The impact of digital inclusive finance on farmers' income level: evidence from China's major grain production regions

•This paper finds that digital inclusive finance promotes farmers' income level.•This promotion effect is achieved through the three sub dimensions.•The three mediating variables are positively moderating. This paper finds that digital inclusive finance can improve farmers' income level, and has a more significant income increasing effect on low-income farmers. The three sub dimensions of digital inclusive finance have a positive effect on the income level of farmers. The level of regional economic development, farmers' entrepreneurial and employment behavior, and income distribution effect are positively moderating.