The impact and spatial difference of agricultural producer services industry on agricultural development: an empirical analysis based on provincial panel data

Abstract

The acting mechanisms of agricultural producer services industry on agricultural development remains much debated. This study applied provincial panel data in China to empirically research the influence of agricultural producer services on agricultural structure adjustment, income of farmers and agricultural production efficiency. Results indicate that agricultural information, science and technology promotion significantly promote agricultural development. But from regional perspective, results show that there are geographical differences in the roles of different types of agricultural production service industry playing. In major grain producing area, the agricultural production service industry is not a major role in optimising the agricultural structure, and financial and insurance services, agricultural technology extension services and agricultural sale services have play positive roles in increasing agricultural income and upgrading efficiency of agricultural production. However, the agricultural financial and insurance services and information services promote agricultural industrial structure optimisation, income and agricultural production efficiency in economic crops production areas.