Impacts of agricultural production services on green grain production efficiency: Factors allocation perspective.

Abstract

Agricultural production services (APS) can mitigate smallholder farmers' constraints on agricultural production factors and reduce production costs. Clarifying the impact of these services on green grain production efficiency (GGPE) is critical for promoting sustainable agricultural development. The data for this study were collected from a sample of 1185 smallholder farmers in the China Rural Revitalization Survey. This study analyzes the impact of APS on GGPE using quantitative assessment and examines the pathways of APS on GGPE through agricultural land transfer (ALT), rural labor transfer (RLT), and fertilizer application (FA). The results reveal that: (1) APS is shown to have an initially negative and later positive impact on GGPE. (2) The effect of APS on GGPE varies significantly across different smallholder farmers, crops, and types of arable land. (3) ALT in major grain-producing areas significantly affects the impact of APS on GGPE, while RLT significantly moderates the effect of APS on GGPE in non-major grain-producing areas. APS boosts GGPE by reducing FA, with the impact being more pronounced for technology intensive services. In conclusion, it is suggestive for the government to actively promote the coordinated development of agricultural social service systems and land transfer systems. It should expedite the construction of high-standard farmland to facilitate the consolidation and efficient use of land resources. Additionally, APS providers are encouraged to focus on improving service quality, guiding farmers in adopting green production technologies, and expanding their capacity for broader impact.