The Impact of the Digital Economy on High-Quality Development of Agriculture: A China Case Study

Abstract

With the progress of information technology, digital technology has rapidly penetrated into all sectors of the national economy and is accelerating the reconstruction of the economic development model, which has become a new engine to drive economic growth and lead industrial development. Based on the panel data of China’s provinces from 2013 to 2020, this paper empirically tested the effect and mechanism of digital economic development on high-quality agricultural development by constructing an evaluation index system for high-quality agricultural development with economic, social, and ecological benefits. The results show that the development of the digital economy has promoted the high-quality development of agriculture, and the promotion effect in the eastern region is stronger than that in the central and western regions. In addition to direct promotion, digital economy also promotes high-quality agricultural development by promoting the development of green agriculture. We should actively promote the construction of digital economy and promote the deep integration of digital economy and agriculture. Secondly, government should improve the digital economy governance to create a good legal environment for the green development of agriculture and, at the same time, help farmers establish digital economic awareness and train farmers in digital economy vocational skills. Finally, digital agriculture development policies should be formulated according to local conditions.