The Effect of Agricultural Mechanization Services on the Technical Efficiency of Cotton Production

Yaxue Zhu, Guangyao Wang (), Huijuan Du, Jiajia Liu and Qingshan Yang
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Yaxue Zhu: College of Science, Shihezi University, Shihezi 832000, China
Guangyao Wang: College of Marxism, Shihezi University, Shihezi 832000, China
Huijuan Du: College of Economics and Management, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumchi 830000, China
Jiajia Liu: College of Marxism, Shihezi University, Shihezi 832000, China
Qingshan Yang: College of Marxism, Shihezi University, Shihezi 832000, China

Agriculture, 2025, vol. 15, issue 11, 1-23

Abstract: As the process of agricultural modernization accelerates, exploring the impact of agricultural mechanization services on production technology efficiency has become a key issue for enhancing agricultural productivity and promoting sustainable agricultural development. The study focuses on cotton growers in the Tarim River Basin and systematically explores the impact and driving mechanisms of agricultural mechanization services (AMSs) on cotton production’s technical efficiency within the framework of the social–ecological system (SES). By employing a combination of stochastic frontier analysis (SFA) and propensity score matching (PSM), the research indicates that the adoption of AMSs significantly enhances the production technical efficiency of cotton farmers. Among the sample that adopted this service, as much as 53.04% of the farmers have their production efficiency within the range of [0.8, 0.9], demonstrating a high production capability. In contrast, the production efficiency values of the farmers who did not adopt such services are more dispersed, with inefficient samples accounting for 11.48%. Furthermore, while the technical efficiency levels across different regions are similar, there are significant efficiency differences within regions. A further analysis indicates that the age of the household head, their education level, the number of agricultural laborers in the family, the proportion of income from planting, and irrigation convenience have a positive impact on farmers’ adoption of AMSs, while the degree of land fragmentation has a negative impact. Therefore, AMSs are not only a core pathway to enhance cotton production’s technical efficiency but also an important support for promoting agricultural modernization in arid areas and strengthening farmers’ risk-resistance capabilities. Future policies should focus on optimizing service delivery, enhancing technical adaptability, and promoting regional collaboration to drive the high-quality development of the cotton industry and support sustainable rural revitalization.

Keywords: agricultural mechanization services; production technology efficiency; stochastic frontier analysis; propensity score matching method (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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