Search Results (878)

In the current soil erosion control efforts, the lack of collaboration among multiple stakeholders is a major problem that restricts governance performance. Based on carbon trading and the Public–Private Partnership model, this paper constructs a tripartite differential game model involving the government, enterprises, and farmers, focusing on the government subsidy and the enterprise–farmer benefit-sharing mechanism. It systematically analyzes the dynamic evolution process of multi-stakeholder collaborative governance behavior under the collaborative mechanism. Through numerical simulation, the impacts of key variables such as benefit-sharing ratio, synergy effect of measures, and unit carbon sequestration on the optimization of enterprise governance measures, effort level, government fiscal expenditure, and tripartite benefits were analyzed. The results indicate that (1) the benefit-sharing ratio has a significant bidirectional regulatory effect on the system, with both excessively high and excessively low ratios weakening the collaborative governance effect; (2) the synergistic effect between governance measures significantly enhances the enthusiasm of enterprise governance and promotes the allocation of resources towards measure with better carbon sequestration benefits; and (3) the unit carbon sequestration significantly affects governance structure and government subsidy strategies, with the government being more sensitive to carbon sink responses of afforestation measures. The research results provide a theoretical basis for optimizing the ecological governance system under the “dual carbon” goal and also provide policy references for promoting the transformation of governance model from “government-led” to “multi-stakeholder collaboration”. Full article

The green transformation of agricultural systems is crucial for environmental protection and food security, yet smallholder-dominated systems face immense structural barriers. This study investigates whether agricultural socialized services (ASSs)—an emerging institutional innovation—can serve as a catalyst for this transition. Using household survey data from the China Land Economy Survey (CLES), this study examines the direct impact and mediating pathways of ASSs on farmers’ adoption of green production behaviors. We also reveal the heterogeneity effects of household operating scale. The results show the following: (1) Agricultural socialized services positively impact farmers’ adoption of green production behaviors, which can contribute to advancing sustainable agricultural development. (2) ASSs do not simply increase the quantity of machines. Instead, they facilitate a shift from costly asset ownership to efficient mechanization-as-a-service. (3) Furthermore, a heterogeneity analysis reveals that the positive impacts of ASSs are heterogenous at different levels. ASSs more significantly influence farmers’ adoption of green practices for small-scale farms (operating at a size less than 4.8 mu). It provides robust empirical evidence that ASSs can effectively “decouple” green modernization from large-scale farmers to overcome structural barriers. These findings help to provide policy implications for promoting ASSs and sustainable agriculture production. Full article

Water scarcity and soil salinization pose significant challenges to sustainable agricultural development in arid and semi-arid regions globally. This study applies Positive Mathematical Programming (PMP) to analyze agricultural water resource management in the Hetao Irrigation District (HID), China. The research constructs a comprehensive multi-stress-factor integrated PMP model to evaluate the compound impacts of water resource constraints, pricing policies, and environmental stress on agricultural production systems. The model incorporates crop-specific salinity tolerance thresholds and simulates farmer decision-making behaviors under various scenarios including water supply reduction (0–100%), water pricing increases (0.2–1.0 CNY/m³), and soil salinity stress (0–10 dS/m). The results reveal that the agricultural system exhibits significant vulnerability characteristics with critical thresholds concentrated in the 60–70% water resource utilization interval. Water pricing policies show limited effectiveness in low-price ranges, with wheat demonstrating the highest price sensitivity (−23.8% elasticity). Crop salinity tolerance analysis indicates that wheat–sunflower rotation systems maintain an 85% planting proportion even under extreme salinity conditions (10 dS/m), significantly outperforming individual crops. The study proposes a hierarchical water resource quota allocation system based on vulnerability thresholds and recommends promoting salt-tolerant rotation systems to enhance agricultural resilience. These findings provide scientific evidence for sustainable water resource management and agricultural adaptation strategies in water-stressed regions, contributing to both theoretical advancement of the PMP methodology and practical policy formulation for irrigation districts facing similar challenges. Full article

The rural landscape, as the core constituent unit of rural space, is vital for promoting sustainable rural development and achieving rural revitalization goals. However, current research is often limited to single groups, neglecting differences in visual behaviors (VBs) and landscape preferences (LPs) among diverse groups. Thus, this study employed eye-tracking technology combined with a landscape preference questionnaire to investigate the VBs and LPs of 160 participants when viewing rural landscapes. The results indicate that there is a notable correlation between VBs and LPs (p < 0.01), and the two aspects mutually influence each other. Moreover, groups with different demographic characteristics exhibit significant differences in both VBs and LPs. Among them, the score for LPs in the group of farmers, service sector workers, and retirees is significantly higher than that in the group of students, while the mean fixation duration is significantly lower than that in the group of students. Based on these research findings, this study suggests that, during the process of rural landscape design, full consideration should be given to the VBs and LPs of diverse groups with different demographic characteristics to enhance the inclusivity of rural landscape design and facilitate the realization of diversified and sustainable rural development. Full article

Using data collected from 294 farm households across Egypt, Morocco, and Tunisia, this study quantifies crop losses due to soil salinity and analyzes the key factors associated with it. Further, it analyzes the factors driving the farmers’ choice of adaptation measures against salinity. Almost 54% of households surveyed reported yield losses due to salinity, with a sizable portion experiencing losses above 20%. In response to salinization, farmers adopted five adaptation practices, including crop rotation, salt stress-tolerant varieties, drainage management, soil amendments, and improved irrigation practices. A generalized linear model is applied to examine the factors explaining crop loss due to salinity. Results show that a higher share of irrigated land correlates with greater salinity-related crop loss, particularly in areas with poor drainage and low water quality. Conversely, farms with good soil quality reported significantly lower losses. Crop losses due to salinity were much lower in quinoa compared to wheat. Farmers who received agricultural training or belonged to cooperatives reported lower losses. A multivariate probit model was employed to understand drivers of adaptive behaviors. The analysis shows credit access, cooperative membership, training, and resource endowments as significant predictors of adaptation choices. The results underscore the importance of expanding credit availability, strengthening farmer organizations, and investing in training for effective salinity management. Full article

Farmers’ land transfer practices optimize the allocation of agricultural resources by transferring them to more efficient operators. This enhances agricultural productivity and advances rural revitalization. However, due to the lack of financial institution outlets in rural areas, the availability of financial services in rural areas is limited, which in turn hinders the transfer of rural land. This study examines the impact of digital financial inclusion, characterized by the deep integration of internet technology and financial services, on farmers’ land transfer behavior in China. The study uses data from the China Family Panel Studies (2012–2022) and provincial digital financial inclusion data. The results show that digital financial inclusion significantly promotes rural land transfer-out. The mechanisms reveal two pathways: (1) digital financial inclusion expands non-agricultural entrepreneurship by easing credit constraints and reducing reliance on land livelihoods; (2) it increases participation in commercial insurance, mitigating risks of land abandonment. Heterogeneity analysis reveals stronger effects in eastern China and among educated households. Theoretically, the study identifies the dual role of financial technology in reshaping rural land markets through credit access and risk management. Practically, it reveals how DFI influences land transfer behavior, providing a basis for the government to formulate policies that combine the two, ultimately enhancing the production capacity, operational efficiency, and market competitiveness of smallholder farmers. The findings offer global insights for developing countries that are leveraging digital finance to activate rural land markets and achieve digital financial inclusion. Full article

Developments in agriculture is reshaping the agribusiness landscape, altering farms’ bargaining power and strategic positioning within supply chains. These dynamics raise important questions about how financial strength influences farmers’ preferences for different components of business relationships with input suppliers. The primary objective of this study is to examine the relationship between a farm’s financial power and the importance it assigns to the behavioral dimension in such relationships. To address this objective, we employ a two-stage research design. In the first stage, qualitative interviews with farmers were conducted to identify the key attributes contributing to relationship value, encompassing economic, strategic, and behavioral dimensions. In the second stage, a quantitative survey was administered to 249 farmers, supplemented with financial data from the Farm Accountancy Data Network (FADN). The Maximum Difference Scaling (MaxDiff) method was applied to assess the relative importance of these attributes, followed by statistical analysis linking the observed preferences to a composite indicator of financial power. The results indicate that financially stronger farms place greater emphasis on economic factors while attaching less importance to behavioral aspects. Among less financially powerful farms, two distinct patterns emerge: one characterized by opportunistic, price-oriented behavior, and another reflecting a relational orientation that values trust, communication, and long-term cooperation alongside economic conditions. These findings contribute to a better understanding of business relationships in agribusiness by explaining how financial power shapes the trade-off between economic and behavioral components. Full article

Indigenous chickens are raised in various rural areas in large quantities throughout Sudan. They must be transported over various distances to centralized slaughterhouses or for other purposes. In this study, we examined indigenous chicken farmers’ perceptions of chicken welfare during transportation. A total of 160 indigenous chickens (80 control + 80 transported with their owners) participated in this study. Our findings revealed that 69% and 88% of the farmers indicated that they were not knowledgeable about animal rights and animal welfare, respectively. The majority of the farmers (86%) reported that they were unaware of animal protection laws. Furthermore, the transported chickens showed a significantly long tonic immobility duration (p < 0.05) compared to the control chickens. Moreover, low pecking behavior was significant (p < 0.05) in transported chickens compared to control, particularly on day one of the experiment. In addition, the mean values of glucose, TWBCs, monocytes, basophils, eosinophils, H/L ratio, Hb, MCHC, and PLT were significantly higher (p < 0.05) in transported chickens compared to the controls. In addition, TNF-a, IL-1β, IL-2, IL-4, IFN-γ, IL-17, as well as ROS, MDA, cortisol, glucose, and total cholesterol were significantly higher (p < 0.05) in transportation chickens compared to control, while CAT, GSH, ATP, and SOD were significantly lower (p < 0.05) in transportation chickens compared to control. We conclude that the traditional transportation of indigenous Sudanese chickens affected their welfare, and this was associated with farmers’ low perceptions of chicken welfare, and stress-induced blood profile changes. Full article

Although forest tenure devolution has been widely implemented, limited research has examined the carbon sequestration effects of property rights, particularly the interactions among rights within the tenure bundle. This research quantifies the structure of forest tenure at the village level over a 20-year period (2000–2019) and links it with village-year satellite observations of forest carbon sequestration. Using two-way fixed effects regression, interaction effect models, and mediation analysis, the research examines the carbon responses to devolved forest tenure, with particular attention to the interactions among tenure rights and the heterogeneity across forest types. Empirical results indicate that the logging right constitutes the core component of the tenure bundle that promotes carbon sequestration in mature forests and shrublands. When the logging right was completely absent, the impact of ownership on carbon sequestration became insignificant. Tenure rights bundles interact significantly in shaping carbon sequestration outcomes in mature forests. Specifically, longer tenure duration reinforces the effects of ownership and logging rights, whereas transferability tends to substitute for their returns. In terms of young plantations, only official certification of ownership would promote their carbon sequestration and there are no interaction impacts between rights. Further analyses combining farmer behavior find that the reduction in logging intensity, rather than frequency, is a significant channel for logging rights to promote carbon sequestration of mature stands. Ownership increases the frequency but the intensity of afforestation/reforestation, which in turn increases carbon sequestration of young plantations. Full article

This paper introduces a novel four-party evolutionary game model to analyze cooperation dynamics in High-Value Mixed Cropping (HMC) systems integrating non-pesticide cacao, cashew nut, and free-range chicken farming within circular and sharing economy frameworks. The model uniquely examines strategic interactions among local government and three farming family types (cacao, cashew, and chicken), incorporating both regulatory mechanisms and cooperative behaviors. Through rigorous stability analysis and MATLAB simulations based on empirical data from Southeast Vietnam, we identify precise conditions for Evolutionarily Stable Strategies (ESSs) that sustain long-term cooperation. Our results demonstrate that government incentives (subsidies, technical support) and reputational sanctions critically shape farmers’ and consumers’ payoffs, thereby steering the system toward collective action equilibria. In particular, increasing the strength of positive incentives or reputational benefits enlarges the basin of attraction for full-cooperation ESSs, regardless of initial strategy distributions. Conversely, overly punitive sanctions can destabilize collaborative outcomes. These findings underscore the pivotal role of well-balanced policy instruments in fostering resilience, innovation, and resource circulation within rural agroecosystems. Finally, we propose targeted policy recommendations, such as graduated subsidy schemes, participatory monitoring platforms, and cooperative branding initiatives, to reinforce circular economy practices and accelerate progress toward the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Full article

In countries facing physical water shortages, the safe use of treated wastewater can increase agricultural yields. However, farmers’ willingness to reuse water in agriculture is very low. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to determine the factors that influence 217,215 Iranian farmers who use treated wastewater to adopt safe irrigation practices. This study, which developed the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) by including risk perception (RP) and knowledge factors, is a groundbreaking endeavor in the field of the safe use of treated wastewater at the farm level in Iran and around the world. The final model analysis was conducted based on structural equation modeling (SEM). The findings reveal that attitudes, perceived behavioral control (PBC), RP, and knowledge significantly influence farmers’ behaviors regarding safe wastewater use, while subjective norms did not impact intentions. The subjective norm in this study includes the perceived social pressure by farmers (through family, friends, the farming community, and local authorities) to perform or not perform safe behavior in using treated wastewater for irrigation. Notably, PBC was the most important component in the original TPB model, because intention has a beneficial impact on behavior. In the extended model, knowledge and risk perception emerged as critical elements. Therefore, intervention policies should prioritize enhancing farmers’ knowledge, risk perception, and perceived behavioral control to promote safe treated wastewater usage. This study offers valuable insights for developing countries in agricultural practices. Full article

China holds the largest apple cultivation area globally, yet yields per hectare remain relatively low. Despite substantial government investment in modern orchard technologies, adoption remains limited among farmers. This study investigates the economic and sociological drivers of technology uptake, focusing on how information sources shape adoption behavior. Based on 382 farmer surveys across major apple-producing provinces, the study examines (1) farmers’ preferences for agricultural information sources, (2) the influence of demographic characteristics on those preferences, and (3) the differential effects of specific sources on the adoption of key technologies, including dwarf rootstocks and virus-free seedlings. Results show that agri-chemical dealers (ACDs) and farmer peers (FPs) are the most commonly used information channels. Access to advice from local experts (EXPs) significantly increases the likelihood of adopting dwarf rootstocks, while information from ACDs promotes the use of virus-free seedlings. In contrast, reliance on personal farming experience is negatively associated with technology uptake. These findings highlight the need to strengthen formal information dissemination systems and better integrate trusted local actors like ACDs and EXPs into agricultural extension. Targeted information delivery can improve adoption efficiency, promote evidence-based decision-making, and support the modernization and sustainability of China’s apple sector. Full article

Encouraging farmers to adopt low-carbon agricultural technologies is a vital strategy for addressing climate change and fostering a harmonious relationship between humans and nature. An initial step is understanding the formation of farmers’ willingness to adopt them. This study adopts an integrated theoretical framework combining the Theory of Planned Behavior and the Norm Activation Model to explore the determinants and formation process of farmers’ adoption intentions. Using survey data from 1008 farmers in Shandong Province, the study employs Structural Equation Modeling to empirically examine the influencing factors and mechanisms underlying farmers’ willingness to adopt low-carbon agricultural technologies. The results reveal that perceived behavioral control, subjective norm, and attitudes toward behavior serve as the critical external driving forces for the formation of adoption intention, whereas personal norms act as the core intrinsic motivation by fostering farmers’ sense of ecological responsibility. Multi-group analysis reveals socio-demographic heterogeneity: perceived control drives males and wealthier, less-educated farmers; subjective norms influence younger, educated groups; attitudes affect females and low-income farmers, while personal norms dominate among older farmers. Therefore, policy design should enhance farmers’ resource accessibility, strengthen social demonstration, and cultivate ecological ethics with tailored incentives, thereby promoting the widespread adoption of low-carbon agricultural technologies. Full article

Agriculture plays a crucial role in discussions about environmental challenges because of its ecological footprint and high vulnerability to environmental shocks. To better understand the social and behavioral dynamics among food producers and their perceptions of climate change-related risks, this paper draws on forty-one in-depth, semi-structured interviews with farmers and ranchers in Colorado (USA). Leveraging the concept of social capital, the paper extends the concept analytically in a direction missed by previous research highlighting network structures, such as by focusing on its bonding, bridging, and linking characteristics. Instead, focus centers on the inclusiveness and diversity of values, beliefs, worldviews, and cultural orientations within those networks, arguing that these elements can be just as influential, if not more so in certain instances, than structural qualities. The concept of social capital heterogeneity is introduced to describe a network’s level of diversity and inclusivity. The findings do not question the importance of studying network structures when trying to understand how food producers respond to threats like climate change; an approach that remains useful for explaining social learning, technology adoption, and behavioral change. However, this method misses elements captured through a subjective, interpretivist perspective. With social capital heterogeneity, we can use social capital to explore why farmers and ranchers hold specific values and risk perceptions, peering deeper “within” networks, while tools like quantitative social network analysis software help map their structures from the “outside.” Additionally, social capital heterogeneity provides valuable insights into questions about “effective” agro-environmental governance. The paper concludes by discussing practical implications of the findings and reviewing the limitations of the research design. Full article

The usage of land on small farms in subtropical regions varies with climatic conditions. Agricultural cultivation typically occurs during the spring and summer (of the southern hemisphere), with tobacco being the primary crop on most small farms. During these seasons, livestock graze in pastures and woodlots. After the tobacco harvest (March), farmers plant winter cover crops, and by May, livestock is moved from the pastures to the agricultural areas. This study aimed to examine how grazing influences soil density, water infiltration rates, and animal behavior across different land types (pasture, native forest, eucalyptus reforestation, and agriculture) during the tobacco-growing season, and the off-season when grazing occurs on agricultural lands. It was found that forage availability and climatic conditions determined grazing duration in pastures and forests, under Integrated Crop–Livestock (ICL) systems. Higher forage volume in the agriculture area reduced grazing time and increased resting periods. Eucalyptus reforestation areas had the best soil conditions due to minimal grazing occurring there. An increase in soil bulk density and a decrease in water infiltration rates were observed at the end of the grazing period in both pasture and woodland areas. Year-round ICL systems appear to enhance soil quality through fallow periods, improving forage availability, soil moisture retention, and water infiltration as well. Full article