The impact of improving element quality on the comprehensive production capacity of grain: evidence from high-standard farmland construction

Purpose China’s overall grain production efficiency is currently relatively low, and how to improve it is key to high-quality grain development. High-standard farmland construction fills the gaps in grain production, providing a path for improving comprehensive grain production capacity. Design/methodology/approach This paper analyzes grain production data from 281 Chinese cities and uses the meta-Malmquist index to calculate total factor productivity (TFP) of grain and the spatial autoregressive model with spatial error (SARAR) model to analyze the impact of high-standard farmland construction on TFP of grain. Finally, it tests the model for robustness and heterogeneity. Findings TFP of grain has room for improvement, and technological efficiency has a greater impact on it than technological progress. TFP of grain in the eastern region is significantly higher than that in central and western regions. High-standard farmland construction can significantly improve TFP and technology efficiency of grain, and its economic benefits are directly affected by the differences in regional grain economic development. High-standard farmland construction improves TFP of grain through agricultural mechanization, and its impact is heterogeneous; TFP of grain in the (poor, plain) eastern region is more likely to share its benefits. Originality/value This paper evaluates whether high-standard farmland construction has achieved its purpose of enhancing comprehensive grain production capacity. It offers novel insights into elevating element quality and comprehensive grain production capacity, provides a theoretical reference from the perspective of element quality and draws corresponding policy implications for high-standard farmland.