Study On Farmers’ Willingness To Adopt Low-carbon Agricultural Technologies In Aksu Region Of Xinjiang And Its Influencing Factors

Globally,agriculture produces the second largest share of global carbon dioxide emissions,and the impact of agricultural production on the earth’s ecological environment cannot be ignored.Since the reform and opening up,Chinese agriculture has undergone a transformation from traditional agriculture to modernization.Agricultural modernization has reduced the tension in our food supply while also causing great damage to our ecological environment;therefore,low-carbon agriculture will become a major direction for future agricultural development.As a modern,energy-efficient and high-yield agricultural production and management model,low-carbon agriculture not only helps to promote the process of carbon neutrality,but also can contribute to low-carbon rural production and environmental quality while promoting the upgrading of low-carbon production and low-carbon technologies.This paper analyzes the intention and influencing factors of farmers’ choice of low-carbon technologies in agriculture and proposes corresponding policy recommendations,which provide a basis for promoting low-carbon technologies in agriculture,promoting green and low-carbon development,and mitigating the phenomenon of greenhouse effect in China.This paper firstly explores the concepts of low-carbon technologies in agriculture by studying relevant domestic and international literature,and analyzes the theories around low-carbon economy,sustainable development and technology acceptance.Secondly,the current situation of agricultural development in Aksu region is analyzed and the total agricultural carbon emissions in Aksu region are measured.Based on questionnaire data,this paper analyzes a series of intrinsic and extrinsic characteristics of farmers in Aksu region,their perceptions and willingness to adopt low-carbon technologies in agriculture based on 366 farmers in Aksu region,Xinjiang.Under the framework of technology acceptance theory,a structural equation model of farmers’ willingness to adopt low-carbon technologies in agriculture was constructed to investigate the relationship between relevant factors influencing farmers’ willingness to adopt low-carbon technologies in agriculture.Finally,based on the results of the influencing factors,we propose countermeasures to promote farmers’ willingness to adopt low-carbon technologies in agriculture.The analysis of this paper leads to the following conclusions:(1)The temporal changes of total agricultural carbon emissions in Aksu region show an overall "rising,then falling,then rising" state,which can be roughly divided into three stages of change.Among the measured carbon emissions from various carbon sources,chemical fertilizers account for the largest share of the total agricultural carbon emissions in the region.There are problems in the low-carbon development of agriculture in Aksu region,such as serious agricultural surface source pollution,tight constraints of traditional agricultural model,and unsound legal system.(2)The results of the questionnaire show that the sample farmers as a whole have an aging rural population and a low level of education;the family labor force is mainly 1-2 people,and the overall agricultural income level is not high;the awareness of low-carbon agricultural technology is low;although the willingness to adopt is high,it does not reach a strong degree,and there is still much room for the development of low-carbon agriculture in the future.(3)The analysis of the structural equation model of willingness revealed that perceived usefulness,ease of use,and social influence have a direct positive effect on farmers’ willingness to adopt low-carbon technologies in agriculture;perceived ease of use and outcome demonstration indirectly affect farmers’ willingness to adopt low-carbon technologies in agriculture through perceived usefulness;and social influence indirectly affects farmers’ willingness to adopt low-carbon technologies in agriculture through perceived ease of use.To promote the development of low-carbon agriculture which is based on the above conclusions,the following countermeasures are proposed:(1)strengthen the publicity of low-carbon business concepts and promote various agricultural low-carbon technologies;(2)establish a low-carbon production subsidy mechanism and continuously strengthen the construction of government trust;(3)improve the quality supervision system of agricultural products and increase market supervision;(4)promote the progress of agricultural low-carbon technologies and promote transformation by scientific and technological innovation;(5)establish a fair and effective supporting service and diversified compensation and incentive mechanism.