The impact of government agricultural training on fertilizer and pesticide expenditures among vegetable farmers in China

Purpose Promoting the dual reduction of fertilizer and pesticide is essential to safeguarding food security and protecting the environment, thereby advancing the transformation of high-value agriculture (HVA). This study examines the impact of government agricultural training on chemical input among vegetable farmers in China, with further investigation into potential mechanisms and household heterogeneity. Design/methodology/approach Drawing on nationally representative longitudinal data from the Rural Fixed Observation Points Survey (RFOPS) of China (2019–2022), this study applies a two-way fixed effects model to empirically evaluate the impact of governmental agricultural training on chemical input use among vegetable farmers. Findings The results reveal that agricultural training significantly contributes to the dual reduction of fertilizer and pesticide expenditures. Mechanism analysis indicates that agricultural training enhances farmers' participation in efficiency-driven production mode – such as agricultural social services and mechanized operations – and facilitates the adoption of green production technologies, including precision irrigation, soil testing and formula fertilization and conservation tillage. Heterogeneity analysis shows that training effects are stronger among farmers with higher education levels, full-time farming status, non-elderly household members and larger operational scales. In addition, agricultural training significantly reduced production expenditures and increased agricultural income. Originality/value This study contributes to the literature by providing robust national-level evidence on how government agricultural training shapes chemical expenditures among vegetable farmers. It also identifies key mechanisms and heterogeneous effects, offering insights for designing targeted and effective training programs to advance the sustainable transformation of high-value agriculture.