Institutional Change and Agricultural Modernization: The Impact of Land Certification on Agricultural Technology Adoption

Yong Zhan, Xiaoyi Zhan and Min Wu ()
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Yong Zhan: Department of Labor and Social Security, School of Public Administration, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China
Xiaoyi Zhan: Department of Strategic and Organization Management, Business School, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China
Min Wu: Department of Labor and Social Security, School of Public Administration, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China

Land, 2025, vol. 14, issue 7, 1-20

Abstract: The adoption of agricultural technologies is paramount for enhancing global agricultural productivity and sustainability. However, widespread implementation faces significant challenges, particularly in developing regions. Using data from the China Land Economic Survey (CLES), this study examines how land certification reform affects farmers’ technology adoption behavior from an institutional perspective. Results demonstrate that land certification significantly increases agricultural technology adoption rates, with more pronounced effects observed among households possessing greater human and physical capital. A mechanistic analysis reveals that land certification facilitates technology adoption through three pathways: (1) improving credit accessibility, (2) strengthening long-term investment incentives, and (3) expanding the production and operational scale. These findings highlight land tenure security as a fundamental institutional driver of agricultural modernization, deepen the understanding of the interaction between institutions and innovation in agriculture, and offer actionable insights for integrating property rights reforms with technological advancements.

Keywords: agricultural technology adoption; land certification; agricultural modernization; rural land institution (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q15 Q2 Q24 Q28 Q5 R14 R52 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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