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Digital Literacy, Labor Force Characteristics and the Degree of Adoption of Agricultural Socialized Services: Empirical Evidence from Rural China

Author

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  • Hong Tang

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

  • Zhiyou Liu

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

  • Feng Huang

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

Abstract

Under the strategic goal of agricultural modernization, agricultural socialization services have become an important means of enhancing agricultural efficiency and guaranteeing food security. Based on microdata from 3811 farm households in seven provinces, this paper integrates labor force structural characteristics with digital literacy to construct a comprehensive analytical framework and empirically examines their effects on the degree of access to agricultural socialized services (DASS) through ordered logit model and moderated effects models. The results show that labor force characteristics significantly affect DASS, and the higher the degree of feminization, aging, and part-time employment, the higher the degree of access to services; digital literacy as a whole significantly improves DASS for farm households and shows heterogeneous moderating effects under different labor force characteristics. Therefore, this paper suggests formulating differentiated socialized service promotion strategies, deepening the digitalization of agricultural services, strengthening the digital technology training of rural laborers in various ways, enhancing DASS, effectively improving the efficiency of agricultural production, and supporting the dual goals of food security and rural revitalization.

Suggested Citation

  • Hong Tang & Zhiyou Liu & Feng Huang, 2025. "Digital Literacy, Labor Force Characteristics and the Degree of Adoption of Agricultural Socialized Services: Empirical Evidence from Rural China," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 15(17), pages 1-19, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jagris:v:15:y:2025:i:17:p:1890-:d:1743309
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