The impact of internet usage on farmers’ access to agricultural mechanization services in rural China

Agricultural mechanization services (AMS) are a key strategy for farmers to achieve mechanized production. However, farmers' access to these services is impeded by information gaps and high search costs. This study investigates the impact of internet usage on AMS accessed by farmers, based on 8,299 observations gathered from 12 Chinese provinces. The results indicate that farmers who use the internet have a 24.4% higher probability of accessing AMS than those who do not. Moreover, heterogeneity tests revealed that internet usage significantly promotes AMS access among middle- and high-education groups, younger groups, middle-scale farmers, middle- and high-income groups, and the eastern and western regions. Additionally, internet usage promotes farmers' access to AMS by expanding their information channels and strengthening their social networks.