How do different rural-land-consolidation modes shape farmers’ ecological production behaviors?

Abstract

Currently, rapid advances in agricultural science and technology are playing a significant role in increasing crop production levels, but this is also causing serious ecological problems, such as soil degradation and water pollution associated with the overuse of fertilizers, pesticides, and agricultural films. Rural land consolidation (RLC), an effective means of restructuring rural production, life, and ecological spaces, can affect the ecological production behaviors (EPBs) of farmers. However, little is known about how the RLC influences the EPBs of farmers. To answer this question, in this study, data were collected from Central China (the major crop-producing areas), with which the effects of different rural-land-consolidation modes were identified and compared concerning how they affect the EPBs of farmers. Using the propensity score matching with the difference in differences (PSM-DID) method, the results reveal that: (1) The RLC has a great impact on farmers’ EPBs and can effectively promote the use of fewer chemical fertilizers, pesticides, and agricultural films. (2) The effects of different RLC modes on farmers’ EPBs are diverse. The market-led mode was found to better promote the use of fewer chemical fertilizers and pesticides by farmers, whereas the local-government-led mode was found to better promote the use of fewer agricultural films by farmers. (3) The influence of RLC on farmer EPBs was found to vary greatly in areas with different geomorphic characteristics. Compared with the promotion effects of RLC on farmers’ EPBs in plains areas, those in mountainous areas are more significant in promoting their use of fewer chemical fertilizers, pesticides, and agricultural films. The results of this study reveal the internal mechanism of the impact of RLC on farmers’ EPBs and extend the body of existing research on the ecological effects of different RLC modes. Local governments should not only continue to increase their investment in RLC but also become aware of which RLC mode to employ. Policy-makers can actively align the desired EPBs of farmers with the appropriate RLC mode and shape these behaviors via targeted RLC strategies.