Impacts of high-standard farmland construction on farmers’ income in China: A comparative analysis of moderate-scale farmers and smallholders

In order to ensure food security and increase agricultural productivity, the Chinese government has implemented the high-standard farmland construction (HSFC) project. However, it is still unknown whether it can effectively serve as a new pathway for increasing moderate-scale farmers' and smallholders' income. Therefore, this study utilizes 66,750 samples from the 2019–2022 National Rural Fixed Observation Points Survey data, and 2SLS results indicate that HSFC increases moderate-scale farmers' total, agricultural, and nonfarm income by 1.30%, 1.06%, and 1.99%. Among smallholders, total income and nonfarm income increases 0.19% and 0.35%, while agricultural income drops 0.78%. Mechanism evidence shows that HSFC affects household income via changes in land transfer, mechanization, hired-labor input, and participation in nonfarm work. A heterogeneity analysis shows that the income-increasing effect of HSFC is greater among farmers who are more educated, male, or younger. However, it is necessary to be vigilant that HSFC may widen the income gap between farmers. Therefore, alongside the expansion of HSFC, particular attention should be given to vulnerable groups, with targeted support in credit access, mechanization services, and technical training to ensure equitable access to benefits.