Agricultural Technology Extension Research Articles

Green agricultural technology extension strategies considering industrial organization impacts: Direct subsidy VS indirect incentive

Considering an agricultural production and consumption system composed of the government, enterprise, farmers and consumers, this paper constructs models for green agricultural technologies (GATs) extension based on the contract farming and cooperative, so as to investigate the interaction mechanism between promotion strategies and agricultural industrial organizations (AIOs) as well as its effect on GATs extension. The results show that direct subsidy and indirect incentive both can promote GATs, but the incentive mechanisms of the two promotion strategies are different; under the two AIOs, the optimal promotion strategy to the government is related to the coefficient of indirect incentive cost, and the direct subsidy and indirect incentive both have advantage intervals; given promotion strategies of the government, the combination of direct subsidy and the cooperative can increase the profit of green farmers, while the combination of indirect incentive and the contract farming can increase the amount of green farmers; based on interaction mechanism, the combination of indirect incentive and the contract farming as well as the combination of direct subsidy and the cooperative both can achieve Nash equilibrium from perspectives of the government and enterprise, however, the maximum promotion effect of GATs can be achieved only within its advantage interval. Thus, our research can provide theoretical guidance for governments to make better decisions on promotion strategies, and also is helpful to enterprises to choose optimal AIOs in the process of green transformation of agriculture.

Does internet usage drive antibiotic reduction in China's livestock industry? Evidence from Chinese duck farmers

The reduction of antibiotics in livestock farming is of great significance for ensuring the safety of meat-derived food and reducing farming pollution. Agricultural technology extension can precisely, efficiently, and cost-effectively provide frontline concepts and technologies for antibiotic reduction to farmers. However, there is still a lack of empirical evidence on the impact of Internet usage on antibiotic reduction among farmers. Based on survey data from 1005 duck farmers in 9 provinces across China, this study empirically analyzes the impact of Internet usage on the reduction of antibiotics among duck farmers and its underlying mechanisms. The results indicate that Internet usage significantly affects antibiotic reduction among farmers, a conclusion that holds true after endogeneity testing and robustness testing. Cognition of ecological benefits and cognition of health benefits are crucial pathways for promoting antibiotic reduction in farming, and Internet usage significantly enhances farmers' cognition of ecological and health benefits. Regarding information effectiveness, technical training exhibits complementary effects on Internet usage. The marginal effects of Internet usage on antibiotic reduction among farmers are significantly enhanced when the quantity and quality of family labor are at a medium level or higher. Internet usage has a substantial impact on antibiotic reduction among farmers when the quantity of family labor is at a medium level or higher, and information effectiveness can effectively promote antibiotic reduction in farming. There is no apparent heterogeneity in the impact of information effectiveness on antibiotic reduction among farmers of different quality groups.

Does Farmers’ Cognition Enhance Their Enthusiasm for Adopting Sustainable Digital Agricultural Extension Services? Evidence from Rural China

The service model of digital agricultural technology extension, as a novel and sustainable approach, plays a pivotal role in facilitating the digital transformation of farmers’ agricultural practices. Leveraging survey data from 1475 farmers in China, the study employed a multivariate ordered logit model to investigate the relationship between farmers’ cognition and enthusiasm to adopt digital agricultural extension services. The findings revealed that subjective and objective cognitions positively influence farmers’ enthusiasm for adopting digital agricultural extension services. Furthermore, policy incentives, as a significant regulatory factor, effectively influence farmers’ cognition levels and enthusiasm to adopt digital agricultural extension services. Additionally, female respondents, farmers with higher educational levels, and membership in agricultural cooperatives all facilitate the adoption of these services. This study not only enriches the theoretical framework for agricultural technology promotion, aiding in the understanding of farmers’ decision-making processes when adopting digital agricultural extension services, but also provides a deeper insight into the role of digital agricultural technologies in promoting sustainable agricultural development, offering scientific evidence for relevant policy formulation and implementation.

Influence of university agricultural technology extension on efficient and sustainable agriculture

Agricultural extension, as an important part of modern agriculture, can promote the scientific transformation of the traditional agricultural production model. This paper analysed the impact of university agricultural technology extension on efficient and sustainable agriculture using difference-in-differences model (DID). The results showed that university agricultural technology extension plays a facilitating role by influencing the coordinated development and green development dimensions in efficient and sustainable agriculture; there is a moderating effect of modern agricultural industrial parked in university agricultural technology extension and efficient and sustainable agriculture; there are significant differences in the impact of university agricultural technology extension on efficient and sustainable agriculture across regions and different levels of development. The findings have important implications for evaluating the effectiveness of current university agricultural extension policies and how to further promote university agricultural extension. The study also established an evaluation index system for efficient and sustainable agriculture, explored the mechanism of university agricultural extension in promoting efficient and sustainable agriculture, and enriched relevant theoretical research.

Does Digital Agricultural Technology Extension Service Enhance Sustainable Food Production? Evidence from Maize Farmers in China

This research aims to investigate the average and heterogeneous impacts of digital agricultural technology extension service use on eco-efficiency among 1302 maize-producing farmers from a major maize-producing area in Northeast China in 2022. The slack-based measure model with undesirable outputs is applied to calculate the eco-efficiency of maize production. To obtain an unbiased estimation of the average effect, the self-selection problem generated by observable and unobservable factors is solved by the endogenous switching regression model. Quantile regression is utilized to analyze the heterogeneous effect. Notably, the mediated effects model is utilized to examine the potential mechanism between them. Our findings indicate that digital agricultural technology extension service use can increase maize production’s eco-efficiency. Digital agricultural technology extension service users would have reduced the eco-efficiency of the service by 0.148 (21.11%) if they had not used it. Digital agricultural technology extension service nonusers would have improved the eco-efficiency of the service by 0.214 (35.20%) if they had used it. The robustness check reconfirms the results. Moreover, digital agricultural technology extension service use is more helpful for maize farmers who have lower eco-efficiency than those who have higher eco-efficiency. Digital agricultural technology extension service use can improve the eco-efficiency of maize production through the application of organic fertilizers, green pesticides, and biodegradable agricultural films. There are policy implications of these findings: there is an argument for using the publicity of the digital agricultural technology extension service to encourage farmers to use sustainable inputs; additionally, it might be worthwhile to implement a categorized promotion strategy based on the different real-world situations.

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

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.

Do digital agricultural technology extension services promote the adoption of organomineral fertilizer use? Evidence from China

Do digital agricultural technology extension services promote the adoption of organomineral fertilizer use? Evidence from China

DISEMINASI PEMANFAATAN ECENG GONDOK (EICHORNIA CRASSIPES) MENJADI PUPUK ORGANIK CAIR SEBAGAI IMPLEMENTASI PERTANIAN DAN PERAIRAN BERKELANJUTAN

The purpose of this service program is to provide information and empower the community through dissemination in the form of environmentally friendly agricultural technology extension activities in the hope of increasing food crop production in a sustainable manner. Lampulung Village is one of the villages that has the potential for extensive agricultural land, but the community still dominantly uses chemical fertilizers which have a negative impact on the environment. Therefore, we took the initiative to carry out this counseling activity because Lampulung Village has a very abundant water hyacinth (Eichornia crassipes) population. The potential of water hyacinth as an environmentally friendly liquid fertilizer has a nutrient content that is more easily absorbed by plants, and the manufacturing process can be made in a relatively short time at a relatively low cost. The method used in this service is counseling. Where this activity is carried out through 3 stages, namely the preparation stage, the extension implementation stage, and the evaluation stage. The results of this community service are that the community increasingly understands the importance of preserving the aquatic environment, one of which is through the use of water hyacinth as a liquid organic fertilizer to replace chemical fertilizers, so as to realize sustainable agriculture.

Do Green Production Technologies Improve Household Income? Evidence from Rice Farmers in China

Revealing the behavioral decision-making mechanism and behavioral effects of farmers adopting green production technologies will help motivate farmers to actively adopt green production technologies, thereby promoting the development of green agriculture. A stratified random sampling technique was used to select 607 Chinese rice farmers, while the endogenous switching regression model was used to analyze the influencing factors and behavioral effects of farmers adopting green production technologies. The results show that the adoption of green production technologies by farmers can significantly increase household income. Among the green production technologies, soil testing and formula fertilization technology has the greatest impact on farmers’ income, followed by straw returning technology and planting green manure. The main influencing factors of farmers adopting green production technologies are education level, cultivated land area, cultivated land fragmentation, soil fertility, and the distance between home and agricultural technology stations. The results of this study provide an empirical basis for relevant government departments to carry out agricultural technology extension work and formulate relevant policies.

Promotion methods, social learning and environmentally friendly agricultural technology diffusion: A dynamic perspective

Encouraging farmers to adopt environmentally friendly technology through the rational use of social learning and agricultural technology extension is an effective way to overcome the bottleneck caused by the slow diffusion of environmentally friendly technology. Based on expanding the existing objects of research on farmers’ technology adoption behavior, this paper examines the influence of social learning and agricultural technology extension on farmers’ environmentally friendly technology adoption behavior from a dynamic perspective. In doing so, it enriches theoretical and empirical research on farmers’ technology adoption behavior. Specifically, this paper takes fertigation technology as an example, constructs a dynamic analysis framework that is independent of the case study, and finds that social learning and agricultural technology extension, as the main channels for farmers to obtain technical information, can shorten the duration from awareness to the adoption of fertigation technology. Then, based on survey data, this paper uses the discrete-time cloglog model to conduct an empirical test. The empirical analysis supports the theoretical analysis results, and there is a complementary effect between social learning and traditional and new agricultural technology extension. Heterogeneity analysis shows that social learning and new agricultural technology extension have a greater marginal improvement effect on farmers’ fertigation technology adoption behavior in the middle-aged to young group, middle and high education degree group and above median land scale group. This paper provides not only new empirical evidence to explain farmers' technology adoption behavior under the background of the internet revolution but also a decision-making reference for how to accelerate the construction of multivariate complementary, collaborative and efficient agricultural socialized service systems.

Can Agricultural Productive Services Inhibit Carbon Emissions? Evidence from China

Reducing agricultural carbon emissions (ACE) is important for the sustainable development of agriculture. Agricultural productive services (APS), a novel form of agricultural technology extension, offer new avenues for promoting sustainable and green agriculture. The present study aims to explore the impact of APS on ACE. In line with the aim of the study, the Kernel density, Moran’s I index, spatial Durbin model, and threshold regression model are employed. The findings reveal that APS demonstrate a significant inhibitory effect on ACE, reducing ACE not only within the region itself but also exerting a negative spatial spillover effect on other regions. Furthermore, a non-linear relationship between APS and ACE is observed, characterized by an inverted U-shaped curve with the arable land operating area serving as the threshold. Therefore, to fully harness the inhibitory effect of APS on ACE and to promote environmentally friendly and sustainable agricultural development, policymakers should vigorously develop APS, strengthen regional cooperation, and promote land transfer. Our research can help in understanding the impact of APS on ACE and to promote sustainable agricultural development.

Influence of Agricultural Technology Extension and Social Networks on Chinese Farmers’ Adoption of Conservation Tillage Technology

Agricultural technology extension and social networks are the essential components of formal and informal institutions, respectively, and their influence on agricultural production has been the focus of academics. This article takes conservation tillage technology as an example, based on simple random unduplicated sampling, and uses survey data of 781 farmers in Heilongjiang, Henan, Shandong, and Shanxi provinces of China. This article empirically tests the interaction effects and heterogeneity of agricultural technology extension and social networks on farmers’ adoption of conservation tillage technology and analyzes their substitution effect or complementary effect. The results showed the following: (1) From a single dimension, both agricultural technology extension and social networks can significantly promote farmers’ adoption of conservation tillage technology, and the promotion effect of agricultural technology extension is greater. The average probability of farmers who accept agricultural technology extension and social networks adopting conservation tillage technology increases by 36.49% and 7.09%, respectively. (2) There is a complementary effect between agricultural technology extension and social networks in promoting farmers’ adoption of conservation tillage technology. The two functions complement and support each other, and this complementary effect is more evident in social networks’ reciprocity. (3) Further analysis reveals that the interaction effect between agricultural technology extension and social networks has significant group differences, technology type differences, and regional differences in farmers’ adoption of conservation tillage technology. Therefore, to facilitate the extension and application of conservation tillage technology, efforts need to be made in both agricultural technology extension and social networks, fully leveraging the complementary effects of the two. In addition, differentiated policies and measures should be adopted according to local conditions, and precise policies should be implemented for different groups and technologies.

How far are green products from the Chinese dinner table? ——Chinese farmers’ acceptance of green planting technology

In the global practice of sustainable agricultural development, China has put forward a plan for agricultural green development, with strict control from the production side to ensure the safety and health of green products “from farming land to dinner table” through strict control from the production side, and green planting is one of the key technologies. Green planting technology (GPT) is an important initiative in China to achieve sustainable agriculture under the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Farmers' acceptance of this technology not only requires national publicity and promotion, but also the adoption of agricultural entities across the country. In this study, we widely distributed questionnaires to farmers in 26 provinces and cities, and received 970 valid responses. This paper uses structural equation model (SEM), a multivariate statistical analysis method, to analyze the influencing factors of farmers' intention to adopt GPT. These results demonstrated that the farmers first consider their own behavioral competences and personal gains and losses before deciding to adopt GPT, followed by the impact of people closely related to farming, while environmental concerns and environmental values rank last. Agricultural technology extension plays an intermediary role in farmers’ behavioral intention, and government support acts as a safeguard. The findings will not only help to grasp the reasons behind ineffective promotion of GPT to improve the dissemination and adoption of GPT, but also enable government agencies and authorities to better understand the views of farmers, and subsequently formulate feasible policies and plans.

Improving the net energy and energy utilization efficiency of maize production systems in the North China Plain

Energy analysis of agricultural production is essential to promote sustainable agricultural development. However, the current research on agricultural sustainability in the North China Plain (NCP) mainly focuses on improving grain yield and nitrogen utilization efficiency (NUE), while there are few studies on their energy utilization. This study evaluated the energy utilization characteristics of different yield and NUE category farms and three integrated agronomic approaches in the NCP based on farmer surveys and farm experiments. Compared with the average level of smallholder farms, the net energy (NE) and the energy utilization efficiency (EUE) of high-yield and high-NUE group farms increased by 17% and 22%, respectively, the NE of the high-yield and low-NUE group farms increased by 9%, but the EUE decreased by 12%. The control experiment showed that the NE and EUE achieved using high-yield and high-efficiency agronomic practice (HH) increased by 34% and 18% compared with achieved using traditional farmers' practices, respectively. In conclusion, there is a great opportunity to improve the NE and EUE of the maize production in the NCP by optimizing agronomic practices. Popularizing HH technology by improving agricultural technology extension services is of great significance for improving farmers’ EUE and promoting sustainable agricultural development.

Impact of farmers’ time preference on their adoption intention of bio-pesticides: Based on the moderating effect of agricultural technology extension mode

Impact of farmers’ time preference on their adoption intention of bio-pesticides: Based on the moderating effect of agricultural technology extension mode

Analysis and Evaluation of Agricultural Technology Extension and Ecological Environment Harmonization in Yunnan Province

Analysis and Evaluation of Agricultural Technology Extension and Ecological Environment Harmonization in Yunnan Province

Can TikTok be a good way to extend the adoption of green control techniques? Evidence from rural China

ABSTRACT In the context of agricultural digitalisation in China, TikTok is becoming widely popular in rural areas and a novel way for agricultural technology extension. Based on survey data on 770 rice and wheat farmers in Hubei and Henan provinces in China, the endogenous switching probit model was used to verify the influence of TikTok usage on the adoption of Green Control Techniques (GCT). We found that farmers’ adoption probability of GCT will be significantly increased by 9.3–11.8% with their use of TikTok to browse GCT content. This shows that TikTok is an effective way to extend GCT. Furthermore, TikTok can complement traditional offline training as a digital agriculture extension for small-scale, older, and non-plain-area farmers, who are often of unequal status and are unable to obtain government agricultural extension services. These findings evaluate the effectiveness of short video software as a digital agriculture extension platform, which contributes to the rapid and effective extension of GCT. It is suggested that more GCT online promotion platforms should be built and applied in China.

Towards more efficient low-carbon agricultural technology extension in China: identifying lead smallholder farmers and their behavioral determinants.

In the transition to low-carbon agriculture, smallholder farmers face more constraints. Identifying lead smallholder farmers and leveraging their peer effects can accelerate low-carbon agricultural technology extension among smallholder farmers. Based on survey data from 643 rice farmers in Zhejiang Province, China, this study constructs a finite mixture model (FMM) to identify lead smallholder farmers and then uses a quantile regression model (QRM) to explore their behavioral determinants. The main conclusions are as follows. First, despite the homogeneity in the production mode and resource constraints, lead smallholder farmers are younger and more open to risk, and they have higher educational levels and more family laborers. Second, a higher use efficiency of heterogeneous information is the key to differentiating lead smallholder farmers from other smallholder farmers. Third, green agricultural producer services can effectively alleviate resource constraints and contribute to the low-carbon transition of all smallholder farmers. These results can help redesign targeted extension policies to incentivize lead smallholder farmers.

Give Full Play to the Advantages of Agricultural Technology Extension and Promote the Revitalization of Rural Areas

Give Full Play to the Advantages of Agricultural Technology Extension and Promote the Revitalization of Rural Areas

Spatio-Temporal Pattern of Green Agricultural Science and Technology Progress: A Case Study in Yangtze River Delta of China.

Green agricultural science and technology progress (GASTP) plays an important role in the green transformation of agriculture. This study calculates the contribution rate of GASTP by using the Super-SBM model in the Yangtze River Delta (YRD) from 2011 to 2020. The exploratory spatial data analysis (ESDA) method and the Fixed Effect (FE) panel data model method were adopted to empirically analyze the spatio-temporal patterns of GASTP and its driving mechanism in the YRD. The results showed that: (i) except for Shanghai from 2011 to 2015, the contribution rate of GASTP in the YRD was generally lower than 1 in Anhui Province, Jiangsu Province, and Zhejiang Province, (ii) the level of GASTP had a positive spatial correlation with the study period, except for 2017, and (iii) per capita GDP, agricultural mechanization level, agricultural financial support, and planting structure are four influencing factors of GASTP in the YRD, while total retail sales of social consumer goods and total exports did not have significant effects on GASTP in the YRD. Therefore, we need to increase the opportunities to exchange GASTP experience between cities, improve the environment for agricultural technology extension, and develop follow-up monitoring mechanisms.