Abstract:
Based on a provincial panel data from 1978 to 2016, this paper explores the temporal and spatial characteristics of transportation infrastructure, agricultural mechanization, and rice production, and applies the two-way fixed effect panel data model and the mediation effect test model to empirically analyze the comprehensive action path of transportation infrastructure and agricultural mechanization on rice production under the multi-dimensional factor framework. Results show that: 1) the rice production has experienced a period of increase with some fluctuations, rapid decrease and steady increase, while the highway mileage and agricultural machinery input have first increased steadily and then increased rapidly; 2) the differences of rice production, highway mileage, and agricultural machinery input in each province are obvious, and the main dividing line of rice production has changed from “Qinling Huaihe River line” to “400 mm precipitation line”; 3) the increase of highway mileage and agricultural machinery input can significantly promote the increase of rice production, and the influence of highway mileage on rice production has direct and indirect paths. Therefore, optimizing the allocation of public resources of transportation infrastructure and agricultural mechanization production factors is an important way to improve rice production capacity and to ensure food security in China.