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Factors Influencing Farmers’ Vertical Collaboration in the Agri-Chain Guided by Leading Enterprises: A Study of the Table Grape Industry in China

Author

Listed:
  • Wen Li

    (School of Management, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, China)

  • Chenying Liu

    (School of Management, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, China)

  • Qizhi Yang

    (School of Agricultural Equipment Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, China)

  • Yulan You

    (School of Management, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, China)

  • Zhihang Zhuo

    (School of Management, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, China)

  • Xiaolin Zuo

    (School of Management, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, China)

Abstract

Leading agricultural enterprises attracting farmers to participate in vertical collaboration within the industry chain can expedite the process of agricultural industrialization and help achieve rural revitalization. This study focuses on table grape growers in the Yangtze River Delta region of China as the research subjects. Instead of examining the impact of specific elements individually on farmers’ involvement in vertical collaboration within the industry chain, this study emphasizes the combination of multiple factors influencing farmers’ engagement. Employing a fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis and adopting a configurational perspective, this research investigates how six factors—growers’ age, ratio of sales income to household income, production scale, market distance, financial support, and technical support—combine to influence farmers’ participation in vertical collaboration within the industry chain. This study reveals that leading enterprises can indeed promote farmers’ participation in vertical cooperation within the agricultural chain, and four pathways are identified. Based on these findings, three configurations are summarized: risk-averse, resource-constrained, and burden-alleviating. Specific strategies and recommendations for targeting each of these configurations are proposed based on the findings, along with policy suggestions for regulating the six factors, both by the enterprises themselves and by the government.

Suggested Citation

  • Wen Li & Chenying Liu & Qizhi Yang & Yulan You & Zhihang Zhuo & Xiaolin Zuo, 2023. "Factors Influencing Farmers’ Vertical Collaboration in the Agri-Chain Guided by Leading Enterprises: A Study of the Table Grape Industry in China," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 13(10), pages 1-14, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jagris:v:13:y:2023:i:10:p:1915-:d:1250847
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. Zhengsong Zhou & Mingxing Li & Xiaomeng Chi & Asad Ullah Khan, 2025. "Game Analysis of Green Technology Innovation Ecosystem Evolution at Carbon Peaking," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(6), pages 1-31, March.

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