Understanding the transition process and dynamic mechanism of farmland use functions: A comparative analysis from Eastern and Western China

The multifunctional utilization of farmland is critical for food security, socioeconomic stability, and ecological sustainability, and understanding its characteristics and driving mechanisms is important for promoting the efficient use of farmland and achieving harmonious development between human and land. However, comparative analyses across differing regions are lacking, which makes it difficult to comprehend developmental differences among regions and coordinate the use of farmland resources. Case studies were conducted in Xianju County (developed eastern region) and Shidian County (less-developed western region), China. The comprehensive function score was calculated using the Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution method, characteristics and mechanisms driving the functional transformation of farmland use from 2000 to 2020 were compared and developmental strategies for the two regions proposed. There was evident significant heterogeneity in the multifunctional transformation of farmland use between the two counties. Shidian County experienced three transformation stages: mild degeneration, fluctuating development, and rapid improvement, while Xianju County progressed through stages of mild degeneration, rapid improvement, and differentiated development. The demands of social development, constraints on resource endowments, impetus of diverse stakeholder behaviors, and the regulation of policy and institutional frameworks jointly drove the transformation of farmland use. The gap between the two regions can be narrowed by implementing measures to fully exploit the potential of resources, which would contribute to the nation's common prosperity. This study provides new insights and theoretical support for narrowing regional disparities in farmland benefits and promoting efficient land use, thereby offering a scientific reference for regional collaborative development.