Strengthening or Weakening: The Impact of an Aging Rural Workforce on Agricultural Economic Resilience in China

Zhang, Hui; Li, Jing; Quan, Tianshu

doi:10.3390/agriculture13071436

Cited by 7 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 37 publications

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“…The findings in this study have several important policy implications for sustainable rural and urban development. First, the significant migration of young rural labor to cities further aggravates the aging of the agricultural labor force in rural areas [23][24][25]. This demographic shift presents challenges to agricultural productivity and sustainability, necessitating targeted policies to support the remaining labor force.…”

Section: Conclusion and Suggestionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The Impact of Changes in Rural Family Structure on Agricultural Productivity and Efficiency: Evidence from Rice Farmers in China

Song,

Chen,

Ouyang

2024

Sustainability

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Over the past three decades, China has shifted from a relatively immobile society to one where rural migrant workers are dispersed throughout urban areas, resulting in significant changes in rural family structure. Previous studies have tended to approach migrant workers as homogeneous groups within families. In contrast, our attention turns to the diversity among individuals and the complex interactions within families. Based on a survey of rice farmers in five provinces of China, this study aims to explore the heterogeneous impact of changes in rural family structure on the single-factor (i.e., land, labor, and capital) productivity and technical efficiency (TE) of rice production. Methodologically, we calculated the productivity indicator through the Cobb–Douglas production function. Following this, a one-step stochastic frontier approach (SFA) was employed to assess the production frontier and estimate inefficiency. To address self-selection bias in family migration behavior, we applied the propensity score matching method (PSM). The results reveal that significant outcomes are observed only with certain types of changes in rural family structure. The production decisions of rural families are influenced by the migration regions of their family members. Compared to non-migrating families (NM), families with couples’ joint migration outside the province show higher single-factor productivity and TE. We used multiple approaches to examine the results and came to similar conclusions. Therefore, enhancing social security measures and employment opportunities for migrant workers, with specific attention to supporting migrant couples, can have a positive impact on sustainable urban and rural development, as well as food security.

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Section: Conclusion and Suggestionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…When couples migrate to urban centers for off-farm work, elderly family members often stay behind in the rural hometowns to manage the farms. Extensive studies have explored these issues [23][24][25].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Impact of Changes in Rural Family Structure on Agricultural Productivity and Efficiency: Evidence from Rice Farmers in China

Song,

Chen,

Ouyang

2024

Sustainability

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“…The challenges related to "ageing" and the impacts associated with a more excellent representation of women in the labour force due to workforce outflows influence agricultural productivity outcomes (Roth et al, 2022) [29]. Elderly individuals, due to health conditions and declining physical strength, as well as limitations in their cultural qualifications, tend to reduce human capital and restrain agricultural scale management and technology progress (Zhang et. al., 2023) [30].…”

Section: Theoretical Analysismentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Elderly individuals, due to health conditions and declining physical strength, as well as limitations in their cultural qualifications, tend to reduce human capital and restrain agricultural scale management and technology progress (Zhang et. al., 2023) [30]. The feminisation of agriculture can reduce agricultural productivity due to the lack of resources (Yan et.…”

Section: Theoretical Analysismentioning

confidence: 99%

Impacts of Rural–Urban Labour Transfer and Land Transfer on Land Efficiency in China: A Analysis of Mediating Effects

Pei,

Zhao,

et al. 2024

Land

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In the midst of China’s ongoing rural–urban integration and development, a pivotal transformation involving the realignment of labour dynamics and land utilisation is underway. This paradigm shift has substantial implications for rural land use and agricultural productivity. Drawing from the field survey conducted in Zhejiang Province in 2019, this study puts non-agricultural employment, land transfer, and land efficiency into one econometric model and establishes a comprehensive framework to explain the mechanisms. Unlike existing research, this paper delves into the impact of different land-transfer behaviours, namely inflow and outflow, on land efficiency. The findings indicate that non-agricultural employment has no significant impact on land efficiency. Rural households acquiring land significantly enhance land efficiency, whereas relinquishing land shows no significance, thus addressing the gap in existing literature regarding the study of different transfer behaviours. Furthermore, to explore the underlying mechanisms, we investigate the mediating effect of land inflows on land efficiency, finding that it operates through plot size. In light of this, we propose that, in guiding land inflows, more emphasis should be placed on the integration and reorganisation of fragmented land rather than simply expanding the total land area, aiming to create large, well-managed areas of arable land by achieving concentrated and contiguous transferable land parcels.

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“…The aim was to optimize individual animal contributions, achieving efficiency in livestock farming at low costs and environmental footprints, while ensuring the quality and safety of livestock products [7]. Consequently, PLF, amid environmental changes [8], resource scarcity [9], and inadequate agricultural labor [10], is poised to emerge as a significant trend and developmental direction in the field of livestock farming [11].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Computer Vision-Based Measurement Techniques for Livestock Body Dimension and Weight: A Review

Ma,

Qi,

Sun

et al. 2024

Agriculture

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Acquiring phenotypic data from livestock constitutes a crucial yet cumbersome phase in the breeding process. Traditionally, obtaining livestock phenotypic data primarily involves manual, on-body measurement methods. This approach not only requires extensive labor but also induces stress on animals, which leads to potential economic losses. Presently, the integration of next-generation Artificial Intelligence (AI), visual processing, intelligent sensing, multimodal fusion processing, and robotic technology is increasingly prevalent in livestock farming. The advantages of these technologies lie in their rapidity and efficiency, coupled with their capability to acquire livestock data in a non-contact manner. Based on this, we provide a comprehensive summary and analysis of the primary advanced technologies employed in the non-contact acquisition of livestock phenotypic data. This review focuses on visual and AI-related techniques, including 3D reconstruction technology, body dimension acquisition techniques, and live animal weight estimation. We introduce the development of livestock 3D reconstruction technology and compare the methods of obtaining 3D point cloud data of livestock through RGB cameras, laser scanning, and 3D cameras. Subsequently, we explore body size calculation methods and compare the advantages and disadvantages of RGB image calculation methods and 3D point cloud body size calculation methods. Furthermore, we also compare and analyze weight estimation methods of linear regression and neural networks. Finally, we discuss the challenges and future trends of non-contact livestock phenotypic data acquisition. Through emerging technologies like next-generation AI and computer vision, the acquisition, analysis, and management of livestock phenotypic data are poised for rapid advancement.

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Strengthening or Weakening: The Impact of an Aging Rural Workforce on Agricultural Economic Resilience in China

Cited by 7 publications

References 37 publications

The Impact of Changes in Rural Family Structure on Agricultural Productivity and Efficiency: Evidence from Rice Farmers in China

The Impact of Changes in Rural Family Structure on Agricultural Productivity and Efficiency: Evidence from Rice Farmers in China

Impacts of Rural–Urban Labour Transfer and Land Transfer on Land Efficiency in China: A Analysis of Mediating Effects

Computer Vision-Based Measurement Techniques for Livestock Body Dimension and Weight: A Review

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