From ‘blood transfusion’ to ‘blood production’: can the development of agricultural product advantage zones drive sustainable income growth for farmers in revolutionary base areas

Introduction Agricultural Product Advantage Zones with Chinese Characteristics (APAZs) are an important policy tool for promoting farmers’ income growth and rural revitalisation in former revolutionary base areas. Methods Using county-level panel data from 420 former revolutionary base areas in six central Chinese provinces from 2010 to 2023, this study examines the income-enhancing mechanisms and spatial spillover effects of APAZs. Results The findings show that APAZs significantly increase farmers’ incomes, and the conclusion remains robust after a series of tests. Mechanism analysis indicates that APAZs promote sustainable income growth by improving agricultural labour productivity, advancing agricultural technological progress, and cultivating new agricultural business entities. Heterogeneity analysis shows that the policy effects are stronger in areas with higher levels of financial development and internet development. APAZs also generate positive spatial spillover effects. Discussion To further enhance the income-promoting role of APAZs, this study suggests optimising industrial layouts according to local resource endowments, strengthening factor support, fostering new agricultural business entities, and building cross-county coordination mechanisms.