Impact of Digital Finance Inclusive on Green Agricultural Development

Background: Digital inclusive finance, as an innovative financial model, focuses on the integration of finance and technology, utilizing network, intelligence and digital elements to enhance services. This model removes time and space barriers in the flow of production factors, enabling financial services to be provided across national borders, which is particularly beneficial to residents in remote areas. Aims: The aim of this study is to explore the role of digital inclusive finance in advancing green agricultural development and investigate the underlying mechanisms, providing references for the government to promote digital infrastructure development and agricultural green development. Method: The data covers 30 provinces in China, and the study period is from 2011 to 2021. This is an empirical research design that examines the relationship between digital inclusive finance and green agricultural development. The research applies fixed - effect, mediation - effect, moderating - effect, and threshold - effect models to analyze the data. It conducts an overall analysis of the impact of digital inclusive finance on green agricultural development, and also carries out heterogeneity analysis by dividing regions (eastern, western, northern, main production areas, production and marketing balance areas, and high - grade land quality areas). Results: (1) Digital inclusive finance significantly promotes agricultural green development. (2) In the heterogeneity analysis, digital inclusive finance in different regions shows significant positive correlations with green agricultural development. (3) Developing digital rural infrastructure can support the promotion of green agricultural development. (4) The enhancement of green technology innovation in agriculture moderates green agricultural development and accelerates its progress. (5) When digital inclusive finance reaches a certain threshold, its positive impact on green agricultural development becomes more obvious. Conclusion: The research findings reveal the important role of digital inclusive finance in green agricultural development. It is recommended that the government increase funding for digital inclusive finance to promote its rapid development, which can contribute to sustainable agricultural development and reduce the burden on resources and the environment. However, further research may be needed to explore more detailed implementation paths and long-term effects.