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

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.