Resources Science ›› 2019, Vol. 41 ›› Issue (10): 1911-1922.

### Effect of farmland transfer on wheat production efficiency: Analysis of adjustment effect based on household livelihood differentiation

QU Meng,ZHAO Kai(),ZHOU Shengqiang

1. College of Economics and Management, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China
• Received:2019-02-20 Revised:2019-05-07 Online:2019-10-25 Published:2019-10-25
• Contact: ZHAO Kai E-mail:zhaokai@nwafu.edu.cn

Abstract:

This study used data envelopment analysis (DEA) and Tobit model to measure farming household food production efficiency, analyze the impact of farmland transfer on grain production efficiency, and discuss the moderating effect of household livelihood differentiation on the impact of farmland transfer on grain production efficiency based on the microscopic farming household survey data. The results show that the level of wheat production efficiency in the research area was relatively high. Cultivated land inflow positively affects wheat production scale efficiency through land scale effect, thus promoting the improvement of comprehensive efficiency. Cultivated land outflow positively affects the technical efficiency of wheat production through factor spillover, thus promoting the improvement of comprehensive efficiency. Under the moderating effect of farmers’ livelihood differentiation, the positive influence of cultivated land transfer on the comprehensive efficiency of wheat production was weakened, while the positive influence of cultivated land outflow on the comprehensive efficiency of wheat production was strengthened. Cultivated land inflow area has an inverted U-shaped effect on the comprehensive efficiency and scale efficiency of wheat production. When the transfer scale reaches 46.27 mu and 37.13 mu respectively, the impact of cultivated land inflow area on the comprehensive efficiency and scale efficiency of wheat production changes from positive to negative. Cultivated land outflow area has a direct positive effect on the comprehensive efficiency of wheat production. In conclusion, we should pay close attention to improving the farmland circulation market, encourage part-time farmers who rely less on farming to transfer their farmland management right to other households, and vigorously promote the dissemination of agricultural technologies.