Agricultural Services Research Articles

The effects of multiple agricultural advisory service providers on farmers’ productivity in Tanzania

ABSTRACT Despite existence of multiple agricultural advisory service providers, there is limited evidence on their contribution to farmers’ productivity. This study applied the multinomial endogenous switching regression model to analyze incremental effects of multiple advisory service providers on the partial and total factor productivities of 665 farmers in Tanzania. The study contributes to the literature by using number of service providers rather than binary or frequency measures of extension access. Results showed that farmers working with two service providers had higher improvement in the productivity of maize as well as all crops grown than those using one, three or four service providers. We recommend targeting of agricultural advisory services to meet specific needs of different crops grown by farmers in various localities, enhanced coordination and monitoring of service providers to enhance the relevance, quality and timeliness of the services provided by different actors so as to improve farm productivity levels.

The Heritagescape of Kichwa People of Nizag Built upon Traditional Plant Usage along a Chimborazo Variant of the Andean Road System or Qhapaq Ñan

To document the dynamics of biocultural heritage, we studied traditional uses of plants on a segment of the Andean Road System, or Qhapaq Ñan, within the central Andes of Ecuador, home of the Kichwa community of Nizag. Here, residents preserved a rich diversity of plants within their agricultural fields, or chakra, of the Andean landscapes, upholding a culture steeped in traditional knowledge. Wild and domesticated plants are a cornerstone for the community, prompting the development of ethnobotanical management strategies with a conservation approach. The diverse plant uses aim to revalue their culture, fortify their self-identification as an indigenous community, and ensure the transmission of ancestral knowledge. This research aims to ascertain the ethnobotanical applications of this venerable community. Employing participatory action research, semistructured interviews were conducted with 43 community informants to gather ethnobotanical data on the flora applied within their territory, spanning categories such as food, agriculture, crafts, living fences, construction, fuel, ornamental, environmental, technological, and medicinal services. The findings indicate that age, rather than educational level and gender, significantly influences the variation in plant usage knowledge. In total, 142 plant species were cataloged, comprising herbs (58%), shrubs (23%), trees (15%), and climbers (4%). The most represented families were Asteraceae, Fabaceae, Lamiaceae, and Poaceae. Notably, 96% of these species provide some type of environmental service or fulfill a niche within the socioecological system. Medicinal uses were reported for 89% of the plants, while 56% served agricultural purposes, primarily in fertilizer production and forage. Additionally, 44% of the plants are utilized as food, typically consumed fresh. Among the medicinal plants, leaves are the most used part (58%), prepared as infusions and poultices. The prevalent ailments addressed include respiratory and urinary system conditions, with Borago officinalis, Carica pentagona, Vasconcellea pubescens, and Origanum mejorana being the most frequently employed plants.

Pengaruh Iklim Organisasi dan Disiplin Kerja Terhadap Efektivitas Kerja pada Kantor Dinas Pertanian Kabupaten Agam Selama Masa Covid-19

This study aims to examine and analyze 1). the influence of organizational climate on the work effectiveness of employees at the Agam Regency Agricultural Service Office during the Covid-19 Period 2). the effect of work discipline on the effectiveness of work employees at the Agam Regency Agricultural Service Office during the Covid-19 period, 3). the influence of organizational climate and work discipline simultaneously on the effectiveness of employees' work at the Agam Regency Agricultural Service Office during the Covid-19 Period. Population 80 people and sample 80 people. The data analysis method is Multiple Linear Regression Analysis and determinant coefficients while the hypothesis testing method is the t-test and F-test. The results of the study show 1. Partially, organizational climate variables have a positive and significant effect on the work effectiveness of employees at the Agam Regency Agriculture Office during the Covid period. -19, 2. Partially, the work discipline variable has a positive and significant effect on the work effectiveness of employees at the Agam Regency Agricultural Service Office during the Covid-19 Period 3. The organizational climate and work discipline variables simultaneously or simultaneously have a significant and significant effect on the employee's work effectiveness at the Agam Regency Agriculture Service Office during the Covid-19 Period, 4. The contribution of the influence of organizational climate and work discipline on the work effectiveness of employees at Agam Regency Agricultural Service Office during the Covid-19 period was 42.50% while the remaining 57.50% was influenced by others examples competence, compensation and others.

PENGARUH DISIPLIN KERJA DAN MOTIVASI KERJA TERHADAP KINERJA ASN DENGAN KOMPENSASI SEBAGAI VARIABEL MODERATING PADA DINAS PERTANIAN DAN KETAHANAN PANGAN KABUPATEN SITUBONDO

The Situbondo Regency Agriculture and Food Security Service is a government agency that operates in the agriculture and food sector. In this way, the human resources involved can apply discipline in their work and are able to develop new innovations in the fields of agriculture and food. This research aims to analyze the influence of Work Discipline, Work Motivation and Compensation on ASN Performance in the Situbondo Regency Agriculture and Food Security Service. This research was conducted using a quantitative approach and sampling techniques determined by sampling quotas. Data analysis and hypothesis testing in this research used the Structural Equation Model - Partial Least Square (PLS-SEM). The results of hypothesis testing using the Smart PLS 3.0 application show that Work Discipline has a significant effect on Performance, Work Motivation has a significant effect on Performance. The results of hypothesis testing moderated by the Compensation variable show that the Work Discipline variable has a positive effect on performance but is not significant, the Work Motivation variable moderated by the Compensation variable shows a positive but not significant effect.

Do Agricultural Productive Services Impact the Carbon Emissions of the Planting Industry in China: Promotion or Inhibition?

Reducing carbon emissions from planting (PCE) is crucial for achieving the “dual carbon” objective within the agricultural sector. This paper aims to investigate the impact of agricultural productive services (APSs) on carbon emissions in the planting industry, providing novel insights into reducing carbon emissions in this field. Based on the panel data of 30 provinces and regions in China from 2005 to 2021, this study measured the PCE and the level of APSs. The internal relationship between the APSs and PCE is subsequently examined empirically using various statistical models, including the fixed effect model, instrumental variable model, mediating effect model, and threshold effect model. The findings suggest that the PCE experienced an initial increase, followed by a subsequent decrease between 2005 and 2021, with the peak observed in 2015. APSs has a significant inhibitory effect on PCE, which remains significant even after conducting various robustness tests. However, the carbon emission reduction effect of APSs varies across different crop-producing areas. The study also revealed that APSs can inhibit PCE by facilitating land transfer. Additionally, the inhibitory effect of APSs on PCE is influenced by the scale of land management and exhibits a U-shaped nonlinear relationship. To effectively reduce PCE and achieve sustainable agricultural development, policymakers should actively promote the integration of APSs with modern agriculture and form moderate-scale operations by facilitating land transfer to maximize APSs’ carbon emission reduction effect.

Utilizing FSA conservation loan programs to support farm conservation activities

PurposeThe Farm Service Agency (FSA) conservation loan program was introduced in the 2008 Farm Bill to provide additional credit to assist producers implementing approved Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) conservation projects. This paper explores why this program has been widely underutilized despite an overall increase in United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Conservation Program participation.Design/methodology/approachThe FSA administrative loan data are merged with NRCS program participation and payments data for 2010–2021. The share of project costs paid by producers and resulting savings achieved by farmers participating in both programs if their cost-share portion was paid by FSA loans are estimated, as well as the impact on farmer conservation spending under different estimates of increased participation.FindingsA significant share of FSA farmers are likely to take advantage of NRCS programs, with the majority of participants paying under $25,000 in cost-share portions. These loans are less suited to guaranteed conservation loans and more appropriate for the discontinued direct conservation loan program. Few FSA borrowers participating in NRCS cost-share programs pay more than $50,000 in cost-share portions. These loans would receive the majority of benefits from interest reduction schemes under the current guaranteed loan program.Practical implicationsOur results and suggestions provide valuable information when discussing the Guaranteed Conservation Loan Program in the 2023 Farm Bill legislation.Originality/valueNo prior research has attempted to merge FSA guaranteed or direct loan data with conservation program participation and payment data, focused on producer cost-share levels or the FSA Guaranteed Conservation Loan Program in the last decade, making this study a valuable contribution to the literature.

Community Perceptions on the Contributions of Public Universities to Community Transformation

Much as the role of higher education has been recognised for promoting development globally, communities surrounding universities in Sub-Saharan Africa are still grappling with poor quality health, low income, poor housing, unreliable electricity and other social amenities. This study determined community perceptions of the contributions of Gulu University to community transformation in post-conflict northern Uganda. A cross-sectional study design was employed to collect data while using researcher-administered questionnaires and geospatial techniques. Questionnaire data was analysed using principal component analysis, and descriptive statistics while geospatial data was analysed using buffers, spatial join tool, and overlay analysis in GIS environment. Findings revealed that the economic, political, spiritual and physical dimensions were important in explaining the transformation of communities surrounding Gulu University. The community surrounding Gulu University is perceived to have progressed well in terms of savings, business, commercial farming, and civil service; consumption of more than 3 meals per day, access to credit and remittances; easy access to health care, and quality education. The majority of the population can make free and independent decisions, are good at self-expression, exercise love for one another, enjoy living with community members, are at peace with one another, exercise kindness, waste is properly managed, and there is good access to water. However, there is slow progress in having alternative sources of income, only a few community members perceived: their level of education to have improved, participate in leadership and are taking part in politics. There is also a scarcity of respect for one another, endurance and faithfulness. The study concludes that (i) households need to think of alternative ways of generating income, given its relevance in enabling households to meet their daily income, (ii) education policies and other stakeholders need to provide more support for community members to pursue higher levels of education, (iii) more civic education to create awareness on the importance of participating in leadership and politics, and (iv) a need by religious sects to continue with more teachings on respect for one another, endurance and faithfulness in the community surrounding Gulu University

Urban agriculture as ecosystem services provider: A review

Background: Urban agriculture’s role in mitigating the urban environment deterioration as ecosystem services provider. Urban agriculture adds various functions to different landscape scales, providing numerous benefits if managed correctly. This paper aims to study the role of urban agriculture as ecosystem services provider in mitigating urban environment deterioration. Method: The method that will be used in this article is literature review from articles related to urban agriculture and ecosystem services from provisioning, regulating, services, and cultural. The review is compiled from urban agriculture’s function as ecosystem services provider, such as biodiversity conservation, microclimate regulation, aesthetic function, and food production. Result: In essence, urban agriculture is a diverse and vital solution for cities, and it takes various forms, from private gardens to community plots, addressing challenges like limited public funding and promoting greening initiatives. Urban agriculture plays a key role in biodiversity conservation, contributing to enhanced environmental benefits and the preservation of local habitats. Another crucial role in regulating the complex dynamics of the urban microclimate, offering ecological benefits such as reduced Urban Heat Island effects, wind protection, and pollutant absorption. Beyond its ecological impact, urban agriculture adds aesthetic value to urban spaces, creating visually appealing landscapes and promoting cultural integration. Moreover, it serves as a multifaceted strategy for sustainable urban development, addressing food security, resilience, and well-being. Conclusion: Amidst challenges, such as the threat to urban biodiversity and the need for proper green space management, urban agriculture emerges as a holistic approach, contributing to the visual, cultural, and environmental fabric of cities. Novelty/Originality of this article: This study offers a new perspective on urban agriculture as a multifunctional solution to address urban environmental degradation. By integrating agriculture into the urban landscape, the study reveals the transformative potential for creating greener, more resilient and sustainable cities.

Rural labor migration and farmers’ arrangements of rice production systems in Central China: Insight from the intergenerational division of labor

Rice production is crucial for food security in China, and its relationship with rural labor migration has been studied extensively. Labor migration in rural China has taken new forms in recent years. There has been a discernible trend wherein adult children have started migrating to cities while their elderly parents return to villages to re-engage in on-farm work. The phenomenon has notably shaped the intergenerational division of labor (IDL) within households. However, it remains to be seen how farmers adjust their rice production systems in response to the IDL. The age of 60 years for employment injury insurance is the eligibility threshold for off-farm employment and is used to obtain a source of exogenous variation in the IDL. Based on a representative household survey of 1,752 rice farmers in the Hubei Province of Central China, our fuzzy regression discontinuity analysis reveals that farmers in IDL households are more likely to adopt ratoon rice (RR) than single cropping rice (SR) or double cropping rice (DR). The effect of the IDL varies under different levels of operational scales and specialized agricultural service availability. Further analysis suggests that farmers’ arrangements are associated with two potential mechanisms of downward intergenerational transfer. Monetary transfer for urban housing purchases increases RR in IDL households, and time transfer for intergenerational childcare significantly promotes SR in IDL households. This study enhances the understanding of the relationship between rural labor migration and rice production in China, providing a reference for adjusting rice production systems to ensure food security.

SISTEM PENGELOLAAN ARSIP PADA DINAS PERTANIAN DAN KETAHANAN PANGAN PROVINSI JAWA TIMUR

Archive activities are needed for office activities every day. Difficulty in recovering the required archives will hinder office activities and have a negative impact on the productivity of an organization or company. Existing documents and manuscripts are then stored using a certain system so that they are more organized and easy to find. In archiving activities at the Agriculture and Food Security Office of East Java Province, they still use a manual system, with insufficient HR concern for archive management, and most of the data is not well organized. So, management of records at the Agriculture and Food Security Office of East Java Province is still not fully efficient. Therefore, researchers want to examine how the archive management system, supporting and inhibiting factors, as well as archivists' efforts to deal with obstacles in the archiving process at the Agriculture and Food Security Office of East Java Province. This study uses a qualitative method. The results of the study show that the archive management system at the East Java Province Agriculture and food security service uses a manual system because infrastructure and human resources are limited, in 2023 there will be a transfer to using a digital system. The supporting factor is due to the spirit of high dedication to the duties of the archivists in the archival unit. The obstacles are due to the lack of leadership support, lack of human resources regarding archives, lack of facilities and infrastructure. Efforts to deal with obstacles, namely coordination with the head of the archive and the creator unit, using the appropriate infrastructure

Komunikasi Agribisnis Dinas Pertanian Dan Perkebunan Dengan Petani Dalam Pengembangan Kopi Robusta Di Kabupaten Kediri

Regarding the development of robusta coffee, the Kediri Regency Agriculture and Plantation Service (Dispertabun) has been in contact with farmers through Field Extension Officers (PPL). Finding out the model and techniques for agribusiness communication as well as the challenges encountered in implementing Dispertabun's agribusiness communication with farmers to develop robusta coffee in Kediri Regency are the goals to be accomplished. In addition to interactive model data analysis, this study employs a qualitative descriptive methodology (Miles and Huberman). The research findings led to the conclusion that the context of the message being communicated determined the choice of agribusiness communication model. The application of interpersonal (individual) and organizational (group) communication techniques depends on the message's content. It is possible to reduce potential communication obstacles in agriculture. The findings suggest that in order to minimize potential barriers to communication, the Kediri Regency Dispertabun through PPL should continue to maintain appropriate (relevant) communication models and methods. Additionally, keep up the good work in improving agribusiness communication with robusta coffee farmers in order to continue meeting new objectives and targets related to agribusiness communication.

Supporting farmers in coping with water extremes: aligning farmer needs and advisor confidence, skills, and expertise

Abstract Temperate regions, where water supply has not historically been a limiting factor in agriculture or other industries, are expected to face new challenges related to water availability and use. It is important to investigate the gap between farmers’ need for professional support around water management and the services that agricultural advisors can provide. Needs assessments generally consider one of these topics or the other, though we suggest a deeper understanding of the two together is called for. Here, we report on a farmer survey conducted in the state of Maine in the United States (n = 174) and a survey of agricultural advisors conducted in twelve northeastern states (n = 381). By comparing two investigations, we find (a) opportunities for outreach programs both targeted towards the needs of specific agricultural sectors, and (b) professional development topics for agricultural advisors to close the gap between current capacity in the region and farmer needs. Based on these results, we suggest a framework informed by theories of social learning for targeted outreach. We propose that this approach can serve as a model for moving forward with program development in agricultural services into the future, both in the United States and around the world.

Farm Typology to Enhance Rice Technologies Adoption in Ethiopia

The aim of this study is to conduct a review of farm typology in order to improve the adoption of rice technologies in Ethiopia. Rice production has experienced significant growth in the country, with the cultivated area expanding from 33,820 hectares in 2013 to 60,000 hectares in 2022. However, the adoption level of rice technologies remains low, posing a challenge to meet the increasing demand that is currently being met through rice imports. To address this issue, the government has developed a national rice production strategy and flagship programs at the national level. Furthermore, understanding the characteristics of farmers is crucial for the successful implementation of these initiatives, as farmers are heterogeneous in terms of their resources, preferences, and objectives. Consequently, the adoption rate of rice technologies varies among farmers, leading to different demands for agricultural advisory services. To develop effective farm typologies, it is important to identify the key drivers of technology adoption, such as farm size, risk exposure, human capital, labor availability, credit access, and access to commodity markets. While there are various theories available for studying farm typology, the sustainable livelihood theory is particularly comprehensive in creating effective typologies. These theories employ both quantitative and qualitative approaches. In conclusion, conducting a farm typology study specific to rice cultivation is crucial for enhancing the adoption level of rice technologies.

Supply Chain Value-added Strategy for the Rice Industry in Jilin Province

This paper explores the application of digital technology in enhancing the rice supply chain management in Jilin Province. By integrating modern agricultural services and internet-based models, the study highlights how digital advancements can improve production efficiency, reduce costs, and optimise resource allocation. The research also emphasises the importance of constructing a value-addition system based on the lifecycle theory of rice crops, which can maximise value at each stage of the supply chain. The study addresses risk control and cost management challenges, proposing a value optimisation model incorporating traditional value innovation and new dynamics. The findings suggest that digital technology presents significant value addition and optimisation opportunities in the rice industry, ultimately leading to a more resilient and profitable supply chain. This paper provides practical solutions for overcoming existing challenges and unlocking new potentials in the rice supply chain, ensuring its growth and competitiveness in the evolving market environment.

Information system for collecting data on the area of ​​irrigated rice fields at the Jombang district agricultural service

Irrigation is one of the important elements in agriculture, especially in rice fields. Irrigation makes water more available to plants and can increase yields. Therefore, irrigation efficiency and monitoring are important to support agricultural productivity. Looking at the rapid development of technology utilization, it is also needed to help irrigation managers at the Department of Agriculture to collect data systematically. One of them is creating a data collection system in a more modern way. regarding the case of irrigation managers at the Department of Agriculture who have so far been using manual methods. The purpose of this study is to design an Information System for recording the area of ​​rice field irrigation. The SDLC (System development life cycle) method is used with a Waterfall process model: analysis, design, code generation, testing, and support. This system is created using PHP and MySQL programs, Google Chrome software, XAMPP, and MySQL database. The results of the study show that the designed system can help facilitate data collection on the area of ​​rice field irrigation at the Department of Agriculture, Jombang Regency. Keywords: Information System; Data Collection; Irrigation; waterfall

Efficiency of Agricultural Insurance in Facilitating Modern Agriculture Development: From the Perspective of Production Factor Allocation

Agricultural insurance is instrumental in consolidating the gains of poverty alleviation and advancing rural revitalization. It significantly aids in the efficient allocation of agricultural production factors, which in turn enhances agricultural output and bolsters the evolution of modern agriculture. Therefore, utilizing data from 583 household surveys and employing endogenous transformation and intermediary effect models, this paper analyzes the production factor allocation effect and specific mechanism of agricultural insurance. It focuses on small-scale farmers and new agricultural operators, exploring how insurance contributes to the advancement of modern agricultural practices. The results show the following: (1) Agriculture insurance can significantly affect the agricultural scale input behavior of farmers such as land input scale and input scale, agricultural machinery application behavior such as the degree of mechanization and water conservancy application, agricultural technology adoption behavior, and planting structure selection behavior, thereby helping to modernize agriculture. (2) There is heterogeneity in the impact of agriculture insurance on the allocation of production factors for small farmers and new agricultural operators. For small farmers, agriculture insurance has a significant promoting effect on their agricultural machinery application behavior, agricultural technology adoption behavior, and planting structure selection behavior. For new agricultural operators, agriculture insurance significantly promotes their agricultural scale input behavior, agricultural machinery application behavior, and agricultural technology adoption behavior. (3) In terms of the mechanism of action, agriculture insurance mainly promotes agricultural scale input behavior through land transfer, facilitates agricultural machinery application behavior by purchasing agricultural machinery equipment and services, encourages agricultural technology adoption behavior by strengthening agricultural technology training, and enhances professional production levels by increasing the scale of insured planting, thereby contributing to the development of modern agriculture. Based on this, several policy suggestions have been proposed. These include enhancing the directionality of agriculture insurance policies, improving the collaborative interaction mechanism between agriculture insurance and agricultural credit financing, and adopting certain reward and punishment measures to curb moral hazard.

Understanding Allocation and Farmers’ Access to Varied Level of Agricultural Input Subsidies from Different Tiers of Government: A Case Study in Kavrepalanchowk District, Nepal

Government support for essential agricultural services, such as agricultural input subsidies, is vital for empowering smallholder farmers. This study explores distribution and the factors affecting farmers access to varied level of government agricultural input subsidies in Kavrepalanchowk district, Nepal. The study relied on survey data from 219 randomly selected households. Results showed that 72 percent, 8 percent, and 20 percent of sampled households received less than NRs 15,000, NRs 15,000 to 30,000, and more than NRs 30,000 in input subsidies per year, respectively. Among the recipients of the input subsidy, the mean subsidy for electricity, chemical fertilizers, agricultural machinery, interest subsidy, and cash subsidy for the GI tunnel were NRs 4,061, 7,143, 35,633, 67,500, and 4,72,000, respectively. Results from a multinomial regression show that households with higher income, farms near roads, and registered farms receive a higher level of input subsidies. It is recommended that farmers register their farms either as a firm or company or as farmer's groups or cooperatives. To effectively perform their roles, there is a need to review the subsidy delivery mechanism, ensuring its reach to the most constrained farmers.

Provincial marine carbon sink transfer in China: structural drivers and key consumption pathways

The ocean is the largest carbon sink on Earth and an important pathway to China achieving carbon neutrality. From a consumption perspective, studying the capacity of marine carbon sink in each of China’s provinces and its inter-regional transfer is of great significance in harnessing the increase in ocean carbon sink driven by final demand. This article first calculates the production-side carbon sink in coastal provinces. Then, based on the 2007, 2012, 2015, and 2017 Chinese inter-regional input-output tables, each province’s consumption-side marine carbon sink is calculated. The article further examines the influencing factors and key transfer paths for the growth of marine carbon sink through Structural Decomposition Analysis (SDA) and Structural Path Analysis (SPA) methods. The results show that each province’s total consumption-side carbon sink continues to rise, with significant regional disparities, demonstrating a trend of higher carbon sink in coastal provinces than inland provinces. Among the nine coastal provinces, Hainan and Guangdong are in a net input state regarding carbon sink transfer, while the other seven are in a net output state. SDA results indicate that the carbon sink intensity effect and the consumption demand effect are important factors inhibiting and promoting carbon sink growth, respectively, while the influence of the input-output technical effect is weak and variable. SPA analysis reveals that carbon sink outputs are primarily transferred to the food and tobacco sector, the agricultural and forestry products and services sector, and the wood processing and furniture industry. The key transfer paths mostly occur within a province, with a relatively small proportion of interprovincial transfer paths. Based on the research findings, this article suggests steadily increasing the proportion of marine product consumption, actively expanding the value chain of shellfish and seaweed industries, continuously strengthening coordination between land and marine industries, and further promoting the domestic circulation of marine carbon sinks.

Strengthening Fintech Security in Uganda: An Analysis of Insider Threats and Effective Risk Management Strategies

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to analyze security policies and risk management practices for reducing insider threats in the Fintech industry in Uganda. The study aims to classify and identify insider threats, examine how they relate to risk management procedures, and offer practical recommendations for improving Fintech companies’ security measures. Methodology: The study adopted a descriptive research design, focusing on diverse respondents across various sectors. Data was collected through surveys from 25 respondents, including IT security specialists, accountants, finance officers, and other relevant roles. The sectors represented included Banking and Finance (52%), Security (12%), Information Technology and Telecommunications (8% each), and others such as Agriculture, Civil Society, and Public Service (each 4%). The study employed both qualitative and quantitative data collection methods, with secondary data reviewed from existing literature and case studies. Statistical analysis was conducted using SPSS to interpret the data and identify trends in insider threat occurrences and risk management practices. Findings: The study revealed that insider threats in Uganda's Fintech sector can manifest in both physical and cyber forms. The predominant risk management practices identified include proactive measures such as robust security policies, access controls utilized by 88% of respondents, security awareness training by 80%, and continuous monitoring by 68%. Incident response and reporting procedures were also critical, ensuring that breaches are swiftly addressed to minimize impact. There was a significant positive correlation (r = .65; p < 0.05) between the frequency of past insider attacks and the regularity of risk assessments, underscoring the importance of regular evaluations in mitigating risks. Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: The study contributes to the theoretical understanding of how local cultural attitudes and regulatory frameworks impact effectiveness of risk management strategies, providing insights that can inform RMF adaptations in similar contexts. For practitioners, it recommends development and implementation of robust security policies, employee training programs, and advanced monitoring systems. Policy-makers are advised to support regulatory frameworks that mandate regular risk assessments and the adoption of best Fintech practices.

Digital agricultural technology services and farmers’ willingness to choose digital production technology in Sichuan province, China

IntroductionDigital agricultural technology service has the characteristics of high efficiency, convenience and flexibility, and plays an important role in the process of Chinese agricultural digitalization, which is of great significance for realizing the modernization and intelligent development of agricultural production.MethodsBased on micro-survey data of small-scale farmers in Sichuan Province, this study utilizes the OLS method and the mediation effect model to investigate the impact of digital agricultural technology services on farmers’ willingness to adopt digital production technologies and its underlying mechanisms.ResultsThe results indicate that digital agricultural technology services effectively enhance farmers’ willingness to adopt digital production technologies, especially among those engaged in cooperative. Further analysis of mechanisms suggests that digital agricultural technology services influence farmers’ choices of household production and management methods by expanding their information channels, enhancing their cognition of digital production technologies, and facilitating access to technology. Moreover, heterogeneous analysis reveals significant differences in the willingness of farmers with varying levels of digital literacy to adopt digital production technologies. Digital agricultural technology services have a more pronounced impact on the willingness of highly digitally literate farmers.DiscussionThe findings of this paper deepen our comprehension of the operational mechanisms of digital agricultural technology services in the context of agricultural development, and advocate for policy recommendations such as enhancing the supply of digital agricultural technology services, strengthening the role of new agricultural entities, improving farmers’ digital literacy training, and enhancing policy support systems.