The Factors Affecting Farmers’ Soybean Planting Behavior in Heilongjiang Province, China

Abstract

Under the threat of food insecurity, the Chinese government has created plans and policies to stimulate soybean production. Despite government efforts to stimulate production, based on predictions, planned targets for soybean production are unlikely. Consequently, the predictions raise questions about farmers' intentions to increase soybean cultivating area. In other words, farmers may not be willing to increase soybean. However, few researchers have studied soybean farmers' intention and behavior. With these concerns in mind, this study analyzed the intention and factors that influence farmers' choice of increasing soybean production as well as evaluating the differences in the decision making between commercial and subsistence farmers. This study collected data from 155 randomly selected families in 23 villages in the major soybean area in Heilongjiang Province. Results showed that 42.6% of the farmers expressed that they would expand soybean planting area, while the rest would insist on previous planting habits. The capacity to increase soybean production confronted many constraints. Farmers' age, farm income, land topography, and ease of selling all positively influence farmers' behavior. A significant difference in decision making between subsistence and commercial farmers was found. Subsistence farmers were more affected by land topography, agricultural insurance status, and satisfaction of soybean subsidies, whereas commercial farmers were more affected by farming experience and farm income. As a result, soybean policies should focus on increasing farmers' income, promoting large-scale planting, training young farmers, innovation of agricultural insurance, and strengthening construction of agricultural infrastructure.

Genome-wide association study identifies candidate genes related to oleic acid content in soybean seeds

“…Soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merrill] originated in China and has been cultivated for more than 3000 years [1]. Soybean oil accounts for 20-25% of the total global fat and oil production and 30-35% of the total edible vegetable oil production [2].…”

Factors influencing the production of oilseed crops among smallholder farmers in Limpopo Province

“…The decision-making process underlying crop choice is very complex as has been reflected in the relevant literature on the subject (e.g. Liu et al, 2019aLiu et al, , 2019bKinuthia et al, 2018). In terms of the factors underlying crop investment decisions as shown in the result section, the findings have led to the categorization of a variety of factors deemed to be representative of decision-making process in terms of oilseed crop production in Limpopo.…”

“…Notwithstanding the fact that this categorization is arguably arbitrary owing to the subjective nature of a decision-making process, the interpretations and the presence of many overlaps within the categories of factors influencing crop investment decisions, similar studies have however been carried out (e.g. Liu et al, 2019aLiu et al, , 2019bGreig, 2009) using a similar parameter. This therefore gives credibility to the overall results and addresses the aim of the study which was to determine the factors influencing crop investment decisions.…”

“…Farmers are the main land managers and their production decisions crucially affect crop outputs (Liu et al, 2019a(Liu et al, , 2019b. The choice of what type of crop to farm in a particular area influences other variables such as output benefits (e.g.…”

“…The overarching question that needs to be unraveled could, therefore, be "what are the factors that influence the decision to produce grain crops in the summer rainfall areas of Limpopo Province?". According to Liu et al (2019aLiu et al ( , 2019b, factors affecting a Farmers' decisions to produce a certain crop are complex given that factors affecting such decisions range from individual characteristics to external drivers.…”