IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v16y2024i4p1538-d1337444.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

The Impact of Tie Strength on the Sustainable Participation of Farmers in Contract Farming: An Empirical Study in Inner Mongolia, China

Author

Listed:
  • Zhihui Gao

    (College of Economics and Management, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot 010018, China
    College of Accounting, Inner Mongolia University of Finance and Economics, Hohhot 010070, China)

  • Xinrui Liu

    (College of Economics and Management, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot 010018, China)

  • Xinling Zhang

    (College of Economics and Management, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot 010018, China)

Abstract

Contract farming can reduce transaction costs and improve agricultural productivity. With the establishment of stable and effective contractual relationships, not only have agricultural products been provided with a stable market, but the standardization, refinement, and branding transformation of agricultural products can also be realized, thus further promoting the progress of agricultural modernization. The willingness of farmers to renew their contracts is a key factor in maintaining long-term, stable cooperative relationships. This research involves the empirical verification of the impact model of tie strength between enterprises and farmers in contractual agriculture on the willingness of farmers to renew their contracts and reveals the working mechanism of tie strength on sustainable participation of farmers in contract farming. We utilized survey data from 276 agricultural households in Inner Mongolia, China, and the method of structural equation modeling (SEM), with the following results: (1) Interaction and reciprocity have a significantly positive influence on trust; (2) trust has a significantly positive impact on farmers’ willingness to renew their contracts. Also, reciprocity and interaction have an indirect impact on contract renewal willingness through trust; and (3) the perceived economic value can significantly increase the contract renewal willingness of farmers and plays a mediating role between trust and contract renewal willingness. Overall, on the basis of tie strength, this research provides a new perspective for the investigation of the sustainable stability of contract farming and presents empirical evidence for the sustainable development of the contract farming supply chain.

Suggested Citation

  • Zhihui Gao & Xinrui Liu & Xinling Zhang, 2024. "The Impact of Tie Strength on the Sustainable Participation of Farmers in Contract Farming: An Empirical Study in Inner Mongolia, China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(4), pages 1-17, February.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:16:y:2024:i:4:p:1538-:d:1337444
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/16/4/1538/pdf
    Download Restriction: no

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/16/4/1538/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Awal Abdul‐Rahaman & Awudu Abdulai, 2020. "Vertical coordination mechanisms and farm performance amongst smallholder rice farmers in northern Ghana," Agribusiness, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 36(2), pages 259-280, April.
    2. Thomas Dohmen & Armin Falk & David Huffman & Uwe Sunde, 2008. "Representative Trust And Reciprocity: Prevalence And Determinants," Economic Inquiry, Western Economic Association International, vol. 46(1), pages 84-90, January.
    3. Nava Ashraf & Xavier Giné & Dean Karlan, 2009. "Finding Missing Markets (and a Disturbing Epilogue): Evidence from an Export Crop Adoption and Marketing Intervention in Kenya," American Journal of Agricultural Economics, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association, vol. 91(4), pages 973-990.
    4. Miyata, Sachiko & Minot, Nicholas & Hu, Dinghuan, 2009. "Impact of Contract Farming on Income: Linking Small Farmers, Packers, and Supermarkets in China," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 37(11), pages 1781-1790, November.
    5. Bongiwe Porrie Dlamini-Mazibuko & Stuart Ferrer & Gerald Ortmann, 2019. "Examining the farmer-buyer relationships in vegetable marketing channels in Eswatini," Agrekon, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 58(3), pages 369-386, July.
    6. Wu, Ing-Long & Chuang, Cheng-Hung & Hsu, Chien-Hua, 2014. "Information sharing and collaborative behaviors in enabling supply chain performance: A social exchange perspective," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 148(C), pages 122-132.
    7. Minten, Bart & Randrianarison, Lalaina & Swinnen, Johan F.M., 2009. "Global Retail Chains and Poor Farmers: Evidence from Madagascar," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 37(11), pages 1728-1741, November.
    8. Yao Zhang & Yushu Zhang & Yan Wu & Frank Krueger, 2023. "Default Matters in Trust and Reciprocity," Games, MDPI, vol. 14(1), pages 1-21, January.
    9. Ying Yan & Abdol Aziz Shahraki, 2023. "Exploring the Mutual Relationships between Public Space and Social Satisfaction with Case Studies," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(9), pages 1-15, May.
    10. Ruml, Anette & Qaim, Matin, 2020. "Effects of marketing contracts and resource-providing contracts in the African small farm sector: Insights from oil palm production in Ghana," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 136(C).
    11. Ashraf, Nava & Giné, Xavier & Karlan, Dean S., 2009. "AJAE appendix for “Finding Missing Markets (and a Disturbing Epilogue): Evidence from an Export Crop Adoption and Marketing Intervention in Kenya”," American Journal of Agricultural Economics APPENDICES, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association, vol. 91(4), pages 1-9, February.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Ola, Oreoluwa & Menapace, Luisa, 2020. "A meta-analysis understanding smallholder entry into high-value markets," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 135(C).
    2. Anette Ruml & Martin C. Parlasca, 2022. "In‐kind credit provision through contract farming and formal credit markets," Agribusiness, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 38(2), pages 402-425, April.
    3. Briones, Roehlano M., 2015. "Small Farmers in High-Value Chains: Binding or Relaxing Constraints to Inclusive Growth?," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 72(C), pages 43-52.
    4. Bellemare, Marc F. & Bloem, Jeffrey R., 2018. "Does contract farming improve welfare? A review," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 112(C), pages 259-271.
    5. Saenger, Christoph & Torero, Maximo & Qaim, Matin, 2016. "Impact of third-party enforcement of contracts in agricultural markets—A field experiment in Vietnam," IFPRI book chapters, in: Devaux, André & Torero, Maximo & Donovan, Jason & Horton, Douglas E. (ed.), Innovation for inclusive value-chain development: Successes and challenges, chapter 11, pages 343-374, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).
    6. Bignebat, C. & Vagneron, I., 2011. "Cross-border coordination in the Madagascar-EU lychee chain: the role of GlobalGAP," Working Papers MoISA 201106, UMR MoISA : Montpellier Interdisciplinary center on Sustainable Agri-food systems (social and nutritional sciences): CIHEAM-IAMM, CIRAD, INRAE, L'Institut Agro, Montpellier SupAgro, IRD - Montpellier, France.
    7. Arouna, Aminou & Michler, Jeffrey D. & Lokossou, Jourdain C., 2021. "Contract farming and rural transformation: Evidence from a field experiment in Benin," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 151(C).
    8. Hope C. Michelson, 2013. "Small Farmers, NGOs, and a Walmart World: Welfare Effects of Supermarkets Operating in Nicaragua," American Journal of Agricultural Economics, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association, vol. 95(3), pages 628-649.
    9. Ebata, Ayako & Hernandez, Manuel A., 2017. "Linking smallholder farmers to markets on extensive and intensive margins: Evidence from Nicaragua☆," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 73(C), pages 34-44.
    10. Paul Aseete & Andrew Barkley & Enid Katungi & Michael Adrogu Ugen & Eliud Birachi, 2023. "Public–private partnership generates economic benefits to smallholder bean growers in Uganda," Food Security: The Science, Sociology and Economics of Food Production and Access to Food, Springer;The International Society for Plant Pathology, vol. 15(1), pages 201-218, February.
    11. Ola, Oreoluwa & Menapace, Luisa, 2020. "Smallholders' perceptions and preferences for market attributes promoting sustained participation in modern agricultural value chains," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 97(C).
    12. Cristina Romero Granja & Meike Wollni, 2018. "Dynamics of smallholder participation in horticultural export chains: evidence from Ecuador," Agricultural Economics, International Association of Agricultural Economists, vol. 49(2), pages 225-235, March.
    13. Arslan, Cansın & Wollni, Meike & Oduol, Judith & Hughes, Karl, 2022. "Who communicates the information matters for technology adoption," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 158(C).
    14. Yazeed Abdul Mumin & Awudu Abdulai, 2022. "Informing Food Security and Nutrition Strategies in Sub‐Saharan African Countries: An Overview and Empirical Analysis," Applied Economic Perspectives and Policy, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 44(1), pages 364-393, March.
    15. Stephanie D. Rosch & David L. Ortega, 2019. "Willingness to contract versus opportunity to contract: a case study in Kenya's French bean export market," Agricultural Economics, International Association of Agricultural Economists, vol. 50(1), pages 27-37, January.
    16. Ruml, Anette & Qaim, Matin, 2020. "Effects of marketing contracts and resource-providing contracts in the African small farm sector: Insights from oil palm production in Ghana," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 136(C).
    17. Anette Ruml & Matin Qaim, 2021. "New evidence regarding the effects of contract farming on agricultural labor use," Agricultural Economics, International Association of Agricultural Economists, vol. 52(1), pages 51-66, January.
    18. Sylvaine Lemeilleur, 2014. "The role of input vouchers in modernizing the fresh fruit and vegetable market in Turkey," Agricultural Economics, International Association of Agricultural Economists, vol. 45(4), pages 477-487, July.
    19. Gómez, Miguel I. & Ricketts, Katie D., 2013. "Food value chain transformations in developing countries: Selected hypotheses on nutritional implications," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 42(C), pages 139-150.
    20. B Kelsey Jack, "undated". "Market Inefficiencies and the Adoption of Agricultural Technologies in Developing Countries," CID Working Papers 50, Center for International Development at Harvard University.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:16:y:2024:i:4:p:1538-:d:1337444. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.