The role of river and lake governance initiatives in agricultural green transformation: a case study of pig farmers in Quzhou City, Zhejiang Province

ABSTRACT With the main battlefield of the water pollution prevention and control campaign shifting from urban to rural areas and from industry to agriculture, river and lake governance initiatives have forced farmers to make livelihood choices between agricultural restructuring or nonagricultural career transitions. Facing the pressure of food security and the rigid demand for ensuring survival and development, agricultural green transformation is imperative. Therefore, it is crucial to explore whether and how river and lake governance initiatives can promote agricultural green transformation. Against the backdrop of China's river and lake governance initiatives, this study empirically investigates the impact of river and lake governance initiatives on agricultural green transformation using a binary probit model. The analysis is based on the field survey data from 455 pig farmers in Quzhou City, Zhejiang Province, who exited pig farming and transitioned to alternative industries. The aim is to reveal the internal incentive mechanism by which river and lake governance initiatives promote agricultural green transformation. The study finds that river and lake governance initiatives can promote agricultural green transformation, and there is a mediating effect of the family farms. River and lake governance initiatives should not be achieved at the expense of farmers' livelihoods.