Paper short abstract:

Using data from 13 villages in southern China, this paper uses the QCA method to identify multi-factor configurations including rural labor migration and other factors on agricultural production changes. Rural labor migration does not necessarily promote the labor saving in agricultural production.

Paper long abstract:

The migration of rural labor is a worldwide phenomenon in developing country, while there are fewer studies on the impact of labor migration on agriculture in resource community. QCA method can be used to explore the positive or negative effects of multi-factor configuration including rural labor migration on agricultural production changes. Using data from 13 villages in 2008,2014 and 2019 in southern China, this paper identifies multi-factor configurations including rural labor migration, topography, land resources, local economic factor, non-agricultural employment, and other factors on agricultural production changes. It provided theoretical reference for the policy design in agricultural production.

The research conclusions include: (1) the realization of agricultural production mechanization and light simplification have certain conditional factors; (2) There were significant differences in the influence of conditional variables on the labor saving mode adoption in agricultural production, namely rural labor migration, topography, natural endowment, land resources, agricultural dependence, cash crop dependence, local economic development level, non-agricultural employment opportunities and rural land rights confirmation degree. (3) Although rural labor migration has led to a shortage of agricultural labor and brought remittance income to rural households, it does not necessarily promote the mechanization and simplification of agricultural production; (4) economic developed areas with high dependence on cash crops are more likely to promote labor saving technology adoption in agricultural production.