Farmland Transfer Research Articles

The intermediate role of farmland transfer in the impact of digital financial inclusion on agricultural total factor productivity in China

IntroductionEnhancing agricultural productivity and promoting sustainable development in China are critical priorities, given their significant contribution to food security and rural development. However, achieving consistent agricultural productivity growth across regions and sectors has been challenging, leading to inefficiencies and environmental pressures. To address this, the potential of digital inclusive finance (DIF) as a catalyst for progress has been explored.MethodsThis study investigates the impact of DIF on agricultural total factor productivity (ATFP) through farmland transfer, with implications for rural revitalization and high-quality agricultural development. Using the HMB index method, we calculate and decompose China’s inter-provincial ATFP from 2011 to 2020. Employing the dynamic panel fixed effect model and SYS-GMM method, we empirically test the influence of DIF on agricultural productivity in relation to farmland transfer.Results and discussionOur findings reveal a slow upward trend in China’s ATFP, driven primarily by scale efficiency. Notably, a 1% increase in the general index of DIF correlates with a 0.136% increase in ATFP. We analyze the sub-classification indexes of digital inclusive finance, namely coverage breadth, depth of use, and digitalization degree. Their contributions to agricultural productivity growth are significant, with coverage breadth having the greatest impact, followed by depth of use and digitalization degree. Farmland transfer acts as a crucial intermediary, enhancing agricultural allocation efficiency and driving the relationship between digital finance and total factor productivity growth. Interestingly, the western region exhibits the highest growth rates, followed by the eastern region, while the central region shows no significant effects.ConclusionTo comprehensively enhance ATFP, aligning supply and demand for digital financial services, leveraging service depth, and guiding farmland transfer according to local conditions are essential. These findings offer valuable insights into effective strategies for maximizing the potential of DIF, promoting rural development, and achieving sustainable agricultural growth.

The impact of agricultural machinery services on farmland transfer: a analytical perspective based on the profitability of grain production

IntroductionIn the context of the deceleration of farmland scale management, a crucial question arises in agricultural development theory and practice: will service driven scale management in the production process become a viable alternative to farmland scale management, serving as the secondary pathway to achieve scale management in China?MethodsTo address this issue, an empirical analysis on the impact of agricultural machinery services on farmland transfer was conducted in this article using data from the China Rural Revitalization Survey database comprising 302 villages and 2,871 micro-farmers in 2020 by utilizing the ordinary least squares method and instrumental variable method.Results and discussionThe results show that the implementation of agricultural machinery services will increase the rate of farmland transfer in villages. The effect of agricultural machinery services on increasing the profitability of large-scale farmers surpasses its effect on smallholder farmers, thereby motivating smallholder farmers to transfer farmland to large-scale farmers, consequently fostering the consolidation of farmland. In addition, power-intensive service links are more effective in increasing the rate of farmland transfer and fostering the concentration of farmland transfer compared to control-intensive service links. The impact of agricultural machinery services on enhancing the rate of farmland transfer and fostering the consolidation of farmland transfer is more pronounced on the plain areas compared to the hillmountainous areas. Consequently, this article demonstrates that service-driven scale management and farmland scale management are not merely alternatives but rather complementary strategies that mutually reinforce each other.

Impact of Farmers’ Participation in the Transformation of the Farmland Transfer Market on the Adoption of Agricultural Green Production Technologies

Impact of Farmers’ Participation in the Transformation of the Farmland Transfer Market on the Adoption of Agricultural Green Production Technologies

Spatiotemporal evolution and driving factors of agricultural land transfer in China.

This paper systematically analyzes the spatiotemporal evolution trends and macroeconomic driving factors of farmland transfer at the provincial level in China since 2005, aiming to offer a new perspective for understanding the dynamic mechanisms of China's farmland transfer. Through the integrated use of kernel density estimation, the Markov model, and panel quantile regression methods, this study finds the following: (1) Farmland transfer rates across Chinese provinces show an overall upward trend, but regional differences exhibit a "U-shaped" evolution characterized by initially narrowing and then widening; (2) although provinces have relatively stable farmland transfer levels, there is potential for dynamic transitions; (3) factors such as per capita arable land, farmers' disposable income, the social security level, the urban‒rural income gap, the urbanization rate, government intervention, and the marketization level significantly promote farmland transfer, while inclusive finance inhibits transfer, and agricultural mechanization level and population aging have heterogeneous impacts. Therefore, to achieve convergence of low farmland transfer regions to medium levels while promoting medium-level regions to higher levels, it is recommended that the government increase support for agricultural mechanization, increase farmers' income and social security levels, and optimize marketization processes and government intervention strategies. The main contributions of this paper are (1) systematically revealing the spatiotemporal evolution patterns of China's farmland transfer and (2) employing panel quantile regression methods to explore the heterogeneous impacts of driving factors, providing more precise and detailed empirical support for the government's formulation of farmland transfer policies.

How does the method of farmland transfer affect the “non-grain” of farmland in China?

IntroductionThe phenomenon of “non-grain” of farmland poses a major threat to food security. Currently, there is still debate about the relationship between farmland transfer and the “non-grain” of farmland. Currently, there is no consensus on the relationship between farmland transfer and the non-grain use of farmland. This article focuses on the evolution of farmland transfer methods, examines the impact of farmland transfer methods on the non-grain use of farmland, and highlights the importance of effectively promoting farmland transfer, curbing the non-grain use of farmland, and ensuring food security.MethodsBased on the China Rural Revitalization Survey (CRRS) data, this paper uses probit and ivprobit models to estimate the causal relationship between farmland transfer methods and the “non-grain” of farmland. Grouped regressions are conducted from three dimensions of geographical environment, village governance, and economic development to test the heterogeneity of the impact of farmland transfer methods. Finally, the pathways of action are analyzed from the perspectives of farmers’ identity transformation and contract signing.ResultsThe organized transfer can significantly reduce the degree of “non-grain” of farmland, and its effect is stronger when the village party secretary has a higher level of education and also serves as the village head. This effect is mainly manifested through increasing the probability of farmers becoming new agricultural operators, joining cooperatives, signing formal contracts, and determining the lease term.DiscussionThe policy implications of this study emphasize that to curb the “non-grain” of farmland and ensure food security, it is important not only to increase the rate of farmland transfer but also to promote the organization of farmland transfer transactions. This includes facilitating the transfer of farmland from inefficient smallholders and cultivating new agricultural operators. Simultaneously, leveraging the supervisory and management role of village collectives can encourage farmers to sign more formal written contracts, clarify the purpose of farmland transfer, and supervise and manage the use of farmland during the subsequent contract execution stage. A limitation of this study is that it relies on cross-sectional data and does not observe the time variation of farmland transfer methods for the same farmers or their long-term impact on the “non-grain” of farmland.

Management on Transfer Pricing of Farmland Based on the Supply–Demand Mismatches for Multifunction: A Case Study from China

Realizing the multifunctional value of farmland is essential for regulating the pricing of farmland transfers and stabilizing the rural land market. However, in China, the mismatch between supply and demand leads to improper resource allocation, weakens the explicit value of farmland, and causes unreasonable transfer pricing mechanisms that threaten agricultural production and food security. This study develops an analytical framework to examine the relationship between farmland multifunction and transfer pricing from a supply–demand perspective. An evaluation index system is constructed, considering the physical, value, and material quantities. This study uses the matching index method and bivariate spatial autocorrelation to analyze the supply–demand match of farmland multifunction from 2014 to 2021 and its relationship with transfer prices. Additionally, management methods and strategies for dynamic zoning-based pricing under multifunctional matching trade-offs are proposed. The results show that: (1) There is significant heterogeneity in the supply and demand matching degree of different farmland functions in both space and time. The production and ecological functions of farmland are oversupplied, while the living functions are undersupplied. (2) Different spatial autocorrelation relationships exist between the degree of supply and demand matching of farmland functions and farmland transfer prices. Specifically, the supply and demand matching degrees of the production and living functions show a significant negative spatial correlation with farmland transfer prices. In contrast, the ecological function shows a significant positive spatial correlation with farmland transfer prices, which are continuously strengthening over time. (3) Based on the supply and demand matching situation of different farmland functions and the spatial autocorrelation of farmland transfer prices, nine types of regions are delineated for farmland functions. Among them, the surplus-coordinated development areas have the most cities, accounting for about 40%, with a wide distribution range. This study proposes zoning-based pricing instruments and management strategies. This research provides valuable insights for developing countries seeking to alleviate conflicts in multifunctional land use, enhance the sustainable protection of land resources, and improve land resource assessment frameworks.

Could the Aging of the Rural Population Boost Green Agricultural Total Factor Productivity? Evidence from China

The aging of the rural population is one of the important social problems facing China and the world. To provide strategic support for coping with the challenges brought by an aging society, this study examined the impact of aging of the rural population on agricultural green total factor productivity (AGTFP) and the mechanism of transmission between them, based on the panel data of 31 provinces in China from 2000 to 2022. The results showed that, first, the aging of the rural population had a negative inhibitory effect on AGTFP, a conclusion that remained valid after a series of robustness tests. Second, the heterogeneity analysis showed that the aging of the rural population in western China had a significant negative impact on AGTFP, while the effect was less significant in eastern and central regions. The intensity of environmental regulation will increase the negative impact of an aging rural population on AGTFP. Third, the analysis of the mechanism showed that the aging of the rural population had a negative impact on AGTFP by inhibiting labor productivity, scientific research and innovation, and farmland transfer.

Can Farmland Transfer Reduce Fertilizer Nonpoint Source Pollution? Evidence from China

China repeatedly surpasses international fertilizer safety limits, resulting in significant fertilizer nonpoint source pollution (denoted as FNSP), which adversely affects food security and agricultural sustainability. Simultaneously, farmland transfer has emerged as a pivotal strategy for transitioning between agricultural production methods. The present study aims to investigate the relationship between farmland transfer and FNSP. In line with the aim of the study, based on China’s panel data from 2005 to 2020, the fixed-effect model, mediating-effect model, spatial Durbin model, and threshold regression model are employed. The findings reveal that farmland transfer exerts a significant inhibitory effect on FNSP. The reduction in FNSP through farmland transfer is facilitated by the decrease in fertilizer application intensity and increase in compound fertilizer application. Further, farmland transfer demonstrates a significant spatial spillover effect on FNSP, mitigating pollution levels within regions and influencing neighboring areas. Moreover, a nonlinear relationship between farmland transfer and FNSP is observed. These findings contribute to understanding the intricate dynamics between agricultural land management strategies and environmental sustainability, offering valuable insights for policymakers and stakeholders engaged in promoting green and sustainable agricultural practices.

Analysis of spatial patterns and influencing factors of farmland transfer in China based on ESDA-GeoDetector

Farmland transfer is a critical component in facilitating agricultural scale management and improving agricultural production efficiency. This study examines the spatial distribution of farmland transfer in China and identifies the factors influencing it, offering valuable guidance for advancing China’s farmland transfer practices. Through the application of mathematical statistics and GIS spatial analysis, the study investigates changes in spatial patterns related to the scale, rate, mode, and recipients of farmland transfer across China's 30 provinces from 2015 to 2020. Geographical detectors are also employed to identify the key factors influencing the extent and pace of farmland transfer. The study reveals that between 2015 and 2020, China's farmland transfer area increased from 29,789 to 37,638 million hectares. Provinces with abundant farmland resources generally experienced larger farmland transfers, while economically developed regions and major grain-producing areas saw higher rates of farmland transfers. The predominant mode of farmland transfer in China was leasing (subcontracting), accounting for over 80% of the total transferred area. Large-scale grain growers and family farms were significant participants in farmland transfers, acquiring approximately 60.1% of the transferred lands, followed by professional cooperatives (21.5%), enterprises (10.4%), and other entities (7.9%). Key factors influencing the farmland transfer area include the "regional farmland area", the "proportion of family farms supported by loans", and the "proportion of non-agricultural population", with explanatory powers of 0.663, 0.319, and 0.225, respectively. Notably, there is a substantial interaction between the "regional farmland area" and factors such as the "proportion of family farms supported by loans" and the "grain yield per unit area", with explanatory powers reaching 0.957 and 0.901, respectively. These findings offer valuable insights for promoting farmland transfer in agriculturally rich regions. Factors affecting the farmland transfer rate include "grain yield per unit area", "GDP per capita", and the "proportion of non-agricultural population", each with an explanatory power above 0.500. Moreover, their interactive explanatory powers with other indicators exceed 0.600, indicating that provinces with high agricultural productivity or economic development levels are more likely to undergo farmland transfer. The paper concludes by proposing strategies and recommendations to promote farmland transfer in both "large agricultural areas" and "metropolitan suburbs."

Off-farm employment and nonpoint source pollution from chemical fertilizers in China: mediating role of farmland transfer

Off-farm employment and nonpoint source pollution from chemical fertilizers in China: mediating role of farmland transfer

Social capital, government guidance and contract choice in agricultural land transfer.

This study explores the impact of farm households' social capital characteristics and local government policies on the selection of farmland transfer contracts in China's rural industrial revitalization context. Utilizing field research data from 1,979 households in ethnic areas of Hunan Province, this paper constructs an econometric model to assess how farm households' social capital and local governments' involvement in rural industrial revitalization influence farmland transfer contract selections. The findings indicate that, lacking government program support, farmers' social capital significantly affects contract type and duration, but not the rent. Specifically, farmers possessing extensive social capital prefer verbal and short-term contracts (coefficients of 0.525 and 0.643, significant at the 5% level), whereas their influence on rent (coefficient of 2.418, significant at the 5% level) manifests under government program support. These results challenge the conventional theory of farmland transfer contracts and offer substantial empirical support for the development of local government policies in rural industrial revitalization, underlining the critical role of government guidance and social capital in enhancing farmland transfer.

Farmland transfer contract performance and green production technology adoption among farmers: evidence from a survey of four provinces in China.

The popularization and use of green production technology is the key to promoting the sustainable development of agriculture. Exploring the path of promoting farmers' adoption of green production technology has important theoretical and practical significance for promoting the green transformation of agriculture and realizing the high-quality development of agriculture. This study examined the impact of contract performance on the adoption of green production technology in the farmland transfer market based on the characteristics of green production technology. An empirical test was conducted using survey data from Heilongjiang, Henan, Zhejiang, and Sichuan Provinces, which differ in agricultural resource endowment and economic development. The results demonstrated that farmland area was positively associated with the number of green production technologies adopted by farmers and use of straw returning, subsoiling, and soil testing for formula fertilization technology. Moreover, improving the performance rates of farmland transfer contracts strengthened the promotional effect of operation scale on green production technology adoption. Using either contract execution or dispute resolution rates to measure contract performance promoted the adoption of green production technology, particularly for large-scale farmers. Therefore, in the publicity and promotion of agricultural green production technology, the government should not only formulate differentiated promotion strategies and support policies based on resource endowment, but also focus on the construction of rural legal systems, which are helpful for building and maintaining a good farmland market order and performance environment, and create conditions for the durability and stability of technology adoption.

Progress and Prospects of Non-Grain Production of Cultivated Land in China

Cultivated land is essential for grain production. As a major agricultural country, China’s non-grain use of cultivated land not only affects national food security and sustainable agricultural development but also impacts the quality of cultivated land and farmers’ livelihoods. This study used bibliometrics to visualize and analyze 413 articles from the China Knowledge Network (CNKI) and Web of Science (WOS) databases concerning non-grain production of cultivated land (NGPCL). The results reveal the following: (1) The number of annual publications in this area has increased from 2009 to 2023 with the focus of NGPCL research shifting from describing the phenomenon to analyzing its driving mechanisms and then to exploring spatial patterns and governance. (2) The spatial distribution of research institutions is marked by the convergence of multiple entities with the central and eastern regions of China being pivotal research areas and transnational collaborative research becoming increasingly visible. (3) High-frequency keywords include NGPCL, food security, and farmland transfer, focusing on the historical context, effects, driving mechanisms and preventative strategies related to NGPCL. There is a notable evolutionary relationship between farmland transfer and NGPCL themes. (4) Future research should broaden the geographical scope and assess NGPCL trends from global, regional, and multiscale perspectives. Efforts should be made to enhance data accuracy and conduct spatial and temporal simulations, trend analyses, and risk assessments. Furthermore, policy design should consider the structure of human–land relationships to support sustainable agricultural development. This study provides an important reference for deepening and broadening the field of NGPCL.

Influences of Farmland Transfer Transaction Costs on Contract Choices from the Perspective of Differential Order Governance: Based on a Survey of Farmers in Henan Province

Under the heterogeneous situation of heterogeneity of farmland circulation entities, transaction costs are the key factors to optimize the selection of circulation contracts, and reducing transaction costs is an important realization path to promote farmland circulation in a reasonable and orderly manner and accelerate the process of agricultural modernization. Based on the survey data of 814 farming households in Henan Province, this study explores the transaction costs on contract selection based on the differential order governance. The results show that (a) in the transfer of farmland, farmers’ choice of contracts is restricted by their degree of association with the transaction entity, which is the result of differential order governance. (b) The influence of differential order governance on the selection of transfer contracts is constrained by the governance context. Farmers tend to choose formal written contracts in the context of weak ties governance but choose verbal or informal contracts under strong relationship governance. (c) The impact of transaction costs on the selection of farmland transfer contracts is constrained by the three-stage scenarios as before, during, and after the transaction. In different transaction stages, the higher the transaction costs are, the more likely farmers are to choose a formal written contract. The findings show the importance of the rules of human relations in the society of acquaintances in saving transaction costs. The importance of the formal system and informal institutions, such as trust and reputation, and avoiding one-size-fits-all suggestions should be involved in the formulation and implementation of farmland transfer policies.

Do farmland transfers mitigate farmland abandonment? ——A case study of China's mountainous areas

Farmland abandonment is a manifestation of farmland misallocation in mountainous parts of China. Farmland transfers are an important pathway for reallocating farmland, and it is still unclear whether farmland transfer can mitigate abandonment and what factors affect the relationship between the two. Thus, according to the principle of resource market allocation, this study constructed a theoretical model that included labor force, farmland resources endowment, and the land market. Combining unique survey data (539 samples), we used Tobit, IV-Tobitl, the interaction impact, and moderation effect models to analyze the effect of farmland transfers on abandonment at the village level. We found that farmland transfers could mitigate abandonment. The farmland abandonment rate declined by 0.09% when the transfer rate increased by 1%. For areas with fewer full-time agricultural labors, abundant farmland resources, more high-quality farmland, and more transfers with paid rent, the impact of farmland transfers on abandonment was greater. Village cadres also believed farmland transfers could mitigate abandonment, and viewed labor force resources and farmland resource endowment as important factors affecting abandonment. This study helps to deepen the understanding of the relationship between farmland transfers and abandonment, and serves as a basic scientific reference for corresponding policy suggestions on how to enhance the effect of farmland transfers.

Evaluation on the willingness of migrants and native farmers to transfer farmland in resettlement areas and their coupled coordination relationships: perspectives for environmental and social sustainability

The construction of water conservancy and hydropower projects often involves substantial land acquisition and resettlement. Land is a crucial means of production, playing a significant role in ensuring food security and protecting the ecological environment and social development. However, the advancement of urbanization and changes in production methods have led to a noticeable shift in the behavior of farmers on lands. Abandoned land and reclaimed wasteland in host resettlement areas lead to low land-use efficiency, environmental degradation, and frequent geological disasters. It is important to evaluate the willingness of migrants and native farmers to transfer farmland in the resettlement area and their coupled coordination relationships to realize effective land use. These were evaluated in this study by constructing an index system from personal and family characteristics, land resource endowment, characteristics of the external policy environment, and psycho–cognitive characteristics. The results showed that their coupling degree was 0.999, while their coupling degree of coordination was 0.68. The relative development degree was 1.01. It showed that a strong correlation existed between the willingness of migrants and native farmers, and they were in a basic coordination phase. They influenced each other and reached a basic balanced state. Farmland can be transferred between migrants and native farmers to improve their livelihood, resettle migrants, improve land-use efficiency, and reduce wasteland reclamation. This suggested the possibility of establishing a land transfer resettlement model based on the willingness of migrants and native farmers to achieve environmental and social sustainability in the resettlement area.

The Scaling-up of Agricultural Mechanization Services and the Re-shaping of Small-Scale Household Farming in China

Abstract Taking the case of the agricultural mechanization service industry as an example, this study discusses the dynamics of the transformation of China’s agricultural contracting service industry in the context of the scaling-up of agricultural production, and how the transformation is reshaping small-scale household farming in grain production. With the accelerated growth of farmland transfer, large-scale agricultural producers have been emerging rapidly in different parts of China in the past years. Since their demand for agricultural contracting services is different from that of small-scale household producers, the scaling-up of agricultural production has promoted the scaling-up of agricultural contracting services. Meanwhile, the capital surplus in the agricultural machinery manufacturing industry has created three consequences simultaneously: the excess supply of agricultural mechanization services, the acceleration of agricultural machinery renewal, and the rising cost of machinery purchases. The interactions of these three factors not only raised the threshold of the agricultural machinery service industry, which makes it difficult for part-time service providers to survive market competition, but also shortened the time window for machinery service provision, which makes it difficult for large-scale agricultural producers to balance land operation and machinery service provision. Consequently, large-scale agricultural machinery service organizations are continuously replacing those small-scale part-time service providers. During this process, small-scale household producers engaged in grain production are faced with increasing risks of being excluded from farming, both directly and indirectly, as it is difficult for small producers to deal with large service organizations, and the small-scale part-time service providers that used to serve them are continually being replaced.

The Impact of Dialect Diversity on Rent-Free Farmland Transfers: Evidence from Chinese Rural Household Surveys

The rent-free farmland transfer that exists widely in China’s rural areas is a topic worthy of attention. Particularly, the regional heterogeneity of its occurrences implies regional cultural heterogeneities. Using local dialects to proxy regional cultural features, this study applies econometric methods to examine the impacts of dialect diversity on rent-free farmland transfers. It also considers possible mechanisms through a mediation analysis, based on a combined two-year rural household survey dataset from the Guangdong and Jiangxi Provinces in 2015 and 2016. Robust estimation results reveal that dialect diversity increases the probability of rent-free farmland transfers at the household and village levels. According to the mediation analysis, dialect diversity influences villages’ farmland abandonment, rural farmland market development, and the flexibility of farmland transfer contracts, which further affects rent-free farmland transfer. Rent-free farmland transfer depends on social trust and contracts’ self-fulfilling advantages. Therefore, cultural and traditional factors should be taken into consideration, which would form beneficial interactions between the selections of rural farmland institutional arrangement and land rights policy implementations.

Market-oriented farmland transfer and outsourced machinery services: Evidence from China

This study investigates the effect of market-oriented farmland transfer on farmers’ utilization of outsourced machinery services (OMS), using data from the China Land Economic Survey (CLES) comprising 1,286 renting-in rural households. We utilize the two-stage least square (2SLS) and seemingly unrelated regression (SUR) model to address the endogeneity issue. The results show that market-oriented farmland transfer increases farmers’ OMS adoption, intensity, and cost, and the influence is channeled by reshaping the transaction characteristics related to uncertainty, asset specificity, and transaction frequency of OMS. Further analysis reveals that technology demonstration and machinery purchase subsidies negatively moderate the relationship between market-oriented farmland transfer and OMS. Among farmers with different farm sizes and production tasks, market-oriented farmland transfer significantly increases OMS for smallholder farmers and labor-intensive production tasks.

Nexus between farmland transfer, agricultural loans, and grain production: empirical evidence from China

IntroductionFood production stands as a critical global concern necessitating comprehensive investigation. This study utilizes provincial-level data from China to explore the intricate relationships between farmland transfer, agricultural loans, and grain production, with the aim of shedding light on the complexities of these dynamics.MethodsA two-way fixed effects model and instrumental variable approach are applied to assess the interplay between farmland transfer, agricultural loans, and grain production. These methods provide a robust framework for understanding the complex relationships among these variables.Results and discussionThe study reveals a notable positive correlation between farmland transfer and grain production. Conversely, agricultural loans demonstrate a significantly negative impact on grain production. However, the positive interaction term between farmland transfer and agricultural loans suggests a nuanced relationship. While profit-driven financial activities may not inherently favor grain production, they contribute to more efficient utilization of farmland resources, ultimately promoting grain production. The findings underscore the significance of continued government support for rural land system reform and active guidance of farmland transfer. It is emphasized that a moderate-scale operation of farmland is crucial for finance to play a lubricating and catalytic role. Furthermore, there is a need to guide agricultural finance towards investing in medium and long-term projects of agricultural production. Attention is also directed to preventing potential food crises arising from the phenomenon of “non- farming” associated with agricultural loans.