Stimulating smart automation of rice seeding in China: An exploration of planter adoption influencing factors

Widespread adoption of advanced agricultural machinery among smallholder farmers is one way for China to enhance productivity in the agricultural sector. Especially, full mechanization and smart automation of rice production are of great importance for food security in China and beyond. However, far...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Yichun Li, Yuquan W. Zhang, Yangjie Wang, Yuanfei Zhou, Jingjin Zhang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2024-12-01
Series:Journal of Agriculture and Food Research
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666154324004319
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850065167795093504
author Yichun Li
Yuquan W. Zhang
Yangjie Wang
Yuanfei Zhou
Jingjin Zhang
author_facet Yichun Li
Yuquan W. Zhang
Yangjie Wang
Yuanfei Zhou
Jingjin Zhang
author_sort Yichun Li
collection DOAJ
description Widespread adoption of advanced agricultural machinery among smallholder farmers is one way for China to enhance productivity in the agricultural sector. Especially, full mechanization and smart automation of rice production are of great importance for food security in China and beyond. However, farmers face many challenges in adopting such machinery. This study explores farm and household factors that influence adoption and their relative importance in the context of adoption of smart rice seed planters in peri-urban Shanghai. A survey targeting rice farmers’ adoption of such planters was implemented in 2020 that contained questions regarding awareness and adoption of the available machines. The inverse probability weighted regression adjustment (IPWRA) approach was used to examine the survey data. The results show that farming households more dependent on rice production, having larger per capita expenditure, etc., are more likely to adopt such planters. However, farming households with high non-farm income shares or non-rice area shares in their agricultural portfolios are less likely to adopt such machinery. Dedication to farming and rice production appears influential for adoption, especially given the peri-urban context. Based on the results, this study suggests that subsidy policies should target farmers who are more focused on rice cultivation, raising their income levels for inducing the use of new machinery. Policies should be also designed to attract new talent into the modern agricultural workforce. Moreover, field demonstrations and training of using new machinery should be strengthened. The study offers policy insights for smart transformation of rice production in China and beyond.
format Article
id doaj-art-d7b640b0d37c45f4bc6c56a6ef852cd7
institution DOAJ
issn 2666-1543
language English
publishDate 2024-12-01
publisher Elsevier
record_format Article
series Journal of Agriculture and Food Research
spelling doaj-art-d7b640b0d37c45f4bc6c56a6ef852cd72025-08-20T02:49:05ZengElsevierJournal of Agriculture and Food Research2666-15432024-12-011810139410.1016/j.jafr.2024.101394Stimulating smart automation of rice seeding in China: An exploration of planter adoption influencing factorsYichun Li0Yuquan W. Zhang1Yangjie Wang2Yuanfei Zhou3Jingjin Zhang4China-UK Low Carbon College, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China; School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, ChinaChina-UK Low Carbon College, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China; School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China; Corresponding author. China-UK Low Carbon College, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, No.3 Yinlian Road, Pudong New Area, Shanghai, 201306, China.Business School, Central South University, Hunan Province, ChinaSchool of Agriculture and Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, ChinaSchool of Agriculture and Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, ChinaWidespread adoption of advanced agricultural machinery among smallholder farmers is one way for China to enhance productivity in the agricultural sector. Especially, full mechanization and smart automation of rice production are of great importance for food security in China and beyond. However, farmers face many challenges in adopting such machinery. This study explores farm and household factors that influence adoption and their relative importance in the context of adoption of smart rice seed planters in peri-urban Shanghai. A survey targeting rice farmers’ adoption of such planters was implemented in 2020 that contained questions regarding awareness and adoption of the available machines. The inverse probability weighted regression adjustment (IPWRA) approach was used to examine the survey data. The results show that farming households more dependent on rice production, having larger per capita expenditure, etc., are more likely to adopt such planters. However, farming households with high non-farm income shares or non-rice area shares in their agricultural portfolios are less likely to adopt such machinery. Dedication to farming and rice production appears influential for adoption, especially given the peri-urban context. Based on the results, this study suggests that subsidy policies should target farmers who are more focused on rice cultivation, raising their income levels for inducing the use of new machinery. Policies should be also designed to attract new talent into the modern agricultural workforce. Moreover, field demonstrations and training of using new machinery should be strengthened. The study offers policy insights for smart transformation of rice production in China and beyond.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666154324004319Modern rice planterRice seedingSuburban shanghaiAdoptionNon-farm income
spellingShingle Yichun Li
Yuquan W. Zhang
Yangjie Wang
Yuanfei Zhou
Jingjin Zhang
Stimulating smart automation of rice seeding in China: An exploration of planter adoption influencing factors
Journal of Agriculture and Food Research
Modern rice planter
Rice seeding
Suburban shanghai
Adoption
Non-farm income
title Stimulating smart automation of rice seeding in China: An exploration of planter adoption influencing factors
title_full Stimulating smart automation of rice seeding in China: An exploration of planter adoption influencing factors
title_fullStr Stimulating smart automation of rice seeding in China: An exploration of planter adoption influencing factors
title_full_unstemmed Stimulating smart automation of rice seeding in China: An exploration of planter adoption influencing factors
title_short Stimulating smart automation of rice seeding in China: An exploration of planter adoption influencing factors
title_sort stimulating smart automation of rice seeding in china an exploration of planter adoption influencing factors
topic Modern rice planter
Rice seeding
Suburban shanghai
Adoption
Non-farm income
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666154324004319
work_keys_str_mv AT yichunli stimulatingsmartautomationofriceseedinginchinaanexplorationofplanteradoptioninfluencingfactors
AT yuquanwzhang stimulatingsmartautomationofriceseedinginchinaanexplorationofplanteradoptioninfluencingfactors
AT yangjiewang stimulatingsmartautomationofriceseedinginchinaanexplorationofplanteradoptioninfluencingfactors
AT yuanfeizhou stimulatingsmartautomationofriceseedinginchinaanexplorationofplanteradoptioninfluencingfactors
AT jingjinzhang stimulatingsmartautomationofriceseedinginchinaanexplorationofplanteradoptioninfluencingfactors