Can Rural-Urban Migration Benefit Sustainable Agriculture with Large-Scale Farming?
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Abstract
Achieving sustainable agricultural development is essential for ensuring stable global food supplies. Rural-urban migration, as a widespread socioeconomic phenomenon, introduces complexities and uncertainties to sustainable agricultural practices. This study constructs an analytical framework linking migration, large-scale farming, and sustainable agriculture, leveraging empirical evidence from 37,648 village-level samples in China. The findings demonstrate that rural-urban migration significantly enhances sustainable agriculture, as evidenced by increased mechanization and reduced fertilizer use, facilitated through large-scale farming. We further highlight the heterogeneity in large-scale farming decisions by agricultural entities under rural labor outmigration, shaped by economic rationality. Favorable production, distribution, and living conditions significantly amplify the positive impact of migration on large-scale farming, thereby contributing to enhanced sustainable agricultural outcomes. This study advances the understanding of the land-labor relationship under rural-urban migration and offers actionable insights for formulating policies to promote sustainable agricultural development.
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Abstract
Achieving sustainable agricultural development is essential for ensuring stable global food supplies. Rural-urban migration, as a widespread socioeconomic phenomenon, introduces complexities and uncertainties to sustainable agricultural practices. This study constructs an analytical framework linking migration, large-scale farming, and sustainable agriculture, leveraging empirical evidence from 37,648 village-level samples in China. The findings demonstrate that rural-urban migration significantly enhances sustainable agriculture, as evidenced by increased mechanization and reduced fertilizer use, facilitated through large-scale farming. We further highlight the heterogeneity in large-scale farming decisions by agricultural entities under rural labor outmigration, shaped by economic rationality. Favorable production, distribution, and living conditions significantly amplify the positive impact of migration on large-scale farming, thereby contributing to enhanced sustainable agricultural outcomes. This study advances the understanding of the land-labor relationship under rural-urban migration and offers actionable insights for formulating policies to promote sustainable agricultural development.
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Xuefeng Li, Chang Xu, Ankang Cai, et al.
Can Rural-Urban Migration Benefit Sustainable Agriculture with Large-Scale Farming?. Authorea. 10 June 2025.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.22541/au.174957485.51994403/v1
DOI: https://doi.org/10.22541/au.174957485.51994403/v1
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