The impact of high-standard farmland construction (HSFC) on China's agricultural resilience

The development of high-standard farmland (HSF) constitutes a crucial strategy for enhancing agricultural infrastructure, which significantly contributes to increasing agricultural production and catalyzing agroeconomic growth. The present study devises an index system to evaluate agricultural resilience (AR) in China, anchored in the DPSIR framework, and analyzes data from 28 Chinese provinces over 2011–2021 to ascertain the effects of HSFC on AR employing fixed-effects and mediation-effects models. The study reveals that the HSFC markedly enhances AR. Specifically, in key grain production regions or the central area, the positive influence of such construction on resilience is more substantial than in non-key grain production or east-west regions. HSF fortifies AR chiefly by boosting labor productivity and increasing farmers’ income. Analysis of correlation coefficients and overall context confirms that enhanced income of farmers is the key driver in this equation. Although HSF encourages urbanization within the agricultural community, this trend may inadvertently hinder resilience improvements. While the indispensable role of HSF in promoting agricultural progress is recognized, it is crucial to address the concurrent issue of population outflow from agricultural sectors. This study contributes uniquely by integrating the DPSIR model into the exploration of AR, thereby offering a novel, proactive approach to sustainable agricultural development. Furthermore, it elucidates the mechanisms through which HSF impacts AR across three dimensions: labor productivity, farmer incomes, and population urbanization, from the farmers’ vantage point. This insight enables policymakers to refine resource allocation, enhancing the planning, design, and stewardship of sustainable agriculture.