Analyses of the Coupling Coordination between Agricultural Industrialization and Ecological Efficiency of Agricultural Land Use in Poverty-alleviated Counties under the Goal of High-quality Development: A Case Study of Jiangxi Province

Exploring the coupling and coordinated relationship between agricultural industrialization and ecological efficiency of farmland use in poverty-alleviated counties holds significant importance for promoting high-quality agricultural development. Based on the new development concept, the coupled evaluation system of agricultural industrialization and agricultural land utilization eco-efficiency was constructed in 25 poverty-alleviated counties of Jiangxi Province. Leveraging coupling coordination models and Theil index models, this study measures the level of coupling coordination and regional differences between these two factors. The research findings indicate that: (1) during the period of 2011 to 2020, the overall ecological efficiency of farmland use in poverty-alleviated counties in Jiangxi Province was relatively high, with an annual average of 0.738. Specifically, the ecological efficiency was higher in the southern regions of Jiangxi than that in central and northern regions. (2) From 2011 to 2020, the overall level of agricultural industrialization development index in poverty-alleviated counties of Jiangxi Province was relatively low, with an annual average of 0.414. The northern region of Jiangxi Province had the highest index, followed by the central and southern regions. (3) From 2011 to 2020, the coupling coordination index of agricultural industrialization and ecological efficiency of agricultural land use in poverty-alleviated counties increased from 0.321 at the beginning of the period to 0.342 at the end of the period, which was in the stage of moderate and mild imbalance. (4) The regional disparities within poverty-alleviated counties contribute significantly to the overall Theil index, while the regional coordination in county-level agricultural development was weak. Further analysis reveals that the disparity in the roles played by the market and government is the primary reason behind the differences in levels of agricultural industrialization and ecological efficiency of farmland use. Therefore, the key to improve the coupling and coordination between these two factors lies in the comprehensive application of administrative and market mechanisms to drive development of agricultural industrialization.