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

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

Comments

Overall concepts and research purpose are clear.

1.      Please mention sampling technique into the abstract

2.      Provide reference for line number 55 and describe reason behind the low adoption of conservation tillage.

3.      Line 85, please explain how social network shapes behavior (provide reference also).

4.      Remove repetition in introduction section.  Please explain various conservation tillage techniques used in china and other parts of the world.

5.      Please provide the information of total farmers in four areas. Why simple random sampling used? Does author have registered farmers’ list? It means population is known?

6.      Provide validity and reliability of the survey (Cronbach's alpha)

7.      Please improve discussion section, add more references and mention the gap filled by current research.

8.      Please explain type of social networks in introduction section.

9.      Conclusion section; please add contribution of current research in existing literature.

Author Response

Responses to the comments of the Reviewer

Dear reviewer, thank you very much for your affirmation of this paper and your valuable suggestions for improving the quality of this paper. We think the nine suggestions you put forward are very professional, so we accept all of them and revise them carefully. We have made detailed modifications and replies based on your specific suggestions. We hope these modifications and replies will be to your satisfaction.

 

Comment-1.Please mention sampling technique into the abstract

Response: Thank you sincerely for this comment. According to your comment, sampling technique has been added in the abstract, specifically as follows:

This article takes conservation tillage technology as an example, based on simple random unduplicated sampling, uses survey data of 781 farmers in Heilongjiang, Henan, Shandong, and Shanxi provinces of China, empirically tests the effect of agricultural technology extension and social networks on farmers’ adoption of conservation tillage technology, and analyzes their substitution effect or complementary effect.(Line 15-19).

 

Comment-2.Provide reference for line number 55 and describe reason behind the low adoption of conservation tillage.

Response: Thank you sincerely for this comment. Following your request, we provide a reference source for the "low adoption rate of conservation tillage technology" and explain this view as follows:

Farmers are the main implementers and direct beneficiaries of conservation tillage technology [Gao, 2015]. The key reasons are as follows: on the one hand, farmers have a "second-best" path dependence on traditional farming technology [Tang, 2022]; on the other hand, technological and institutional changes face a series of constraints, including policy factors [Wei, 2023], technological factors, economic factors [da Silva, 2017], and individual farmer factors [Ramsey, 2019]. Therefore, it is of great theoretical significance and practical value to investigate the important factors that motivate farmers’ adoption of conservation tillage technology and to scientifically formulate relevant measures to promote the dissemination and application of conservation tillage technology.(Line 70-78).

 

Comment-3.Line 85, please explain how social network shapes behavior (provide reference also).

Response: Thank you sincerely for this comment. Following this comment, we provide a reference source for " social networks shape behavior " and explain how social networks shape farmer's behavior as follows:

In the traditional relationship society of rural China, farmers, as members of rural society, are not only bound by formal rules but are often influenced by rural social networks [Guo, 2014]. Social networks are a form of social organization based on "networks" (interconnections between nodes) rather than "groups" (clear boundaries and order) [Rainie, 2012]. As an important element of informal institution, social networks influence the economic behavior of farmers through individual interactions, social relationships, and unwritten norms [Li, 2019]. It has been shown that social networks are an important factor influencing the agricultural production behavior of farmers [Lv, 2021] (Line 133-141).

 

Comment-4.Remove repetition in introduction section. Please explain various conservation tillage techniques used in china and other parts of the world.

Response: Thank you sincerely for this comment. According to this comment, we deleted the repeated content in the introduction. For example, we deleted the outline of the research content of the full text in the original manuscript Line 116-123, which is redundant. In addition, the global background of conservation tillage technology is supplemented, and the development of conservation tillage in China and the world are compared. At the same time, the macro background of conservation tillage in China is only introduced in Line 51-58.

 

Comment-5.Please provide the information of total farmers in four areas. Why simple random sampling used? Does author have registered farmers’ list? It means population is known?

Response: Thank you sincerely for this comment. To provide the overall information of farmers in the four regions, the basic information of farmers in the four regions is shown in detail in Table 1, including gender, age, education level, physical health status, the number of agricultural laborers in the family, family income, scale of land operation and whether to join cooperatives. At the same time, we also added the attributes of the surveyed farmers in this revision, including small farmers, large professional farmers, family farms, and other new types of agricultural businesses. The food crops planted mainly include corn, rice, wheat, soybeans, etc (Line 415-417).

The reason why the simple random sampling principle is used is: After selecting four typical regions (Heilongjiang, Shandong, Henan, and Shanxi) as research areas, it was impossible to conduct an interview survey of all farmers in these regions. Therefore, to ensure that each object in the overall population has a known, non-zero probability of being selected as the object of the study and to ensure the representativeness of the sample, we adopted unduplicated sampling of simple random sampling, which is one of the most common sampling methods used in social surveys.

As for whether there is a registered list and whether the population is known, the simple random sampling principle is adopted. Before the specific field survey, we will fully understand the basic situation of the survey area, obtain the list of all the farmers that can be investigated in the survey area, and randomly select the required sample size through the computer system to carry out field surveys on these sample farmers.

These questions you raised are valuable because we did not elaborate in detail in the manuscript. In this revision, we have added this part of the content. Please see Line 387-439 for the specific modification.

 

Comment-6.Provide validity and reliability of the survey (Cronbach's alpha)

Response: Thank you sincerely for this comment. We understand your suggestion. You want us to show that the survey data is scientific, stable, and effective. However, I would like to explain to you that we found by reviewing a large amount of literature that the reliability and validity of scale items generally need to be tested. However, the explained variables, core explanatory variables, and control variables in this study are all continuous variables or categorical variables, and no scale was developed to measure an indicator, so we did not test reliability and validity.

However, to overcome the potential heteroscedasticity, we adopt robust standard error for empirical analysis. At the same time, we introduce the provincial fixed effect into the model, which can better solve the endogenous problems existing in the model. These are designed to make the results more scientific and valid. Please refer to the revised paper Line 530-531, 536-538 for a detailed explanation.

 

Comment-7.Please improve discussion section, add more references and mention the gap filled by current research.

Response: Thank you sincerely for this comment. This is our deficiency. Currently, there is no chapter for separate discussion in our manuscript. In this revision, we have added discussion contents, including "New Findings Compared with Previous Studies", "Research Deficiencies and Prospects", which are as follows:

6. Discussion

6.1 New Findings Compared to Previous Studies

Given the important role of the dissemination and application of conservation tillage technology in ensuring national food security in the new development stage, this paper continues to explore the key factors influencing farmers’ adoption of conservation tillage technology based on existing studies. Unlike previous studies, this paper has several new findings as follows:

First, unlike the previous studies that focused on conservation tillage technology [Chimsah, 2020; Van den Putte, 2012], this paper looks at the implementation of conservation tillage technology and farmers' adoption, the direct beneficiaries, to find specific initiatives that can improve farmers' adoption and make the dissemination and application of conservation tillage technology more direct and effective, thus achieving the purpose of protecting farmland, rising farmers' income, ensuring national food security, and comprehensively promoting sustainable agricultural development.

Second, the impact of agricultural technology extension and social networks on agricultural production has received wide attention as important elements of formal and informal institution, respectively. However, few studies have examined its impact on farmers' adoption of conservation tillage technology. Through theoretical analysis and empirical tests, this paper finds that agricultural technology extension and social networks are important factors influencing farmers' adoption of conservation tillage technology.  Try to find a new path for the dissemination of conservation tillage technology.

Third, based on the empirical test that both agricultural technology extension and social networks have a positive influence on farmers' adoption of conservation tillage technology, this paper also compared which channel of agricultural extension and social networks have a greater promotion effect and how the two are related. Complementary effects exist, but they do not always exist and vary across groups, regions, and technology types.

6.2 Research Deficiencies and Prospects

Although we have concluded through theoretical analysis and empirical tests that agricultural technology extension and social networks have important effects on farmers' adoption of conservation tillage technology, there are certain shortcomings in this study, which also provide important research directions for our next study, in two aspects:

On the one hand, as mentioned above, conservation tillage technology contains many types, not only cover tillage technologies such as straw returning to the field, sowing with less and no-tillage, and subsoiling, but also cultivation and planting technologies such as intercropping, strip planting, and crop rotation, as well as integrated farm management techniques such as integrated prevention and control of diseases, pests and grasses, soil testing and fertilizer formula, and increased application of organic fertilizers. Practice shows that there are great differences in the effects of different technologies, but in this paper, when examining farmers' adoption of conservation tillage technology, farmers are considered to have adoption behavior as long as they adopt one technology, ignoring the differences between different technologies. Therefore, in future research, the relationship between agriculture technology extension and social networks and farmer adoption of specific technologies can be examined com-prehensively to pinpoint extension initiatives for different types of conservation tillage technologies.

On the other hand, the data used in the current empirical study are from a survey of 781 farmers in four Chinese provinces, which are typical and representative but have not yet covered the six suitable regions for conservation tillage technology in China, namely, northeast plain monopoly area, the agricultural and pastoral areas along the Great Wall, the northwest loess plateau area, the northwest oasis agricultural area, the Huang-Huai-Hai plain cropping area, the southern water and dry continuous crop area. At the same time, there is a lack of a large sample of practice surveys to obtain more survey information and make the empirical research conclusions more precise. Therefore, in future studies, we will conduct continuous follow-up surveys in areas that have been investigated and supplemental surveys in areas that have not been investigated and researched, to provide Chinese experience for the comprehensive promotion of con-servation tillage technology.

(Line 792-850).

 

Comment-8.Please explain type of social networks in introduction section.

Response: Thank you sincerely for this comment. This is our negligence. Social networks are a form of social organization based on "networks" (interconnections between nodes) rather than "groups" (clear boundaries and order) [Rainie, 2012]. As an important element of informal institution, social networks influence the economic behavior of farmers through individual interactions, social relationships, and unwritten norms [Li, 2019]. It has been shown that social networks are an important factor influencing the agricultural production behavior of farmers [Lv, 2021]. Detailed supplementary content can be found in the revised paper Line 136-141.

 

Comment-9.Conclusion section; please add contribution of current research in existing literature.

Response: Thank you sincerely for this comment. According to your suggestion, we add new findings compared with previous studies, and also discuss the shortcomings and prospects of current studies, specifically as follows:

6.1 New Findings Compared to Previous Studies

Given the important role of the dissemination and application of conservation tillage technology in ensuring national food security in the new development stage, this paper continues to explore the key factors influencing farmers’ adoption of conservation tillage technology based on existing studies. Unlike previous studies, this paper has several new findings as follows:

First, unlike the previous studies that focused on conservation tillage technology [Chimsah, 2020; Van den Putte, 2012], this paper looks at the implementation of conservation tillage technology and farmers' adoption, the direct beneficiaries, to find specific initiatives that can improve farmers’ adoption and make the dissemination and application of conservation tillage technology more direct and effective, thus achieving the purpose of protecting farmland, rising farmers' income, ensuring national food security, and comprehensively promoting sustainable agricultural development.

Second, the impact of agricultural technology extension and social networks on agricultural production has received wide attention as important elements of formal and informal institution, respectively. However, few studies have examined its impact on farmers' adoption of conservation tillage technology. Through theoretical analysis and empirical tests, this paper finds that agricultural technology extension and social networks are important factors influencing farmers' adoption of conservation tillage technology, which finds a new path for the dissemination of conservation tillage technology.

Third, based on the empirical test that both agricultural technology extension and social networks have a positive influence on farmers' adoption of conservation tillage technology, this paper also compared which channel of agricultural extension and social networks have a greater promotion effect and how the two are related. Complementary effects exist, but they do not always exist and vary across groups, regions, and technology types.

Detailed supplementary content can be found in the revised paper Line 793-818.

Author Response File: Author Response.docx

Reviewer 2 Report

This article takes conservation tillage technology as an example, uses survey data of 781 farmers in Heilongjiang, Henan, Shandong, and Shanxi provinces of China, empirically tests the effect of agricultural technology extension and social networks on farmers' adoption of conservation tillage technology, and analyzes their substitution effect or complementary effect. The study is normative and valuable. From the perspective of improving the quality of the paper, the following points are made:

(1) First, the introduction section needs to be compressed. Add the academic background of this study as well as the significance.

(2) In addition, the introductory section concentrates on the macro context of China. However, the study of this topic should not be limited to China alone. The research question should not be limited to one country only. It is recommended that the authors add to the global context of this research topic.

(3) In lines 180-192, the authors review the existing literature. However, the relevant points are not supported by the corresponding papers. For the sake of objectivity and logic of the literature presentation, it is suggested to add supporting literature for the relevant arguments.

(4) It is suggested that the authors add the reasons for choosing these four provinces in lines 325-331. Why these four provinces are universally representative.

(5) I would suggest the authors to work on the language and do proofreading.

 I would suggest the authors to work on the language and do proofreading.

Author Response

Responses to the comments of the Reviewer

Dear reviewer, thank you very much for your affirmation of the feel of this paper and your valuable suggestions for improving the quality of this paper. We think the five suggestions you put forward are very scientific, so we accept all of them and revise them carefully. The following content is our detailed modification and reply, we hope these modifications and replies will be to your satisfaction.

Comment-1. First, the introduction section needs to be compressed. Add the academic background of this study as well as the significance.

Response: Thank you sincerely for this comment. According to your comment, first of all, we compressed the introduction and deleted the original manuscript Line 116-123. As for the overview of the research content of the full text, this part is redundant. Secondly, we further condensed the academic background and research significance of this study. For details, see Line 37-168 for the revised paper.

 

Comment-2. In addition, the introductory section concentrates on the macro context of China. However, the study of this topic should not be limited to China alone. The research question should not be limited to one country only. It is recommended that the authors add to the global context of this research topic.

Response: Thank you sincerely for this comment. We agree with you. With this comment, we have supplemented the global background of conservation tillage technology and compared the development of conservation tillage in the world and China (Line 38-50). At the same time, the macro background of conservation tillage in China is only introduced in Line 51-58.

 

Comment-3. In lines 180-192, the authors review the existing literature. However, the relevant points are not supported by the corresponding papers. For the sake of objectivity and logic of the literature presentation, it is suggested to add supporting literature for the relevant arguments.

Response: Thank you sincerely for this comment. I would like to explain that Line 180-192 is a summary of our previous literature, namely a literature review. However, your question is correct, we should inform the main research content of this part in the form of subheadings, We add the main content of the Literature Review in three headings: 2.1 Relationship between Agricultural Technology Extension and Farmers' Agricultural Technology Adoption Behavior, 2.2 Relationship between Social Network and Farmers' Agricultural Technology Adoption Behavior, and 2.3 Literature Review and Research Directions.

 

Comment-4. It is suggested that the authors add the reasons for choosing these four provinces in lines 325-331. Why these four provinces are universally representative.

Response: Thank you sincerely for this comment. By this comment, we have added why these four provinces are generally representative, which is as follows:

According to the " Code for the Implementation of Conservation Tillage Projects," and " Key Technical Points of Conservation Tillage ", conservation tillage technology six suitable areas for the Northeast Plain monopoly area, the agricultural and pastoral areas along the Great Wall, the northwest loess plateau area, the northwest oasis agricultural area, the Huang-Huai-Hai plain cropping area, the southern water and dry continuous crop area. Heilongjiang belongs to the Northeast Plain monopoly crop area and the Northeast western arid and wind-blown sand area, Henan and Shandong belong to the Huang-Huai-Hai plain cropping area, Shanxi belongs to the Northwest loess plateau area and the North China Great Wall along the area. At the same time, Heilongjiang, Henan, and Shandong are typical representatives of the main grain-producing areas, and Shanxi is a representative of the grain production and marketing balance area, so the selection of the above four provinces as the research area is both typical and representative.

Detailed supplementary content can be found in the revised paper Line 388-400.

 

Comment-5. I would suggest the authors to work on the language and do proofreading.

Response: Thank you sincerely for this comment. Regarding your comment, after carefully revising the content, we proofread the language of the article.

Author Response File: Author Response.docx

Reviewer 3 Report

The title should be slightly modified. The word "research" should not appear in the title, because every paper is by definition some kind of research. Also, empirical analysis is a method and should not be in the title.

Proposal for the title of the paper:

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

It was a pleasure to read the paper and learn something new.

 

Good luck!

 Minor editing of English language required.

Author Response

Dear reviewer, thank you very much for your recognition of our research results and thank you for providing us with a more accurate and appropriate title. We fully accept your suggestion and apply it.

I wish you good health and smooth work!

Author Response File: Author Response.docx