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Extension services and the technical efficiency of crop‐specific farms in China

Author

Listed:
  • Qian Liu
  • Yongmu Jiang
  • Carl‐Johan Lagerkvist
  • Wei Huang

Abstract

China operates the world's largest system of extension services, but knowledge about its effectiveness is limited. Using farm survey data and a stochastic meta‐frontier production function, this study investigates the impact of extension services on the technical efficiency of crop‐specific farms in China. Results reveal that extension services have a statistically significant and strongly correlated relationship with farm technical efficiency and that different sources of extension have an inconsistent impact on it. Crop‐specific farms require distinct extension provision whose content is designed to match farmers' needs, and hence a pluralistic and well‐functioning system of extension provision should be developed.

Suggested Citation

  • Qian Liu & Yongmu Jiang & Carl‐Johan Lagerkvist & Wei Huang, 2023. "Extension services and the technical efficiency of crop‐specific farms in China," Applied Economic Perspectives and Policy, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 45(1), pages 436-459, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:apecpp:v:45:y:2023:i:1:p:436-459
    DOI: 10.1002/aepp.13209
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