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Ways to Improve the Productivity of Oasis Agriculture: Increasing the Scale of Household Production and Human Capital? A Case Study on Seed Maize Production in Northwest China

Author

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  • Yao Wei

    (School of Economics, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China)

  • Fanglei Zhong

    (School of Economics, Minzu University of China, Beijing 100081, China)

  • Xijing Luo

    (School of Economics, Minzu University of China, Beijing 100081, China)

  • Penglong Wang

    (Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, China)

  • Xiaoyu Song

    (Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, China)

Abstract

Oasis agriculture in arid areas faces the constraints of scarce resources and a fragile ecological environment. Improving agricultural production efficiency is the key solution. However, there are few studies analyzing the relationship between farmers’ production efficiency and planting scale from a micro-empirical perspective. Herein, we study the seed-producing corn growers in Zhangye city, and supplement special survey data with national input–output survey data. We use data envelopment analysis to measure agricultural production efficiency, and tobit regression to calculate the marginal effects of factors affecting production efficiency on farms of different scales. The results show that production efficiency is greater for large-scale farmers than for small-scale farmers. Duration of technical training, education time of laborers, planting income, and productive expenditure are significantly positively correlated with production efficiency. Average age of farmers and the amount of pesticide and fertilizer use are significantly negatively correlated with production efficiency. Off-farm activities improve the production efficiency of small-scale farmers but inhibit it for medium- and large-scale farmers. Differences exist in marginal impacts for different scales of farmland. We conclude that expanding the scale of family farms and optimizing human capital are effective for improving agricultural production efficiency in arid oasis areas.

Suggested Citation

  • Yao Wei & Fanglei Zhong & Xijing Luo & Penglong Wang & Xiaoyu Song, 2021. "Ways to Improve the Productivity of Oasis Agriculture: Increasing the Scale of Household Production and Human Capital? A Case Study on Seed Maize Production in Northwest China," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 11(12), pages 1-18, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jagris:v:11:y:2021:i:12:p:1218-:d:693671
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    Cited by:

    1. Aijun Guo & Xiaoyun Wei & Fanglei Zhong & Penglong Wang & Xiaoyu Song, 2022. "Does Cognition of Resources and the Environment Affect Farmers’ Production Efficiency? Study of Oasis Agriculture in China," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 12(5), pages 1-18, April.

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