Influence of rural land transfer on agricultural green total factor productivity: effect, spatial characteristics and regional heterogeneity

Improving green agricultural total factor productivity (TFP) is important for rural revitalization. Existing studies do not thoroughly analyze the impact of the major agricultural reform of rural land transfer on agricultural green total factor productivity. Therefore, based on existing research results, we first conducted a theoretical analysis of the impact of the rural land transfer on agricultural green total factor productivity. We then comprehensively used the undesirable output SBM-DEA model, GML index, double-fixed effect panel regression model, instrumental variable model, and spatial measurement model to systematically analyze the influence, spatial effect, and regional heterogeneity of agricultural land transfer on agricultural green total factor productivity. The results show that: 1) rural land transfer has a significant positive impact on agricultural green total factor productivity, and the expansion of rural land transfer areas will promote an increase in agricultural green total factor productivity. 2) The positive influence of rural land transfer on agricultural green total factor productivity has regional heterogeneity, and this effect is significant in northern China, but not significant in southern China. 3) There is a threshold effect of rural land transfer on agricultural green total factor productivity, and the positive effect of farmland transfer area on agricultural green total factor productivity decreases when it exceeds the threshold value. 4) Rural land transfer has a positive spatial effect on agricultural green total factor productivity, and its spatial spillover effect is significant. Based on the research results, we suggest that relevant departments took effective measures to promote rural land transfer to exert its positive impact of the rural land transfer on agricultural green total factor productivity. Simultaneously, we propose promoting the transfer of rural land according to local conditions. In addition, we believe that the relevant departments should pay more attention to the application of green agricultural technology and other advanced technologies that consider both agricultural production and environmental protection in the later stages of promoting rural land transfer. Finally, we suggest that the government should pay attention to the interprovincial coordination of the rural land transfer process. The marginal contributions of this study are as follows:1) the effect of rural land transfer, a major agricultural reform, on agricultural green total factor productivity is deeply explored; 2) the impact of the agricultural production process on the agro-ecological environment is incorporated into the efficiency measurement system, and the threshold and spatial effects of the impact of the rural land transfer on agricultural green total are explored.