A Configurational Analysis of Family Farm Management Efficiency: Evidence from China

Family farms are the “most-desirable”; new-style agricultural production and management entities in China at this stage, as well their behaviors, play an important role achieving sustainability development. The scientific evaluation of family farm efficiency identification effective path to high with different resource endowments critical for transform from quantitative growth qualitative improvement develop a sustainable healthy way. Based on data rural fixed observation point Chinese Ministry Agriculture Rural Affairs, study randomly selected representatives 532 27 provinces, municipalities, autonomous regions research objects; calculated total factor productivity based DEA model; employed Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA) method identify configuration models productivity, which combines factors land investment, capital labor education level leaders, transfer years, introduction new technology equipment, financial support. It is found that average not yet, both pure technical scale have great room improvement. determined by one single condition, but combinations multiple factors. long period, input labor, support driving forces improve farms. This demonstrates although current still cultivation stage labor-intensive they do mainly rely traditional productions such achieve efficiency. managerial implications follows. First, strategy intensive efficient instead blind expansion should be considered, full while controlling employees highly suggested. Second, attention paid accumulation human practitioners, implies more educated people management, high-technical-skilled operators, employed. Third, it necessary create good institutional environment development increase credit loans