English (United Kingdom)

https://curated-unify.zendy.io/wp-json/zendy-region/v1/featured_content/oa?rat=en

https://curated-unify.zendy.io/wp-json/zendy-region/v1/highlighted_journal/

Global: Zendy Plus annual

Presents the access of premium content as premium feature

Premium Content

Presents the keyphrase highlighting as premium feature

Keyphrase Highlighting

Presents the summarisation as premium feature

Summarisation

Insights

Presents the pdf analysis as premium feature

PDF Analysis

Presents the zaia usage as premium feature

ZAIA

Global: Zendy Tools annual

Global: Zendy Free Plan

Global: Zendy Tools monthly

Global: Zendy Plus monthly

Pesticide overuse has resulted in serious ecological problems. Agricultural extension services play a key role in influencing farmers’ pesticide use. China has the world's largest public agricultural extension system, which has experienced a twisting path of reforms over the past four decades. However, there is little empirical evidence regarding the effects of agricultural extension services in the post-reform era since the mid-2000s. This study examines the effect of agricultural extension services in the post-reform era on pesticide use in China, using survey data of 1963 rice farmers in 2016 and 2018. Our results indicate that only 22.5% of surveyed farmers adopted agricultural extension services. After addressing the self-selectivity issue, the treatment effects model revealed that agricultural extension services in the post-reform era resulted in a 3.01 kg/ha reduction in total pesticide use, a 0.86 kg/ha reduction in application rate of active ingredients, and a 250 CNY/ha reduction in pesticide expenditure related to rice production. Our findings provide sound evidence that agricultural extension services in the post-reform era can result in a reduction in pesticide use for rice production. More effective efforts should be made to reinforce the provision of agricultural extension services and encourage farmers to adopt these services.

Effect of agricultural extension services in the post-reform era since the mid-2000s on pesticide use in China: evidence from rice production