Study on the Impact of the Digital Economy on Green Total Factor Productivity in Agriculture

This study employs panel data from 30 Chinese provinces spanning 2011–2022, utilizing the SBM model and GML index to measure agricultural green total factor productivity. It empirically examines the impact mechanism of the digital economy on agricultural green TFP, while also investigating the mediating role of rural revitalization and regional heterogeneity. Findings reveal: First, the digital economy significantly enhances agricultural green TFP, with this conclusion remaining robust after a series of stability tests. Second, mechanism analysis indicates that rural revitalization plays a significant mediating role between the digital economy and agricultural green TFP. Third, heterogeneity analysis reveals pronounced regional variations in the digital economy's promotional effect. It exerts a significant positive impact on green agricultural TFP in western regions, whereas its influence on eastern regions fails to pass significance tests. This reflects that the enabling effects of the digital economy are closely tied to regional development stages and resource endowments. This study provides empirical evidence for deepening understanding of the intrinsic mechanisms through which the digital economy drives green agricultural development and offers policy implications for promoting digital rural construction and high-quality agricultural development tailored to local conditions.