Rural transformation and its links to farmland use transition: Theoretical insights and empirical evidence from Jiangsu, China

Rural transformation and farmland use transition are significant phenomena in rural areas worldwide. Despite extensive research, there is a lack of investigation into the co-occurrence of these two processes in the same geographical context, and theoretical discussions about their interconnections remain inadequate. To fill this knowledge gap, we developed a comprehensive theoretical framework to elucidate the intricate connections between rural transformation and farmland use transition. Subsequently, we conducted a case study in Jiangsu province to offer robust empirical evidence substantiating this framework. Our findings show that: (1) The rural transformation and farmlands use transition in Jiangsu partially aligns with global trends, as evidenced by population decline, shifts towards non-agricultural employment, advanced agricultural mechanization, farmland loss and fragmentation; however, nuanced distinctions were also observed within Jiangsu, characterized by the reduced reliance on chemicals and increased use of plastic film in agriculture, as well as the declining cropping diversity in cultivation paradigm. (2) The developed rural areas in Jiangsu demonstrate a more pronounced shift towards high-efficiency agriculture and reduced reliance on chemicals, while simultaneously encountering more significant challenges of farmland loss and fragmentation compared to their less-developed counterparts. (3) Rural depopulation, non-agricultural employment, and increased rural income positively influence farmland loss and fragmentation but negatively impact cultivation diversity. Additionally, there were no observed adverse associations between farmland loss, fragmentation, and agricultural productivity or mechanization. Our findings contribute to the existing knowledge on how rural transformation links to farmland use transition in eastern China and shed insights on making place-based, problem-driven spatial governance policies for reconciling farmland conservation and rural development.