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Impact of Labor Migration on Chemical Fertilizer Application of Citrus Growers: Empirical Evidence from China

Author

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  • Ruixin Zhang

    (College of Management, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China)

  • Lei Luo

    (College of Management, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China)

  • Yuying Liu

    (Sichuan Center for Rural Development Research, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China)

  • Xinhong Fu

    (College of Management, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China)

Abstract

Due to the growing trend of rural labor migration, farmers’ labor allocation under the condition of constant time endowment has gradually become a key factor in the transformation of green agricultural production methods. Using the propensity score matching method, this paper verified the influence of labor migration on citrus growers’ fertilizer application using 814 survey data from Sichuan Province, China. The study found that the boosting effect of capacity accumulation brought on by farmers’ labor migration was greater than the weakening effect of labor constraints and that the average chemical fertilizer application per acre decreased from 6.95 to 6.74 after farmers’ labor migration, a 3.06 percent decrease. Second, labor migration reduces chemical fertilizer application by allowing farmers to acquire knowledge and technology for green agricultural production and to increase off-farm income. Third, the choice of labor migration by farmers with higher agricultural incomes and younger ages promotes a reduction in their chemical fertilizer application. Therefore, this paper makes the following suggestions: the government should appropriately guide farmers in their labor migration decisions, increase public awareness of green agricultural knowledge and technology, and encourage farmers to to invest their off-farm income in green production. Farmers with higher agricultural income and younger ages, in particular, should be encouraged to choose labor migration and train to become new agricultural business entities.

Suggested Citation

  • Ruixin Zhang & Lei Luo & Yuying Liu & Xinhong Fu, 2022. "Impact of Labor Migration on Chemical Fertilizer Application of Citrus Growers: Empirical Evidence from China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(13), pages 1-14, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:14:y:2022:i:13:p:7526-:d:843663
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    3. Hao Li & Huina Liu & Wei-Yew Chang & Chun Wang, 2023. "Factors Affecting Farmers’ Environment-Friendly Fertilization Behavior in China: Synthesizing the Evidence Using Meta-Analysis," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 13(1), pages 1-16, January.
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    5. Lulu Yang & Yankai Gai & An Zhang, 2023. "A Study on the Professionalization of Young Part-Time Farmers Based on Two-Way Push–Pull Model," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(18), pages 1-25, September.

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