The impacts of farmer ageing on farmland ecological restoration technology adoption: Empirical evidence from rural China

Preserving and enhancing the quality of farmland holds significant importance for ensuring food security and promoting sustainable agricultural development. Drawing on survey data collected from 2600 households engaged in rice cultivation across 13 cities in Jiangsu Province, China, this study examines the impacts of farmer ageing on farmland ecological restoration technology adoption. The analysis employs the Probit model and instrumental variable approach to investigate this relationship. The study reveals the following key findings: (1) Farmer ageing hinders farmland ecological restoration technology adoption. (2) The influence of farmer ageing on farmland ecological restoration technology adoption varies across different land tenure arrangements, with farmers demonstrating a lower likelihood of adopting ecological restoration technology for rented farmland compared to their own farmland. (3) Agricultural training and agricultural social services have the potential to mitigate the negative effects of farmer ageing on farmland ecological restoration technology adoption. These research findings offer valuable insights for the implementation of farmland ecological restoration technology within the global context of population ageing.