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Does Farmland Rental Contribute to Reduction of Agrochemical Use? A Case of Grain Production in Gansu Province, China

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  • Ying Liu

    (School of Management, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
    State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agro-ecosystems, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730020, China
    College of Pastoral Agricultural Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730020, China)

  • Chenggang Wang

    (Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX 79409, USA)

  • Zeng Tang

    (State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agro-ecosystems, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730020, China
    College of Pastoral Agricultural Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730020, China)

  • Zhibiao Nan

    (State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agro-ecosystems, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730020, China
    College of Pastoral Agricultural Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730020, China)

Abstract

As a consequence of the new strategy to boost productivity capacity and ensure food security, China’s farmland rental market is developing rapidly, and its impacts on agricultural productivity have been extensively studied. However, the impacts of farmland rental on food safety have not been considered. The aim of this study was to determine the causal effects of farmland rental on fertilizer and pesticide use in wheat and maize production and evaluate the potential effects of this activity on food safety. Survey data obtained from 900 households in eight counties in Gansu province were used in this study, and the propensity score matching (PSM) method was employed to solve selection bias problems with the data. The results showed that farmland rental significantly reduced fertilizer and pesticide use in wheat and maize production, implying a potential reduction in heavy metal contamination of food and drinking water as well as less pesticide residues-remaining in food and contamination of environment. Also, households renting land were more likely to adopt new agricultural technologies and management methods and to acquire more agricultural acknowledges and information than those not renting land and renting out land. Thus, farmland rental is a benefit to the application of new agricultural technologies and management methods, to rational use of agrochemicals, and finally to food safety and environmental conservation. Policies such as encouraging farmland rental, enhancing education of farmers, improving technological innovation, and providing better information transfer should help ensure not only “enough food” but also “safe food”.

Suggested Citation

  • Ying Liu & Chenggang Wang & Zeng Tang & Zhibiao Nan, 2019. "Does Farmland Rental Contribute to Reduction of Agrochemical Use? A Case of Grain Production in Gansu Province, China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(8), pages 1-15, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:11:y:2019:i:8:p:2402-:d:225156
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    2. Ningbo Cui & Xuezhen Ba & Jin Dong & Xiaofan Fan, 2022. "Does Farmland Transfer Contribute to Reduction of Chemical Fertilizer Use? Evidence from Heilongjiang Province, China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(18), pages 1-15, September.
    3. Cheng, Qingyue & Li, Liangyu & Liao, Qin & Fu, Hao & Nie, Jiangxia & Luo, Yongheng & Wang, Zhonglin & Yin, Huilai & Shu, Chuanhai & Chen, Zongkui & Sun, Yongjian & Ma, Jun & Li, Na & Yang, Zhiyuan, 2023. "Is scale production more advantageous than smallholders for Chinese rice production?," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 283(C).
    4. Li, Xinyi & Ito, Junichi, 2023. "Determinants of technical efficiency and farmers’ crop choice rationality: A case study of rural Gansu, China," Journal of Asian Economics, Elsevier, vol. 84(C).

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