IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v17y2025i13p6054-d1692952.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Do Agricultural Production Services Improve Farmers’ Grain Production Efficiency?—Empirical Evidence from China

Author

Listed:
  • Fang Liu

    (College of Economics and Management, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130118, China)

  • Lili Gu

    (College of Economics and Management, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130118, China)

  • Cai Liao

    (College of Economics and Management, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130118, China)

  • Wei Xue

    (College of Economics and Management, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130118, China)

Abstract

(1) Background: Global grain production faces challenges such as increasing demands due to population growth, limited arable land resources, and climate change, with natural resource and environmental constraints becoming increasingly stringent. Traditional smallholder economies struggle to meet the increasing demand for grain, resulting in a tight balance between grain supply and demand. Therefore, to improve grain production efficiency (GPE), clarifying the specific effects of agricultural production services (APS), a new driving force on farmers’ GPE, is critical for ensuring grain security and achieving sustainable grain production. (2) Methods: Through the super-efficiency Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) and Tobit models, and utilizing microdata from 747 farmers from the China Rural Revitalization Survey (CRRS), we analyzed the differences in farmers’ operating scales and types of agricultural production services to determine the extent and specific implementation effects of agricultural production services on the farmers’ GPE. (3) Results: agricultural production services enhanced the farmers’ GPE. Specifically, labor-intensive services (LIS) markedly improved the GPE of smallholder farmers but not large-scale farmers; technology-intensive services (TIS) did not have a substantial influence on either the smallholder farmers or large-scale farmers. There were significant regional differences in the threshold effect of agricultural production services on the GPE of the farmers. (4) Conclusions: Providers of agricultural production services should enhance their service capabilities to meet farmers’ diverse service needs. Government departments should establish uniform service standards and regulate industry development. Village and community organizations should leverage their grassroots coordination functions to facilitate the efficient operation of services. In addition, tailored development models should be developed for farmers of different scales, and they should be provided with financial and technical support as well as institutional guarantees.

Suggested Citation

  • Fang Liu & Lili Gu & Cai Liao & Wei Xue, 2025. "Do Agricultural Production Services Improve Farmers’ Grain Production Efficiency?—Empirical Evidence from China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(13), pages 1-17, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:13:p:6054-:d:1692952
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/13/6054/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/13/6054/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Hansen, Bruce E., 1999. "Threshold effects in non-dynamic panels: Estimation, testing, and inference," Journal of Econometrics, Elsevier, vol. 93(2), pages 345-368, December.
    2. Per Andersen & Niels Christian Petersen, 1993. "A Procedure for Ranking Efficient Units in Data Envelopment Analysis," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 39(10), pages 1261-1264, October.
    3. Qian Liu & Yongmu Jiang & Carl‐Johan Lagerkvist & Wei Huang, 2023. "Extension services and the technical efficiency of crop‐specific farms in China," Applied Economic Perspectives and Policy, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 45(1), pages 436-459, March.
    4. Young, Allyn A., 1928. "Increasing Returns and Economic Progress," History of Economic Thought Articles, McMaster University Archive for the History of Economic Thought, vol. 38, pages 527-542.
    5. Zhu, Joe, 2001. "Super-efficiency and DEA sensitivity analysis," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 129(2), pages 443-455, March.
    6. Tao Chen & Muhammad Rizwan & Azhar Abbas, 2022. "Exploring the Role of Agricultural Services in Production Efficiency in Chinese Agriculture: A Case of the Socialized Agricultural Service System," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(3), pages 1-18, 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. Ruofan Liao & Zhengtao Chen & Jirakom Sirisrisakulchai & Jianxu Liu, 2025. "Enhancing Rural Economic Sustainability in China Through Agricultural Socialization Services: A Novel Perspective on Spatial-Temporal Dynamics," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 15(3), pages 1-28, January.
    2. Fernández, David & Pozo, Carlos & Folgado, Rubén & Jiménez, Laureano & Guillén-Gosálbez, Gonzalo, 2018. "Productivity and energy efficiency assessment of existing industrial gases facilities via data envelopment analysis and the Malmquist index," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 212(C), pages 1563-1577.
    3. Nuri Ozgur DOGAN & Can Tansel TUGCU, 2015. "Energy Efficiency in Electricity Production: A Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) Approach for the G-20 Countries," International Journal of Energy Economics and Policy, Econjournals, vol. 5(1), pages 246-252.
    4. Cheng, Gang & Qian, Zhenhua & Zervopoulos, Panagiotis, 2011. "Overcoming the infeasibility of super-efficiency DEA model: a model with generalized orientation," MPRA Paper 31991, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    5. Heng Zhang & Xiangyu Guo, 2024. "Farmland Rental Market, Outsourcing Services Market and Agricultural Green Productivity: Implications for Multiple Forms of Large-Scale Management," Land, MDPI, vol. 13(5), pages 1-23, May.
    6. Azadeh, A. & Amalnick, M.S. & Ghaderi, S.F. & Asadzadeh, S.M., 2007. "An integrated DEA PCA numerical taxonomy approach for energy efficiency assessment and consumption optimization in energy intensive manufacturing sectors," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 35(7), pages 3792-3806, July.
    7. Jahanshahloo, Gholam Reza & Junior, Helcio Vieira & Lotfi, Farhad Hosseinzadeh & Akbarian, Darush, 2007. "A new DEA ranking system based on changing the reference set," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 181(1), pages 331-337, August.
    8. Afsharian, Mohsen & Bogetoft, Peter, 2020. "Identifying production units with outstanding performance," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 287(3), pages 1191-1194.
    9. Afsharian, Mohsen & Ahn, Heinz & Thanassoulis, Emmanuel, 2017. "A DEA-based incentives system for centrally managed multi-unit organisations," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 259(2), pages 587-598.
    10. Afsharian, Mohsen & Kamali, Sara & Ahn, Heinz & Bogetoft, Peter, 2024. "Individualized second stage corrections in data envelopment analysis," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 317(2), pages 563-577.
    11. Yantuan Yu & Jianhuan Huang & Nengsheng Luo, 2018. "Can More Environmental Information Disclosure Lead to Higher Eco-Efficiency? Evidence from China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(2), pages 1-20, February.
    12. Constantino J. Garcia Martin & Amparo Medal-Bartual & Marta Peris-Ortiz, 2014. "Analysis of efficiency and profitability of franchise services," The Service Industries Journal, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 34(9-10), pages 796-810, July.
    13. Ya Chen & Yongjun Li & Liang Liang & Huaqing Wu, 2019. "An extension on super slacks-based measure DEA approach," Annals of Operations Research, Springer, vol. 278(1), pages 101-121, July.
    14. Usman Akbar & József Popp & Hameed Khan & Muhammad Asif Khan & Judit Oláh, 2020. "Energy Efficiency in Transportation along with the Belt and Road Countries," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(10), pages 1-20, May.
    15. Guo-Ya Gan & Hsuan-Shih Lee & Yu-Jwo Tao & Chang-Shu Tu, 2021. "Selecting Suitable, Green Port Crane Equipment for International Commercial Ports," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(12), pages 1-19, June.
    16. Morita, Hiroshi & Hirokawa, Koichiro & Zhu, Joe, 2005. "A slack-based measure of efficiency in context-dependent data envelopment analysis," Omega, Elsevier, vol. 33(4), pages 357-362, August.
    17. Opeyemi Akinyemi & Philip O. Alege & Oluseyi O. Ajayi & Lloyd Amaghionyeodiwe & Adeyemi A. Ogundipe, 2015. "Fuel Subsidy Reform and Environmental Quality in Nigeria," International Journal of Energy Economics and Policy, Econjournals, vol. 5(2), pages 540-549.
    18. Beihe Wu & Yan Guo & Zhaojiu Chen & Liguo Wang, 2024. "Do Agricultural Productive Services Impact the Carbon Emissions of the Planting Industry in China: Promotion or Inhibition?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(16), pages 1-20, August.
    19. Yang Liu & Jiuchang Wei & Jia Xu & Zhe Ouyang, 2018. "Evaluation of the moderate earthquake resilience of counties in China based on a three-stage DEA model," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 91(2), pages 587-609, March.
    20. Mei-Huan Kuo & Chyan Yang, 2012. "Does intellectual capital matter? Assessing the profitability and marketability of IC design companies," Quality & Quantity: International Journal of Methodology, Springer, vol. 46(6), pages 1865-1881, October.

    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:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:13:p:6054-:d:1692952. 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.