Agricultural, Ecological, and Social Insights: Residual Mulch Film Management Capacity and Policy Recommendations Based on Evidence in Yunnan Province, China

Ji Chen, Xiao Chen, Jin Guo, Runyun Zhu, Mengran Liu, Xixi Kuang, Wenqing He and Yao Lu
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Ji Chen: College of Economic and Management, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming 650201, China
Xiao Chen: Institute of New Rural Development, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming 650201, China
Jin Guo: Agricultural Environmental Protection and Monitoring Station of Yunnan Province, Kunming 650201, China
Runyun Zhu: Agricultural Technology Extension Station of Yunnan Province, Kunming 650201, China
Mengran Liu: Agricultural Environmental Protection and Monitoring Station of Yunnan Province, Kunming 650201, China
Xixi Kuang: Sichuan Ecology and Environment Cooperation Center, Chengdu 610000, China
Wenqing He: Key Laboratory for Prevention and Control of Residual Pollution in Agricultural Film, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Beijing 100081, China
Yao Lu: Institute of New Rural Development, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming 650201, China

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 4, 1-17

Abstract: Mulch film contaminates the environment while increasing agricultural yield. As such, the factors that impact the residual film management capacity of farmers must be identified, which would also be helpful for the sustainable development and security of agriculture. We investigated 10 counties across nine cities (states) by surveying 1284 households. The improved entropy-weighted composite index and the grey correlation analysis model were employed to measure the residual film management capacity from five dimensions: human capital, use behavior, management skills, public policy, and willingness. The entropy-weighted composite index results showed that residual film being harmful to the environment had the highest overall rate of 0.0745, followed by the effectiveness of mulch film, which was 0.0715. The results of the grey correlation analysis model showed that willingness to use biodegradable mulch film had the highest correlation of 0.8960, followed by educational level of the laborers, which was 0.8824. We found that residual film being harmful to the environment, effectiveness of mulch film, willingness to use biodegradable mulch film, and educational level of the laborers were the major factors influencing the residual mulch film pollution knowledge of households. Based on this finding, the government should increase subsidies for promoting biodegradable mulch film and publicize the hazards of residual films using diversified means in multiple channels.

Keywords: mulch film; residual film recycling; agricultural ecological security; rural environment (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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