A Study of Rice Harvest Losses in China：Do Mechanization and Farming Scale Matter?

Abstract

Constrained by resources and environment, reducing food losses is receiving increasing attention in China. This study uses data from 1,106 farmers to calculate rice harvest losses and tests the impacts of mechanization and farming scale. The results are: 1) The harvest loss rate of rice averages 3.65%, and it decreases as farm scale increases. 2) The effects of mechanization on losses vary with farm scale. 3) Small- and middle-scale farmers are vulnerable to production and harvesting conditions while large-scale farmers are more affected by household and individual characteristics. Finally, policy suggestions are provided