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How Agricultural Extension Services Improve Farmers’ Organic Fertilizer Use in China? The Perspective of Neighborhood Effect and Ecological Cognition

Author

Listed:
  • Dan Qiao

    (Management School, Hainan University, Haikou 570100, China)

  • Ningjie Li

    (Management School, Hainan University, Haikou 570100, China)

  • Li Cao

    (School of Finance, Nanjing University of Finance and Economics, Nanjing 210023, China)

  • Desheng Zhang

    (Management School, Hainan University, Haikou 570100, China)

  • Yanan Zheng

    (School of Economics, Hainan University, Haikou 570100, China)

  • Tao Xu

    (Management School, Hainan University, Haikou 570100, China)

Abstract

Improving farmers’ usage of organic fertilizer is critical for the green and high-quality development of China’s agriculture. Based on 492 mango farmers’ survey data in Hainan Province, this paper uses an endogenous switching regression (ESR)model, empirically analyzes the impact of agricultural extension services on farmers’ willingness to use organic fertilizer, and further investigates the mediating role of ecological cognition and the moderating role of neighborhood effect in the influence mechanism. Results show agricultural extension services have a significant positive effect on farmers’ willingness to use organic fertilizer, ecological cognition has a partial mediating effect in the influence mechanism, which accounts for 17.84% of the total effect. The neighborhood effect has a positive moderating effect in the influence mechanism of ecological cognition on farmers’ willingness to use organic fertilizer. These results imply that agricultural extension services play a significant role in China’s sustainable agricultural development and by improving their awareness and taking advantage of the neighborhood effect, we can stimulate farmers’ willingness to green production. The study also puts forward policy recommendations on further promoting farmers’ use of organic fertilizer.

Suggested Citation

  • Dan Qiao & Ningjie Li & Li Cao & Desheng Zhang & Yanan Zheng & Tao Xu, 2022. "How Agricultural Extension Services Improve Farmers’ Organic Fertilizer Use in China? The Perspective of Neighborhood Effect and Ecological Cognition," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(12), pages 1-20, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:14:y:2022:i:12:p:7166-:d:836506
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    2. Sha Feng & Dandan Fu & Xinru Han & Xiudong Wang, 2022. "Impacts of the Extension of Cassava Soil Conservation and Efficient Technology on the Reduction of Chemical Fertilizer Input in China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(22), pages 1-13, November.
    3. Dan Qiao & Shuting Xu & Tao Xu & Qinchuan Hao & Zhen Zhong, 2022. "Gap between Willingness and Behaviors: Understanding the Consistency of Farmers’ Green Production in Hainan, China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(18), pages 1-18, September.
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    5. Jianhua Ren & Hongzhen Lei & Haiyun Ren, 2022. "Livelihood Capital, Ecological Cognition, and Farmers’ Green Production Behavior," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(24), pages 1-16, December.
    6. Changhong Chen & Huijie Zhang, 2023. "Evaluation of Green Development Level of Mianyang Agriculture, Based on the Entropy Weight Method," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(9), pages 1-22, May.
    7. Wang Ge & Shiyun Zhang & Yan Lu & Jiyu Jiang & Hui Jiang & Xiaona Cheng, 2022. "Can Higher Land Rentals Promote Soil Conservation of Large-Scale Farmers in China?," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(23), pages 1-14, November.
    8. Lin Meng & Wentao Si, 2022. "Pro-Environmental Behavior: Examining the Role of Ecological Value Cognition, Environmental Attitude, and Place Attachment among Rural Farmers in China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(24), pages 1-24, December.
    9. Xuezhen Xu & Fang Wang & Tao Xu & Sufyan Ullah Khan, 2023. "How Does Capital Endowment Impact Farmers’ Green Production Behavior? Perspectives on Ecological Cognition and Environmental Regulation," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(8), pages 1-27, August.
    10. Xiaohong Zhou & Donghong Ding, 2022. "Factors Influencing Farmers’ Willingness and Behaviors in Organic Agriculture Development: An Empirical Analysis Based on Survey Data of Farmers in Anhui Province," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(22), pages 1-21, November.

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