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The environmental efficiency of non-certified organic farming in China: a case study of paddy rice production

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  • Sébastien MARCHAND

    (Université d'Auvergne(UdA))

  • Huanxiu GUO

Abstract

This case study compares the environmental efficiency of non-certified organic and conventional rice production in southern China. Using plot-season level survey data, we first test the existence of a "technology gap" between the two types of production, and then calculate the environmental efficiency scores based on the use of pure nitrogen, which is considered as an environmentally detrimental input within the framework of the stochastic frontier analysis. Our analysis reveals that organic farming loses its environmental performance at high nitrogen levels and especially during the initial expansion period of organic farming as newly converted organic farmers prefer to increase the use of external nutrients such as nitrogen to compensate for a potential yield loss. These results highlight the uncertainty with which conventional farmers tend to view organic farming. However, we find that the experience gained by organic farmers over time helps increase and maintain their environmental efficiency. We thus warn against the rapid expansion of organic farming and recommend more technical support and strict nutrient regulation to maintain the environmental efficiency of organic farming.

Suggested Citation

  • Sébastien MARCHAND & Huanxiu GUO, 2012. "The environmental efficiency of non-certified organic farming in China: a case study of paddy rice production," Working Papers 201238, CERDI.
    • Handle: RePEc:cdi:wpaper:1410
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    2. Mingqing Liu & Yuncheng Wu & Sijie Huang & Yuwen Yang & Yan Li & Lei Wang & Yunguan Xi & Jibing Zhang & Qiuhui Chen, 2022. "Effects of Organic Fertilization Rates on Surface Water Nitrogen and Phosphorus Concentrations in Paddy Fields," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 12(9), pages 1-12, September.
    3. Truc Linh Le & Pai-Po Lee & Ke Chung Peng & Rebecca H. Chung, 2019. "Evaluation of total factor productivity and environmental efficiency of agriculture in nine East Asian countries," Agricultural Economics, Czech Academy of Agricultural Sciences, vol. 65(6), pages 249-258.
    4. Régina D.C. Bonou-zin & Khalil Allali & Aziz Fadlaoui, 2019. "Environmental Efficiency of Organic and Conventional Cotton in Benin," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(11), pages 1-17, May.
    5. Mei-Yin Kuan & Szu-Yung Wang & Jiun-Hao Wang, 2021. "Investigating the Association between Farmers’ Organizational Participation and Types of Agricultural Product Certifications: Empirical Evidence from a National Farm Households Survey in Taiwan," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(16), pages 1-18, August.
    6. Yi-Xuan Lu & Si-Ting Wang & Guan-Xin Yao & Jing Xu, 2023. "Green Total Factor Efficiency in Vegetable Production: A Comprehensive Ecological Analysis of China’s Practices," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 13(10), pages 1-25, October.
    7. Huang, Wei & Bruemmer, Bernhard & Huntsinger, Lynn, 2016. "Incorporating measures of grassland productivity into efficiency estimates for livestock grazing on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau in China," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 122(C), pages 1-11.
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    10. Zhang, Qian & Sun, Zhongxiao & Huang, Wei, 2018. "Does land perform well for corn planting? An empirical study on land use efficiency in China," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 74(C), pages 273-280.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Organic farming; Environmental efficiency; Stochastic frontier analysis; China;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D71 - Microeconomics - - Analysis of Collective Decision-Making - - - Social Choice; Clubs; Committees; Associations
    • O53 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economywide Country Studies - - - Asia including Middle East
    • R15 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - General Regional Economics - - - Econometric and Input-Output Models; Other Methods
    • Q57 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Ecological Economics
    • Q12 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Agriculture - - - Micro Analysis of Farm Firms, Farm Households, and Farm Input Markets

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