The effect of land renting-in on the pesticide use intensity: evidence from citrus farmers in Sichuan, China.

Background: The overuse of pesticides has become an urgent problem in global agri-greening. It is crucial that farmers are encouraged to rent land for economies of scale and better pesticide efficiency. This study examines the effect of land renting-in on pesticide use intensity among 814 citrus farmers in Sichuan Province, China, via propensity score matching and inverse probability weighted regression adjustment models.

Results: This study revealed that land renting-in significantly reduces pesticide use intensity by almost 30%. Furthermore, the pesticide use intensity of rented land households with positive expectations and stable marketing channels was lower than that of non-rented land households. Farmer age and the square of planting years had a significant negative effect on pesticide use intensity, whereas annual per capita family income and cooperative membership had a significant positive effect on the intensity of pesticide use. Pesticide reduction efforts are more pronounced near cities or in rapidly urbanizing areas.

Conclusion: To promote pesticide use intensity reduction behaviors among farmers, policymakers should disseminate alternative technology knowledge to farmers, provide supportive policies, regulate the transfer of agricultural land, and strengthen supervision in rural areas. Cooperatives should provide farmers with more effective information and technical training to strengthen their members' trust. This study provides a reference for promoting the sustainable development of agriculture, improving the efficiency of land resource allocation, and contributing to improving research in this field. These findings highlight the importance of land management strategies in promoting sustainable agricultural practices. © 2025 Society of Chemical Industry.