Evaluation and obstacle factors diagnosis of Agriculture Green Development level in China’s Yangtze River Basin based on the DPSIR framework

The Yangtze River Basin (YRB) supplies approximately 50% of all Chinese crops, making it a significant basis for agricultural production in China. Agriculture Green Development (AGD), one of China's leading agricultural development strategies, is one of the best methods to overcome the increasing tension between agriculture and environmental conservation in this basin, as well as achieve China's carbon peak and neutrality targets and a vital part of the UN's efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Based on provincial panel data of the YRB from 2005 to 2020, this paper uses the improved entropy weight method and the obstacle factor model to figure out the AGD level and the factors that affect this basin. The results indicate that (1) the level of AGD in the YRB shows a clear increase trend from 2005 to 2020, and indicator layer D's growth rate is the highest. Nonetheless, the geographical difference is evident, demonstrating that downstream is superior to midstream, while midstream is superior to upstream. (2) I is the most significant factor impeding AGD, followed by R, D, S, and P. (3) "Manpower-ecology-land" is the primary factors limiting the AGD level in 68.42% of YRB provinces. (4) The degree of convergence in the order of the first three obstacles is shown as upstream regions > midstream regions > downstream regions. The result shows that while the YRB's AGD is outstanding, geographical variances and the effects of obstacles vary greatly. Therefore, we should implement specific strategies in line with regional circumstances and advance the AGD in the YRB through multi-dimensional approaches, such as boosting high-quality agriculture, waterlogging management, green production, and ecological restoration.