The Agricultural Ecological Effects of Rural Labor Migration: A Perspective Based on Green Total Factor Productivity

In the context of promoting sustainable and low-carbon agricultural development, this study investigates the effects of rural labor migration (RLM) on agricultural ecological efficiency from the perspective of green total factor productivity (GTFP). Using panel data from 30 Chinese provinces (autonomous regions, municipalities) over 2011–2022, agricultural GTFP is calculated via the SBM–Global Malmquist–Luenberger (SBM–GML) index. Baseline regressions and the spatial Durbin model (SDM) are employed to examine the impacts of labor migration. The research results show that: (1) Agricultural ecological efficiency exhibits significant spatial clustering, demonstrating “high–high” and “low–low” aggregation patterns. (2) RLM significantly enhances local agricultural ecological efficiency while also generating a positive spatial spillover effect. (3) The effects are heterogeneous: northern regions and highly urbanized areas experience stronger positive impacts, whereas southern regions and less urbanized areas show weaker effects. The findings highlight the pivotal role of RLM in promoting agricultural modernization and provide insights for enhancing regional coordination and ecological efficiency.