Scale, culture, and innovation in agricultural green total factor productivity: evidence from China's Yellow River Basin

Information from the abstract

Agricultural green total factor productivity (AGTFP) has become a core index to assess agricultural sustainability and efficiency. It is of particular importance in the Yellow River Basin (YRB) of China. This study explores the influences of farm size (FS), cultural transmission, and science and technology input on AGTFP within the YRB. Using balanced panel data for 2011 to 2023, this study combines the super-efficient SBM–GML (SSBM-GML) model with a panel threshold method. The results indicate that FS and AGTFP present an inverted U-shaped relationship with two specific thresholds identified at 0.802 and 0.901 hectares per labor unit. Within this interval, the positive impact of FS on AGTFP is the most prominent. Once FS exceeds the second threshold, this positive impact on AGTFP gradually weakens. The township cultural service stations (TCSS) have a negative impact contrary to expectations. In contrast, the media coverage of Yellow River culture (YRCMC) plays a positive role. The short-run effect of research and development (R&D) investment on AGTFP appears limited. These findings suggest that sustainable agricultural development in the YRB requires coordinated scale adjustment, more effective cultural support, and stronger mechanisms for the diffusion and application of agricultural innovation.

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Related topics: Efficiency Analysis Using DEA · Agricultural Innovations and Practices · Energy, Environment, Economic Growth