farms are located in Europe and Latin America. In this sector, many uncertainties negatively impact farmers’ mental and emotional well-being. Many factors contribute to increased stress and a worsening of farmers’ mental health, including health problems resulting from the conducting their profession, economic uncertainty, the effects of climate change, and technological changes in the agricultural sector. Despite the existence of literature review studies related to mental health in agriculture, no bibliometric review study has been conducted. This article presents the first in-depth bibliometric analysis of the scientific literature on mental health in agriculture and operates based on Scopus and Web of Science databases. The results are presented as tables and explanatory diagrams describing the findings. The findings show the exponential increase in research in the last ten years and the evolution towards more social and health-related topics across the previous five years. The most common keywords are “suicide”, “stress”, and “depression”. No topic has been found where the current scientific production was significantly larger than the rest, indicating the wide variety of research sub-topics in this field. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Agricultural Policies toward Sustainable Farm Development)
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Displaying articles 1-13

Planned Papers

The below list represents only planned manuscripts. Some of these manuscripts have not been received by the Editorial Office yet. Papers submitted to MDPI journals are subject to peer-review.

Title: Does the return of labor force promote farmers' e-commerce entrepreneurship? Evidence from rural China
Authors: Hailan Qiu
Affiliation: Jiangxi Agricultural University

Title: A Study on the Willingness and Behavioral Bias of Technical Perception in Adopting Specialized Integrated Prevention and Control Ruling: A Case Study of Rice Planters in Jiangxi Province
Authors: Zhihua Wu
Affiliation: Jiangxi Agricultural University
Abstract: A Study on the Willingness and Behavioral Bias of Technical Perception in Adopting Specialized Integrated Prevention and Control Ruling: A Case Study of Rice Planters in Jiangxi Province

Title: Can human capital enhancement promote entrepreneurial behavior of farm households
Authors: Jiawei Wang
Affiliation: Jiangxi Agricultural University

Title: Research on the Level Evaluation, Influencing Factors and Driving Mechanism of Urban-Rural Integration Development --Taking the Pilot Region of Urban-Rural Integration Reform in Guangdong, China as an Example
Author: Zeng
Highlights: (1)summarizes the historical evolutionary trends and coupled coordination patterns of urban-rural integration and reform areas in Guangdong, China. (2)analyzes the quantitative relationship between industrial integration, population integration and cultural life integration. (3)analyzes the obstacles to the sustainable development of urban villages, peri-urban villages and remote villages. (4)analyzes the driving mechanism of sustainable development of urban-rural integration and the current mistakes.

Title: Research on the Spatiotemporal Evolution and Influencing Factors of Multifunction of Cultivated Land in Southwestern Mountainous Areas Based on the Background of Sustainable Farm Development
Author: Yang
Highlights: 1. Scientific evaluation of the multifunction of cultivated land from the perspective of sustainable agricultural development. 2. Implement an organic combination of qualitative and quantitative evaluation, using a combination of Lagrange function, Euclidean distance function, and FAHP Entropy weight determination method. 3. Revealed the spatial heterogeneity of multifunction of cultivated land in the southwestern mountainous areas at the municipal level.

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