IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jagris/v15y2025i12p1325-d1683175.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

The Impact of Supply Chain Finance on the Total Factor Productivity of Agricultural Enterprises: Evidence from China

Author

Listed:
  • Haoyang Luo

    (College of Economics, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China)

  • Yue Yu

    (College of Economics, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China)

  • Lan Wang

    (College of Economics, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China)

  • Yanru Wu

    (College of Economics, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China)

  • Yan Liu

    (College of Economics, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China)

Abstract

As the primary force driving the sustainable development of the rural economy, the improvement of the total factor productivity (TFP) of agricultural enterprises (AEs) is of great strategic significance. This study innovatively zeroes in on AEs, leveraging micro-level data from agricultural listed companies in China’s A-share market spanning from 2007 to 2023. It aims to investigate the impact of supply chain finance (SCF) on the TFP of these enterprises and elucidate the underlying mechanisms. Uniquely, this study incorporates enterprise digital transformation and innovation capability as moderating variables into the mechanism analysis framework. Furthermore, it examines the heterogeneous effects across different characteristics of AEs. The findings reveal that SCF significantly boosts the TFP of AEs. Specifically, a one-standard-deviation increase in the level of SCF is associated with a 0.2658% increase in TFP relative to the mean. This conclusion holds robustly across various tests. Moreover, the interaction terms of SCF with both enterprise digital transformation and innovation capability are significantly positive. This indicates that greater digital transformation and stronger innovation capability amplify the positive effect of SCF on TFP. The heterogeneous analysis further indicates that for AEs with highly optimized human capital, higher financing constraints, and more efficient credit resource allocation, the positive impact of SCF on TFP is particularly pronounced.

Suggested Citation

  • Haoyang Luo & Yue Yu & Lan Wang & Yanru Wu & Yan Liu, 2025. "The Impact of Supply Chain Finance on the Total Factor Productivity of Agricultural Enterprises: Evidence from China," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 15(12), pages 1-25, June.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jagris:v:15:y:2025:i:12:p:1325-:d:1683175
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/15/12/1325/pdf
    Download Restriction: no

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/15/12/1325/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Schipmann, Christin & Qaim, Matin, 2011. "Supply chain differentiation, contract agriculture, and farmers' marketing preferences: The case of sweet pepper in Thailand," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 36(5), pages 666-676, October.
    2. Liu, Lu & Zhao, Shumeng, 2025. "Local government debt, financing constraints and firms' green total factor productivity," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 97(C).
    3. Manolis Manioudis & Giorgos Meramveliotakis, 2022. "Broad strokes towards a grand theory in the analysis of sustainable development: a return to the classical political economy," New Political Economy, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 27(5), pages 866-878, September.
    4. Ning Yin & Yapeng Wang, 2017. "Impacts of Rural Labor Resource Change on the Technical Efficiency of Crop Production in China," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 7(3), pages 1-12, March.
    5. Li Lin & Tianyu Gu & Yi Shi, 2024. "The Influence of New Quality Productive Forces on High-Quality Agricultural Development in China: Mechanisms and Empirical Testing," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 14(7), pages 1-19, June.
    6. Yao, Dingjun & Yan, Kai, 2025. "Can factoring business alleviate the seasonal impact on agricultural supply chain enterprises?," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 98(C).
    7. Wang, Zhiqiang & Wang, Qiang & Lai, Yin & Liang, Chaojie, 2020. "Drivers and outcomes of supply chain finance adoption: An empirical investigation in China," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 220(C).
    8. Schipmann, Christin & Qaim, Matin, 2011. "Supply chain differentiation, contract agriculture, and farmers’ marketing preferences: The case of sweet pepper in Thailand," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 36(5), pages 667-677.
    9. Gu, Haoran & Yang, Shenggang & Xu, Zhaoyi & Cheng, Cheng, 2023. "Supply chain finance, green innovation, and productivity: Evidence from China," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 78(C).
    10. Trang Doan Do & Ha An Thi Pham & Eleftherios I. Thalassinos & Hoang Anh Le, 2022. "The Impact of Digital Transformation on Performance: Evidence from Vietnamese Commercial Banks," JRFM, MDPI, vol. 15(1), pages 1-15, January.
    11. Daniel A. Ackerberg & Kevin Caves & Garth Frazer, 2015. "Identification Properties of Recent Production Function Estimators," Econometrica, Econometric Society, vol. 83, pages 2411-2451, November.
    12. Linjing Yang & Hao Yuan, 2025. "Supply Chain Financing and Total Factor Productivity: Evidence From Listed Manufacturing Companies in China," Journal of International Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 37(1), pages 334-349, January.
    13. Yamei Guan & Na Sun & Sarah Jinhui Wu & Yuxi Sun, 2025. "Supply Chain Finance, Fintech Development, and Financing Efficiency of SMEs in China," Administrative Sciences, MDPI, vol. 15(3), pages 1-16, March.
    14. Schipmann, Christin & Qaim, Matin, 2011. "Supply chain differentiation, contract agriculture, and farmers’ marketing preferences: the case of sweet pepper in Thailand," GlobalFood Discussion Papers 108349, Georg-August-Universitaet Goettingen, GlobalFood, Department of Agricultural Economics and Rural Development.
    15. ., 2021. "Corporations and finance," Chapters, in: Evolution of the Corporation in the United States, chapter 6, pages 102-113, Edward Elgar Publishing.
    16. Lam, Hugo K.S. & Zhan, Yuanzhu & Zhang, Minhao & Wang, Yichuan & Lyons, Andrew, 2019. "The effect of supply chain finance initiatives on the market value of service providers," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 216(C), pages 227-238.
    17. Kadri Männasoo & Heili Hein & Raul Ruubel, 2018. "The contributions of human capital, R&D spending and convergence to total factor productivity growth," Regional Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 52(12), pages 1598-1611, December.
    18. Chakuu, Sumeer & Masi, Donato & Godsell, Janet, 2019. "Exploring the relationship between mechanisms, actors and instruments in supply chain finance: A systematic literature review," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 216(C), pages 35-53.
    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. Sebastian Kunte & Meike Wollni & Claudia Keser, 2017. "Making it personal: breach and private ordering in a contract farming experiment," European Review of Agricultural Economics, Oxford University Press and the European Agricultural and Applied Economics Publications Foundation, vol. 44(1), pages 121-148.
    2. Adu-Gyamfi Poku & Regina Birner & Saurabh Gupta, 2018. "Making Contract Farming Arrangements Work in Africa’s Bioeconomy: Evidence from Cassava Outgrower Schemes in Ghana," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(5), pages 1-21, May.
    3. Susanne Väth & Michael Kirk, 2014. "Do property rights and contract farming matter for rural development? Evidence from a large-scale investment in Ghana," MAGKS Papers on Economics 201416, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Faculty of Business Administration and Economics, Department of Economics (Volkswirtschaftliche Abteilung).
    4. Benali, Marwan & Brümmer, Bernhard & Afari-Sefa, Victor, 2017. "Small producer participation in export vegetable supply chains and poverty: evidence from different export schemes in Tanzania," GlobalFood Discussion Papers 262583, Georg-August-Universitaet Goettingen, GlobalFood, Department of Agricultural Economics and Rural Development.
    5. Goedele Van den Broeck & Kaat Van Hoyweghen & Miet Maertens, 2016. "Employment Conditions in the Senegalese Horticultural Export Industry: A Worker Perspective," Development Policy Review, Overseas Development Institute, vol. 34(2), pages 301-319, March.
    6. Aashish Argade & Laha, A. K., 2018. "Marketplace Options in an Emerging Economy Local Food Marketing System- Producers’ Choices, Choice Determinants and Requirements," IIMA Working Papers WP 2018-01-01, Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad, Research and Publication Department.
    7. Debela, B.L. & Demmler, K.M. & Klasen, S. & Qaim, M., 2018. "Supermarket purchase and child nutritional outcomes in urban Kenya," 2018 Conference, July 28-August 2, 2018, Vancouver, British Columbia 277078, International Association of Agricultural Economists.
    8. Meemken, Eva-Marie & Veettil, Prakashan Chellattan & Qaim, Matin, 2017. "Toward Improving the Design of Sustainability Standards—A Gendered Analysis of Farmers’ Preferences," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 99(C), pages 285-298.
    9. Thorpe, Jodie, 2018. "Procedural Justice in Value Chains Through Public–private Partnerships," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 103(C), pages 162-175.
    10. Mai, Nhat Chi, 2022. "Rubber In French Indochina," OSF Preprints yzdp6, Center for Open Science.
    11. Wang, Kai & Ding, Ning & Wang, Chenbo, 2025. "Supply chain finance and outward foreign direct investment," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 73(PA).
    12. Ochieng, Dennis O. & Veettil, Prakashan C. & Qaim, Matin, 2017. "Farmers’ preferences for supermarket contracts in Kenya," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 68(C), pages 100-111.
    13. Mai Chiem Tuyen & Prapinwadee Sirisupluxana & Isriya Bunyasiri & Pham Xuan Hung, 2022. "Stakeholders’ Preferences towards Contract Attributes: Evidence from Rice Production in Vietnam," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(6), pages 1-21, March.
    14. Xhoxhi, Orjon & Pedersen, Søren Marcus & Lind, Kim Martin & Yazar, Attila, 2014. "The Determinants of Intermediaries’ Power over Farmers’ Margin-Related Activities: Evidence from Adana, Turkey," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 64(C), pages 815-827.
    15. Susanne Väth & Simone Gobien, 2014. "Life Satisfaction, Contract Farming and Property Rights: Evidence from Ghana," MAGKS Papers on Economics 201415, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Faculty of Business Administration and Economics, Department of Economics (Volkswirtschaftliche Abteilung).
    16. Chaboud, Géraldine & Moustier, Paule, 2021. "The role of diverse distribution channels in reducing food loss and waste: The case of the Cali tomato supply chain in Colombia," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 98(C).
    17. Mai, Nhat Chi, 2022. "Market Formation In Tbong Khmum," OSF Preprints jg5qz, Center for Open Science.
    18. Rabia Mazhar & Bi Xuehao & Thomas Dogot & Rytis Skominas & Vjekoslav Tanaskovik & Hossein Azadi & Zou Wei, 2022. "Contract Farming and Technical Efficiency: A Case of Export-Oriented Organic Rice Farmers in Pakistan," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(11), pages 1-16, November.
    19. Jacobson, Michael & Shr, Yau-Huo & Dalemans, Floris & Magaju, Christine & Ciannella, Rodrigo, 2018. "Using a choice experiment approach to assess production tradeoffs for developing the croton value chain in Kenya," Forest Policy and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 86(C), pages 76-85.
    20. Liu, Y., 2018. "Determinants and impacts of marketing channel choice among cooperatives members: Evidence from agricultural cooperative in China," 2018 Conference, July 28-August 2, 2018, Vancouver, British Columbia 275898, International Association of Agricultural Economists.

    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:15:y:2025:i:12:p:1325-:d:1683175. 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.