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Farm Household Pluriactivity, Factor Inputs, and Crop Structure Adjustment: Evidence from Sichuan Province, China

Author

Listed:
  • Jianqiang Li

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

  • Qing Feng

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

  • Ziyi Ye

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

  • Hongming Liu

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

  • Yandong Guo

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

  • Kun Zhou

    (Institute of Rural Development, Sichuan Academy of Social Sciences, Chengdu 610071, China)

Abstract

Farm household pluriactivity has become increasingly prevalent in China; however, its influence on crop structure remains insufficiently explored. This study examines the impact of farm household pluriactivity on crop structure in China, focusing on factor input mechanisms. Based on survey data from 473 farm households in Sichuan Province, this study employs ordinary least squares (OLS), two-stage least squares (2SLS), and mediation analyses to systematically assess the impact of pluriactivity on crop structure through factor input mechanisms. The analysis reveals three key findings. First, rather than reducing the grain planting area, an increase in part-time farming is associated with a significant rise in the proportion of grain cultivation. Second, factor inputs partially mediate this relationship: while pluriactivity tends to reduce staple crop cultivation through mechanisms such as cultivated land transfer-out, land abandonment, and increased non-agricultural labor input, it simultaneously promotes staple crop expansion via enhanced agricultural technical services. Third, heterogeneity tests indicate that the positive effect of pluriactivity on staple crop cultivation is especially pronounced among households in hilly areas and those that have adopted agricultural insurance. These findings provide valuable policy insights for fostering sustainable agricultural transitions and enhancing food security in developing regions.

Suggested Citation

  • Jianqiang Li & Qing Feng & Ziyi Ye & Hongming Liu & Yandong Guo & Kun Zhou, 2025. "Farm Household Pluriactivity, Factor Inputs, and Crop Structure Adjustment: Evidence from Sichuan Province, China," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 15(13), pages 1-20, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jagris:v:15:y:2025:i:13:p:1357-:d:1687114
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