Can participation in the short food supply chain improve ecological efficiency in cash crop cultivation? Empirical evidence from major kiwi-producing areas in China

This study examines the effects of farmers’ participation in short food supply chains on the ecological efficiency of cash crop cultivation. The analysis draws upon data collected from 1099 farmers located in China’s primary kiwifruit-producing regions. First, ecological efficiency scores for small-scale farmers are estimated using stochastic frontier analysis. Second, to address selectivity bias arising from observable and unobservable factors, multinomial endogenous switching regression models are employed. The empirical analysis shows that participation in short food supply chains significantly enhances the ecological efficiency of farmers’ cash crop cultivation. Compared to relying solely on direct sales channels, the integration of middlemen with direct sales more effectively promotes improvements in farmers’ ecological efficiency.