Developing countries with small-scale agriculture have yet to exploit the untapped potential of agricultural mechanization. This is because of the misconception that mechanization is often seen as unworthy in small-scale agriculture. The purpose of this paper is to examine the development of agricultural mechanization in China and to provide evidence on how smallholder farmers can access agricultural machinery. A narrative approach was employed to conduct an in-depth analysis of the policies, strategies, and trends associated with agricultural mechanization development. The findings showed that: (1) the establishment and development of mechanization for smallholder agriculture is an evolutionary process that strongly opposes leapfrogging (technocratic behavior) and making large jumps; (2) the foundation of mechanization development should rely on a self-reliance system; (3) an appropriate mechanization theory is the key to inducing the rapid growth of mechanization in small-scale agriculture; (4) the successful application of agricultural machinery requires strong, target-oriented, and pro-farmer policies with effective leadership strategies. We present the key lessons on policy and institutional aspects for countries with small-scale agriculture and who are in the initial stages of agricultural mechanization.

Farmland scale management (FSM) is an essential strategy to establish an appropriate management scale for agricultural production, enhance smallholder farmer production efficiency, and improve the utilization rate of farmland. The Chinese government promotes farmland transfer as a tool to establish modern and moderate-scale agriculture. However, farmers remain unable to afford agricultural services and inputs required for appropriate FSM after farmland is transferred-in. This paper aims to examine the impact of agricultural socialized services (ASSs) on the FSM behavior of smallholder farmers through farmland transfer. A theoretical framework for the farmer household production aspect of this relationship is developed. A weighted least squares (WLS) model is applied to empirically examine smallholder farmers’ decisions to expand the scale of farmland induced by the promotion of ASSs based on data collected from 741 households in 2020 in the rice-growing region of southern China. The findings reveal that ASSs have a positive and significant impact on small farmers’ FSM. Small farmers’ behavior regarding farmland transfer is affected positively by the promotion of ASSs. The increase of ASSs encourages small farmers to transfer-in more farmland. However, the impact of ASSs on various steps of agricultural practice varied according to the FSM of smallholder farmers. Our findings imply that the government should take the development of ASSs as one of the main methods for promoting the establishment of moderate and large-scale agriculture and rural revitalization. Strengthening policies and financial support for both private and public ASS providers through financial innovation subsidies and preferential tax policies will help smallholder farmers reduce input costs and increase the scale of production and profits. The findings of this paper will provide a scientific basis and reference for the development of moderate-scale agriculture and rural revitalization.

The development of transportation infrastructure plays a pivotal role in the regional economy from multiple dimensions. The aim of this paper is to examine the relationship between transportation infrastructure development and income inequality in urban and rural areas of China. The study utilizes panel data from 30 provinces, spanning the years 2010 to 2020, and employs the spatial Dubin model to measure and test the impact of transportation infrastructure on the urban-rural income gap. Furthermore, an intermediary effect test method is used to investigate the potential mediating effect of urbanization in this relationship. The results indicate that transportation infrastructure has a significantly negative direct, indirect, and total effect on the urban-rural income gap, with the indirect effect being greater than the direct effect. This suggests that transportation infrastructure can effectively reduce income disparities, with a noticeable spatial spillover effect. The level of urbanization plays a significant intermediary effect on the effect of transportation infrastructure on the urban-rural income gap, highlighting the role of transportation infrastructure in improving urbanization and narrowing income disparities. These findings underscore the importance of enhancing both the level of urbanization and cooperation between neighbouring regions in order to maximize the benefits of transportation infrastructure development for reducing income disparities and promoting regional balance in China.

Introduction: This study investigates the impact of Agricultural Socialized Services (ASSs) on the green production behavior (GPB) of smallholder farmers in the main rice production region of southern China. The research aims to address the gap in understanding the relationship between ASSs and the adoption of sustainable agricultural practices by smallholder farmers.Methodology: Data was collected from 741 smallholder farmers in Hunan, Jiangxi, and Zhejiang provinces using a structured questionnaire. A probit model was employed to examine the relationship between ASSs and smallholder farmers’ GPB.Results and Discussion: The study revealed that ASSs have a significant and positive impact on smallholder farmers’ GPB. Farmers who received ASSs tended to adopt more sustainable agricultural practices such as using organic fertilizer and soil-tested formula fertilizer. The findings of this study have important implications for policymakers. The results suggest that policymakers should prioritize the development of services to agricultural producers and strengthen Agricultural Service Systems. This can be achieved through optimizing the public administration service system, establishing joint service organizations, and creating a good financial and legal service environment. By doing so, policymakers can promote the adoption of sustainable agricultural practices and the overall development of the agricultural sector.

Precision agriculture (PA) techniques are critical for optimizing chemical fertilizer use in modern farming. However, a comprehensive synthesis of their effectiveness in enhancing nutrient management and reducing environmental impacts is lacking. This systematic review, following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, analyzes global evidence to evaluate PA’s role in improving fertilizer application practices. Our analysis of 51 peer-reviewed studies reveals that PA significantly enhances nutrient use efficiency and crop yields. Specifically, 37.25% of studies highlight PA-driven technological innovations, while 29.41% document major improvements in nutrient management. These findings confirm that PA promotes sustainable fertilizer utilization and reduces environmental footprints. To realize its full benefits, policymakers must address key challenges to widespread adoption, such as cost barriers, lack of technical expertise, and infrastructure limitations.

Although food security has been a long-standing focus of research and policy in China, significant gaps remain in synthesizing evolving debates across multiple disciplines such as agriculture, economics, environmental science, and politics. This systematic review provides an interdisciplinary analysis of five key areas shaping contemporary discourses on Chinese food security: (1) balancing self-sufficiency with trade dependence; (2) reconciling agricultural intensification with environmental sustainability; (3) addressing urbanization’s impact on small-scale agriculture transformation; (4) enhancing resilience to climate change through targeted investments and policies; and (5) improving food safety standards to meet growing consumer concerns. This review harnesses insights from global academic databases—including Web of Science, Scopus, and Google Scholar—to map interdisciplinary debates on Chinese food security, synthesizing peer-reviewed studies and policy reports from 2010 to 2024. Drawing upon empirical evidence from recent studies, this review highlights critical tensions, such as those between economic growth priorities and ecological preservation, and explores pathways for sustainable development within China’s unique socio-political context. The findings underscore that robust food security strategies must integrate diverse perspectives while adapting to emerging challenges such as climate change impacts and shifting consumer demands. To ensure sustainable outcomes, future policies should prioritize inclusivity by incorporating insights from ongoing research agendas across disciplines. This review can be used as a benchmark for the advancement of research agendas focused on developing sustainable solutions to the complex challenges of food security in China and beyond.