Evolutionary processes and drivers of agricultural functions in Chinese villages

The village is the basic geographical unit for the evolution of agricultural functions, and it is also the key unit for understanding the evolution of agricultural functions, analysing the driving law of agricultural functions, and demonstrating the practical exploration of rural revitalization. Using the participatory rural appraisal (PRA) method, we analysed the evolution characteristics and influencing factors of agricultural functions in four typical villages of Gaizhou city, Liaoning Province, China. The results show that (1) the agricultural functions of the case villages went through the economic stages of early development, take-off and moving towards maturity. (2) There are differences in the strength of agricultural functions at different stages of economic development and in different types of villages. (3) Natural factors, such as topography and land use, and socioeconomic factors, such as demographic and economic characteristics, location, nonfarming employment opportunities, leadership qualities, and history of agricultural operations, play a role in the performance of agricultural functions at the village scale. Overall, the research findings contribute to elucidating the patterns of change in agricultural functions at the village scale, with significant implications for formulating improved agricultural policies and promoting sustainable rural development.