Transition Through Collaboration: New Agricultural Business Entities Can Promote Crop Rotation Adoption in Heilongjiang, China

Crop rotation emerges as a pivotal strategy addressing the decline in cultivated land quality and degradation and alleviating food production issues. However, the effective implementation of crop rotation policies remains challenging and requires further research. With the decline of the Chinese agricultural labor force, new agricultural business entities (NABEs), which encompass agricultural cooperatives, family farms, and agribusinesses, can play a significant role in agricultural modernization. Therefore, this research assesses how well NABEs encourage smallholders to adopt crop rotation practices, unraveling the mechanisms behind them and practical implementation pathways. Using survey data (n = 798) and the Tobit model, the findings of this research indicate the positive influence of NABEs in stimulating crop rotation among smallholders. This facilitation occurs via diverse mechanisms, including suitable access to land leasing, agricultural inputs, technical assistance, and market access. Additionally, the results indicate nuanced aspects, highlighting the heterogeneous impacts of NABEs across different contexts.