Driving Mechanism of Farmers’ Utilization Behaviors of Straw Resources—An Empirical Study in Jilin Province, the Main Grain Producing Region in the Northeast Part of China

Abstract

In recent years, the unsustainable behaviors of straw utilization have led to waste straw being one of the sources of agricultural non-point source pollution. Studying the resource utilization of crop straw is conducive to expediate the development of ecological and green agriculture. More importantly, it has long-term significance for the recycling of agricultural waste, improving the quality of rural life, and the employment of farmers. Based on the theory of planned behavior (TPB), taking the representative survey questionnaire of farmers in Jilin Province, China as the sample, the structural equation model (SEM) was constructed to study the main factors that drive the utilization behaviors of straw resources of farmers and to explore the driving mechanism of the farmers behaviors in Jilin Province. The results show that the behavioral attitude and subjective norms of farmers in Jilin Province not only indirectly affect their actual behaviors through behavioral willingness, but also has significant direct effects on their behaviors. The most critical factors that affect the willingness of farmers to utilize the straw resources in Jilin Province are subjective norms and moral responsibilities. The subjective norms of farmers have a direct and significant positive impact on their willingness and behaviors. Behavioral attitude and perceived behavior control have a significant positive impact on their willingness. The behavioral willingness has a significant positive impact on their actual behaviors. This study provides guidance for the utilization of straw resources policy implications.

Management and Control of Agricultural Production Space in the Yanhe River Basin Based on Peasant Household Behavior

“…In addition, a reduction in the fragmentation of cultivated land is achieved. (2) Resource utilization behavior is an indirect factor affecting the evolution of agricultural production space [39]. With the increase in the likelihood of a peasant household understanding policy, acquiring up-to-date information, and undergoing industrial technology training, resource utilization has shifted from simplification to modernization and specialization, and the choices regarding a peasant household's production behavior have been further affected [40], which can support adjustments to the spatial quantity and distribution of cultivated land.…”

Driving mechanism of subjective cognition on farmers’ adoption behavior of straw returning technology: Evidence from rice and wheat producing provinces in China

“…Farmers’ intention and behavior of straw returning technology. Referring to the research of Lu et al (2020) and Guo et al (2021) , the adoption intention of farmers’ straw returning technology is characterized from two aspects: adoption intention and promotion intention. The measurement items are based on Likert’s 5-point scale, and the answer options for all questions are “very low,” “lower,” “average,” “higher,” and “very high,” which are assigned “1–5,” respectively.…”

“…Therefore, farmers’ subjective cognitive factors have attracted more and more attention in recent years. Guo et al (2021) analyzed that the behavioral attitude, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control, and moral responsibility of farmers have a significant positive impact on the intention to use straw resources. Li et al (2020) found that perceived value and perceived benefit had a significant positive impact on farmers’ intention to produce green agriculture, while perceived risk had a significant negative impact.…”

Influence of Government Information on Farmers’ Participation in Rural Residential Environment Governance: Mediating Effect Analysis Based on Moderation

“…TPB theory better explains the relationship between environmental behaviour and willingness of farmers [ 47 ], so it has been widely used in the research of farmers’ environmental behaviour and willingness. The willingness of farmers for ecological protection could significantly promote the behaviour of farmers for ecological protection [ 49 , 50 ], and willingness was a key factor that affected the actual environmental behaviour of farmers [ 51 ]. Hines et al analysed 128 types of environmental behaviours and found that environmental cognition could significantly affect individual environmental behaviours [ 52 ].…”

“…In waste sorting and processing, although individuals with high cognition were more inclined to take participatory behaviours [ 53 ], the deviation between environmental cognition and behaviour [ 54 ] made cognition inaccurately predict individual behaviour. When using TPB theory to analyse farmers’ participation in behaviour, scholars found that farmers’ behaviours and attitudes could not only indirectly affect actual behaviour through willingness, but it also has a significant direct impact on actual behaviour [ 50 ]. Studies have found that attitudes play a mediating role in the influence of variables such as environmental awareness and environmental care on the governance of rural human settlements [ 55 ].…”