The Impact of Agricultural Land Rights Policy on the Pure Technical Efficiency of Farmers’ Agricultural Production: Evidence from the Largest Wheat Planting Environment in China

Abstract

Although the clarification of property rights for agricultural land has the potential to enhance agricultural production efficiency and support its sustainable growth, this goal may not always be met in reality. As a result, the emphasis of this study is on the elements that affect agricultural output. It also examines how the stability of land rights affects agricultural production efficiency and, most importantly, how the heterogeneity of farmers’ perspectives affects this process. Through the empirical test using the data of farmers in Henan Province, the largest wheat area in China, the results show that: (1) The farmland confirmation policy significantly promotes the improvement of the pure technical efficiency of agricultural production, a series of robustness tests, and the treatment of endogenous problems, which also confirmed the robustness of the results. (2) In the allocation of factors, agricultural investment and credit acquisition have been proved to be important influencing mechanisms, while labor and land transfer have not played a mechanistic role. (3) Heterogeneity analysis shows that the self-service of farmers choosing to purchase agricultural machinery is more efficient than purchasing outsourcing services; The agricultural production of farmer households without hired workers has a significant technical efficiency, but the impact on farmer households with hired workers is not significant; for farmer households with agricultural insurance purchase behavior, purchase willingness, and planting and breeding advantages, the farmland ownership confirmation policy can play a more important role in promoting the pure technical efficiency of agricultural production; The promotion effect of the farmland right confirmation policy on the pure technical efficiency of agricultural output is strongest when there is a smaller level of farmers operating on a part-time basis and when more farmers prioritize profit maximization as the production goal. Corresponding policy recommendations are made at the conclusion of the study in light of the conclusions mentioned.