IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jagris/v14y2024i4p528-d1364544.html

Does Ecological Planting–Breeding Mix Pattern Improve Farmers’ Subjective Well-Being? Evidence from the Middle and Lower Reaches of the Yangtze River

Author

Listed:
  • Xinyao Li

    (College of Economics and Management, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
    Hubei Rural Development Research Center, Wuhan 430070, China)

  • Xicong Wang

    (College of Economics and Management, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
    Hubei Rural Development Research Center, Wuhan 430070, China)

  • Yangyang Zhu

    (College of Economics and Management, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
    Hubei Rural Development Research Center, Wuhan 430070, China)

  • Zhe Liu

    (College of Economics and Management, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
    Hubei Rural Development Research Center, Wuhan 430070, China)

  • Zhenhong Qi

    (College of Economics and Management, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
    Hubei Rural Development Research Center, Wuhan 430070, China)

Abstract

The Chinese government is making vigorous efforts to control agricultural pollution. The promotion of an ecological planting–breeding mix pattern is one of them. Farmers’ mode of production will affect their subjective well-being. Thus, this paper aims to analyze the impact of adopting the ecological planting–breeding mix pattern on farmers’ subjective well-being based on 895 pieces of survey data from the provinces of Hubei, Hunan, and Jiangxi in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River. Using the endogenous switching regression model, we find that the adoption of the ecological planting–breeding mix pattern has a significant positive effect on farmers’ subjective well-being. Based on this counterfactual hypothesis, if the farmers who actually adopted the ecological planting–breeding mix pattern did not adopt it, their subjective well-being would decrease from 4.006 to 3.669. Further examination indicates that self-worth identification, income increase, and neighborhood communication could be potential mechanisms. Additionally, the effect of the ecological planting–breeding mix pattern on subjective well-being is stronger in the group with low financial support. The technical support provided by the government does not have a significant regulatory effect on the adoption of the ecological planting–breeding mix pattern on subjective well-being. Our results suggest that farmers’ ecological production behavior can affect their subjective well-being. This may be relevant to many developing countries today that are attempting to adopt ecological agriculture patterns.

Suggested Citation

  • Xinyao Li & Xicong Wang & Yangyang Zhu & Zhe Liu & Zhenhong Qi, 2024. "Does Ecological Planting–Breeding Mix Pattern Improve Farmers’ Subjective Well-Being? Evidence from the Middle and Lower Reaches of the Yangtze River," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 14(4), pages 1-19, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jagris:v:14:y:2024:i:4:p:528-:d:1364544
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/14/4/528/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/14/4/528/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Jixin Yu & Elvis Genbo Xu & Wei Li & Shiyu Jin & Ting Yuan & Jiashou Liu & Zhongjie Li & Tanglin Zhang, 2018. "Acute Toxicity of an Emerging Insecticide Pymetrozine to Procambarus clarkii Associated with Rice-Crayfish Culture (RCIS)," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(5), pages 1-13, May.
    2. Alesina, Alberto & Di Tella, Rafael & MacCulloch, Robert, 2004. "Inequality and happiness: are Europeans and Americans different?," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 88(9-10), pages 2009-2042, August.
    3. Julius Okello & Yuan Zhou & Ian Barker & Elmar Schulte-Geldermann, 2019. "Motivations and Mental Models Associated with Smallholder Farmers’ Adoption of Improved Agricultural Technology: Evidence from Use of Quality Seed Potato in Kenya," The European Journal of Development Research, Palgrave Macmillan;European Association of Development Research and Training Institutes (EADI), vol. 31(2), pages 271-292, April.
    4. Matheson, Flora I. & Moineddin, Rahim & Dunn, James R. & Creatore, Maria Isabella & Gozdyra, Piotr & Glazier, Richard H., 2006. "Urban neighborhoods, chronic stress, gender and depression," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 63(10), pages 2604-2616, November.
    5. Jin, Yanhong & Fan, Maoyong & Cheng, Mingwang & Shi, Qinghua, 2014. "The economic gains of cadre status in rural China: Investigating effects and mechanisms," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 31(C), pages 185-200.
    6. Wen Xiang & Jianzhong Gao, 2023. "From Agricultural Green Production to Farmers’ Happiness: A Case Study of Kiwi Growers in China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(4), pages 1-25, February.
    7. Julius Okello & Yuan Zhou & Ian Barker & Elmar Schulte-Geldermann, 2019. "Correction to: Motivations and Mental Models Associated with Smallholder Farmers’ Adoption of Improved Agricultural Technology: Evidence from Use of Quality Seed Potato in Kenya," The European Journal of Development Research, Palgrave Macmillan;European Association of Development Research and Training Institutes (EADI), vol. 31(2), pages 333-334, April.
    8. Senakpon F. A. Dedehouanou & Johan Swinnen & Miet Maertens, 2013. "Does Contracting Make Farmers Happy? Evidence from Senegal," Review of Income and Wealth, International Association for Research in Income and Wealth, vol. 59, pages 138-160, October.
    9. Zeng, Yangmei & He, Ke & Zhang, Junbiao & Li, Ping, 2023. "Adoption and ex-post impacts of sustainable manure management practices on income and happiness: Evidence from swine breeding farmers in rural Hubei, China," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 208(C).
    10. Mzoughi, Naoufel, 2014. "Do organic farmers feel happier than conventional ones? An exploratory analysis," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 103(C), pages 38-43.
    11. Berg, Hakan, 2002. "Rice monoculture and integrated rice-fish farming in the Mekong Delta, Vietnam--economic and ecological considerations," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 41(1), pages 95-107, April.
    12. Chen Chen & Xiao Zhang & Yanlu Shi & Xue Yao & Liqun Wang, 2024. "Impact of the Expiration of the SLCP Subsidy on Farmers’ Income and Subjective Well-Being: Evidence from Hebei Province, China," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 25(1), pages 1-24, February.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Zeng, Yangmei & He, Ke & Zhang, Junbiao & Li, Ping, 2023. "Adoption and ex-post impacts of sustainable manure management practices on income and happiness: Evidence from swine breeding farmers in rural Hubei, China," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 208(C).
    2. Thomas Pircher & Conny J. M. Almekinders, 2021. "Making sense of farmers’ demand for seed of root, tuber and banana crops: a systematic review of methods," Food Security: The Science, Sociology and Economics of Food Production and Access to Food, Springer;The International Society for Plant Pathology, vol. 13(5), pages 1285-1301, October.
    3. Diane Kapgen & Laurence Roudart, 2023. "A Multidisciplinary Approach to Assess Smallholder Farmers' Adoption of New Technologies in Development Interventions," The European Journal of Development Research, Palgrave Macmillan;European Association of Development Research and Training Institutes (EADI), vol. 35(4), pages 974-995, August.
    4. Jeffrey R. Bloem & Andrew J. Oswald, 2022. "The Analysis of Human Feelings: A Practical Suggestion for a Robustness Test," Review of Income and Wealth, International Association for Research in Income and Wealth, vol. 68(3), pages 689-710, September.
    5. Kai Mausch & Dave Harris & Luke Dilley & Mary Crossland & Tim Pagella & Jules Yim & Emma Jones, 2021. "Not All About Farming: Understanding Aspirations Can Challenge Assumptions About Rural Development," The European Journal of Development Research, Palgrave Macmillan;European Association of Development Research and Training Institutes (EADI), vol. 33(4), pages 861-884, August.
    6. repec:ags:aaea22:344020 is not listed on IDEAS
    7. Ghislain B. D. Aïhounton & Arne Henningsen, 2024. "Organic Farming and Happiness: A Path Analysis," IFRO Working Paper 2024/01, University of Copenhagen, Department of Food and Resource Economics.
    8. Kai Mausch & Dave Harris & Javier Revilla Diez, 2021. "Rural Aspirations: Reflections for Development Planning, Design and Localized Effects," The European Journal of Development Research, Palgrave Macmillan;European Association of Development Research and Training Institutes (EADI), vol. 33(4), pages 795-808, August.
    9. Xing Ji & Jia Chen & Hongxiao Zhang, 2023. "Agricultural Specialization Threatens Sustainable Mental Health: Implications for Chinese Farmers’ Subjective Well-Being," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(20), pages 1-22, October.
    10. Simon Heck & Hugo Campos & Ian Barker & Julius J. Okello & Arun Baral & Erick Boy & Lynn Brown & Ekin Birol, 2020. "Resilient agri-food systems for nutrition amidst COVID-19: evidence and lessons from food-based approaches to overcome micronutrient deficiency and rebuild livelihoods after crises," Food Security: The Science, Sociology and Economics of Food Production and Access to Food, Springer;The International Society for Plant Pathology, vol. 12(4), pages 823-830, August.
    11. Luke Dilley & Kai Mausch & Mary Crossland & Dave Harris, 2021. "What’s the Story on Agriculture? Using Narratives to Understand Farming Households’ Aspirations in Meru, Kenya," The European Journal of Development Research, Palgrave Macmillan;European Association of Development Research and Training Institutes (EADI), vol. 33(4), pages 1091-1114, August.
    12. Diane Kapgen & Laurence Roudart, 2022. "A Multidisciplinary Approach to Assess Smallholder Farmers' Adoption of New Technologies in Development Interventions," ULB Institutional Repository 2013/345825, ULB -- Universite Libre de Bruxelles.
    13. Christine Wamuyu Mwangi & Josiah Ateka & Robert Mbeche & Luke Oyugi & Elijah Ateka, 2022. "Comparing farmers’ willingness to pay with costs of clean sweet potato seed multiplication in Kenya," Food Security: The Science, Sociology and Economics of Food Production and Access to Food, Springer;The International Society for Plant Pathology, vol. 14(5), pages 1279-1293, October.
    14. Lucas David & Michel Streith & Audrey Michaud & Michaël Dambrun, 2024. "Organic and Conventional Farmers’ Mental Health: A Preliminary Study on the Role of Social Psychological Mediators," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(5), pages 1-18, February.
    15. van Hoorn, André, 2018. "Is the happiness approach to measuring preferences valid?," Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Economics (formerly The Journal of Socio-Economics), Elsevier, vol. 73(C), pages 53-65.
    16. Mookerjee, Rajen & Beron, Krista, 2005. "Gender, religion and happiness," Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Economics (formerly The Journal of Socio-Economics), Elsevier, vol. 34(5), pages 674-685, October.
    17. repec:lan:wpaper:4841 is not listed on IDEAS
    18. Oshio, Takashi & Urakawa, Kunio, 2013. "The association between perceived income inequality and subjective well-being: Evidence from a social survey in Japan," CIS Discussion paper series 579, Center for Intergenerational Studies, Institute of Economic Research, Hitotsubashi University.
    19. Silva,Joana C. G. & Morgandi,Matteo & Levin,Victoria, 2016. "Trust in government and support for redistribution," Policy Research Working Paper Series 7675, The World Bank.
    20. Jolanda Hessels & José María Millán & Concepción Román, 2015. "The Importance of Being in Control of Business: Work Satisfaction of Employers, Own-account Workers and Employees," Tinbergen Institute Discussion Papers 15-047/VII, Tinbergen Institute.
    21. Yamamura, Eiji & Andrés, Antonio R., 2011. "Does corruption affect suicide? Empirical evidence from OECD countries," MPRA Paper 31622, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    22. Lergetporer, Philipp & Schwerdt, Guido & Werner, Katharina & West, Martin R. & Woessmann, Ludger, 2018. "How information affects support for education spending: Evidence from survey experiments in Germany and the United States," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 167(C), pages 138-157.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jagris:v:14:y:2024:i:4:p:528-:d:1364544. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.