Variable factors costs,farmers endowment and agricultural technique choice—Analysis based on micro-data from main Chinese lychee production region

ObjectiveTechnique choice behavior of lychee farmers in southern China as well as the influencing fac-tors of technique choice were studied by empirical analysis in order to provide reference for lychee production technique innovation and promotion.MethodBased on 244 lychee farmer households survey data from main lychee planting areas in China(Guangdong,Guangxi and Hainan),the impacts of variable factors costs,farmer endowment and technique in-formation source on the choice of top grafting,integration of water into fertilizer,thinning technique and girdling tech-nique were analyzed by binary discrete choice model.ResultThe higher labor costs,the higher possibility of choosing agricultural technique to save labor costs.The higher material costs,the higher possibility of choosing agricultural tech-nique to save material costs.Impact of farmer endowment on the choice of agricultural technique had general similarity and differences at the same time.Variable factors costs had significant positive influence on the choice of agricultural tech-nology.Short message service could promote farmers to choose integration of water into fertilizer.Using unified produc-tion management manual during cultivation could enhance the possibility of choosing top grafting technique.SuggestionFollowing suggestions are proposed to strengthen the inovation and promotion of lychee planting technique:agricultural production factor subsidy policy should be adapted to requirement of technique by farmers,strengthening farmers techni-cal training and establishing diversified technique information exchange platform.