Place Attachment, Self-Efficacy, and Farmers’ Farmland Quality Protection Behavior: Evidence from China

Hao Li, Yi Chen and Wei-Yew Chang ()
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Hao Li: School of Economics, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
Yi Chen: School of Economics, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
Wei-Yew Chang: School of Economics, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China

Land, 2023, vol. 12, issue 9, 1-19

Abstract: Farmland pollution severely threatens humanity’s sustainable development. Exploring farmland quality protection behavior (FQPB) from the farmers’ perspective is considered one of the best ways to solve the farmland pollution problem. This study develops a theoretical framework for farmers’ FQPB from the perspectives of place attachment (consisting of place identity, dependency, and affection) and self-efficacy. We conducted a primary survey of 412 corn farmers from the northwestern Chinese province of Gansu and empirically examined the effects of place attachment and self-efficacy on farmers’ FQPB and verified the moderating effects that self-efficacy exerts on the influence of place attachment on FQPB by using hierarchical regression and propensity score matching models. The results indicate that: (1) among the three dimensions of place attachment, farmers with stronger place identity and place affection are more likely to implement FQPB; conversely, farmers who exhibit stronger place dependency are less likely to engage FQPB; and (2) self-efficacy not only effectively promotes farmers’ FQPB but also has an enhancing effect on the influence of place identity and place affection on FQPB. Our results suggest that policymakers should encourage farmers to maintain a place’s image and guide farmers to participate in place construction; thus, farmers’ place identity and place affection can be fostered. Meanwhile, the government should diversify the income sources of farmers to reduce their dependency on a single source. The finding that self-efficacy effectively promotes FQPB also implied that the formulation of farmland quality protection policies should shift from traditional command-based policies to participatory approaches, utilizing the initiative of farmers to enhance the policy’s effectiveness, which can not only promote farmers’ FQPB through self-efficacy but also strengthen the positive influence of place identity and place affection on FQPB.

Keywords: farmers’ farmland quality protection behavior; place attachment; self-efficacy; hierarchical regression; propensity score matching (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q15 Q2 Q24 Q28 Q5 R14 R52 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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