Social Capital, Risk Attitude, and the Adoption of Agriculture Land Quality Improvement Technologies: Evidence From South-West China

Abstract

The challenges of desertification, paludification, and salinization of agricultural land in China demand urgent attention, making the enhancement of agricultural land quality critical. This study surveyed 440 family farmers in the high-latitude mountainous regions of Yunnan Province to examine how social capital and risk preferences influence the adoption of agricultural land quality improvement technologies (LQITs). The entropy method was applied to construct a social capital index, while the “bomb” risk elicitation task was employed to measure risk preferences. The results indicate: (1) Social capital significantly promotes the adoption of LQITs, especially among farmers with moderate adoption levels. (2) Among the components of social capital, social participation has the greatest impact, with farmer-to-farmer communication being key for technology uptake. (3) Risk-averse farmers show a greater willingness to adopt technologies to reduce uncertainty. (4) There are significant differences in the adoption behavior between ethnic minority and Han groups, particularly among those with lower income, less education, and younger ages. The study recommends leveraging social capital at the grassroots level, expanding agricultural services in minority regions, and using microfinance to overcome financial barriers for low-income farmers, thereby fostering land conservation efforts.