Agric. Econ. - Czech, 2025, 71(9):475-484 | DOI: 10.17221/328/2024-AGRICECON

How does air pollution perception affect farmers' decisions on agricultural mechanisation? Evidence from rural ChinaOriginal Paper

Junkai Ma1, Xintong Liang2
1 School of International Trade, Shanxi University of Finance and Economics, Taiyuan, P.R. China
2 Institute of Food and Strategic Reserves, Nanjing University of Finance and Economics, Nanjing, P.R. China

Air pollution is beyond an environmental or health issue. The impact of air pollution on farmers' decisions on agricultural mechanisation has always been overlooked and debate persists over subjective and objective pollution. Adopting data set from the China Labour Force Dynamics Survey, we investigate the influence of air pollution perceptions on farmers' mechanised farming. The endogeneity problem is addressed through the instrumental variable method. The consequences reveal that air pollution perceptions strengthen farm mechanisation, and reduced farming time is the key intrinsic mechanism through which perceived air pollution affects farmers' decisions on agricultural machinery. Additionally, this impact is more pronounced in male household heads and farmers in the plains. These findings render valuable policy implications for farmers chronically exposed to air pollution and for agricultural modernisation in China, including the necessity of improving air conditions and encouraging agricultural machinery services.

Keywords: agricultural economics; environmental perception; farm modernisation; identity; machinery investment; rural areas of China, subjective perception

Received: September 8, 2024; Revised: April 26, 2025; Accepted: May 21, 2025; Prepublished online: September 17, 2025; Published: September 25, 2025  Show citation

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Ma J, Liang X. How does air pollution perception affect farmers' decisions on agricultural mechanisation? Evidence from rural China. Agric. Econ. - Czech. 2025;71(9):475-484. doi: 10.17221/328/2024-AGRICECON.
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