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Cultivating Green Champions: The Role of High-Quality Farmer Training in Sustainable Agriculture

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Abstract

This study examines the transformative impact of cultivating high-quality farmers on the green production efficiency of agricultural practices in Henan Province, China. Utilizing a robust dataset from 2263 exemplary farmers and employing the Data Envelopment Analysis-Slack Based Measure (DEA-SBM) and Tobit models, we explore the nexus between farmer training programs and sustainable agricultural outcomes. Our findings underscore a statistically significant positive correlation between the cultivation of high-quality farmers and green production efficiency, highlighting the pivotal role of comprehensive training and skill development in enhancing sustainable farming practices. Further analysis reveals the nuanced effects of technological extension in amplifying the benefits of high-quality farmer cultivation on green production. This study contributes to the discourse on sustainable development within the agricultural sector by demonstrating how targeted educational initiatives and the promotion of advanced technologies can foster environmental stewardship and optimize resource utilization. The insights presented herein advocate for the scaling and customization of farmer training programs to meet the diverse needs of various farm types, promoting a knowledge-driven approach toward sustainable agriculture within the knowledge economy framework. Our research offers valuable implications for policymakers, agricultural stakeholders, and the broader academic community, stressing the importance of integrating knowledge, innovation, and technology in cultivating a resilient and sustainable agricultural landscape.

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Data Availability

The datasets used and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

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Funding

This article was supported by the Henan Province Soft Science Project (Grant No. 232400411094), the General Projects of Humanities and Social Sciences Research in Henan Province Universities (2024-ZDJH-289) and Postgraduate Education Reform and Quality Improvement Project of Henan Province(YJS2022JD30).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Business School, Xinyang Normal University, Xinyang. 464000, China

    Xiankai Lei

  2. School of Marxism, Xinyang Normal University, Xinyang, 464000, China

    Dongmei Yang

  3. Dabie Mountain Economic and Social Development Research Center, Xinyang, 464000, China

    Xiankai Lei

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  1. Xiankai Lei
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Conceptualization: X.L. Writing—original draft preparation and writing—review and editing: X.L. Writing—review and editing: D.Y. Methodology: D.Y. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.

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Correspondence to Xiankai Lei.

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Lei, X., Yang, D. Cultivating Green Champions: The Role of High-Quality Farmer Training in Sustainable Agriculture. J Knowl Econ (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13132-024-02014-8

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