Influencing factors of farmers' adoption of pro-environmental agricultural technologies in China: Meta-analysis

As one of the main focuses of agricultural development research, changes in agricultural technology are a dynamic reflection of the economic environment. This paper uses the Meta-analysis method to conduct a comprehensive analysis of 77 empirical studies to reveal the influence factors, sources of heterogeneity, and influence effects of farmers on the adoption behavior of pro-environmental agricultural technology over time. The results show the following: (1) Influencing factors of farmer's pro-environmental agricultural technology adoption behavior are not completely homogeneous. Among the factors, age, farming population, family income, farm income ratio, number of plots, and land transfer have a regulating effect. Most of the observed heterogeneity relates to the research areas, funding levels and models used. (2) Age, off-farm income ratio, and land fragmentation have a significantly negative impact on farmers' adoption of pro-environmental agricultural technologies. We find no impact on household size, farming population, and village cadres. Farm income ratio, farmland protection policy awareness, land transfer, and government subsidies have significantly positive effects. (3) Over time, only land transfer has a significantly positive impact on the adoption of pro-environmental agricultural technologies by farmers, and the impact has gradually increased. The farming population, technical understanding, and number of plots have no significant impact, but their effects have weakened to varying degrees. Therefore, policymakers and other stakeholders need to consider geographical differences and farming systems, the technology needs of different farmers and affordable costs, in addition to focusing on common variables, when designing policies to encourage the adoption of agricultural technologies in China. Meanwhile, improve the development level of the land rental market, strengthen publicity, training, and subsidies, and increase farmers' information awareness. •We study farmer adoption of pro-environmental agricultural technologies (PEATs) in China.•Meta-analysis is used to explore the influencing factors of farmers' PEATs.•Age, off-farm income ratio, and land fragmentation are negatively related to farmers' adoption of PEATs.•Farm income ratio, farmland protection policy awareness and land transfer have significantly positive effects.•Only land transfer has a positive effect on farmers' adoption of PEATs over time.