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Explora: Environment
and Resource Evaluating agricultural efficiency and sustainability

derived from these studies. Nevertheless, the imperative recommendations and scientific guidance to enhance the
challenge of integrating international experience with optimization of agricultural resource allocation and foster
local requirements and developing agricultural efficiency sustainable agricultural development in Shaanxi province.
optimization solutions tailored to China’s distinctive The second section of this paper is a literature review
agricultural structure, resource endowment, and that examines pertinent studies on agricultural efficiency
socioeconomic conditions remains unresolved. assessment and SLM. The third section introduces model
Shaanxi province (Figure 1) is a significant agricultural selection and variable selection, describing the application
province in China, boasting a long agricultural tradition of the DEA-BCC model and its selection of input-output
and substantial agricultural resources. Nevertheless, indicators. The fourth section conducts an empirical study
agricultural production in Shaanxi province is currently on the implementation effect, analyzing the data based on
being confronted with significant sustainability challenges the agricultural efficiency in Shaanxi province. The fifth
due to the high utilization of land resources and the section investigates the relationship between the efficiency
2
acceleration of urbanization. The traditional agricultural of agricultural production and SLM, and thoroughly
production model and resource allocation methods are examines the key factors that influence agricultural
inadequate to satisfy the requirements of contemporary efficiency. The sixth section concludes the paper by
economic and social development. Therefore, it summarizing the research findings and formulating policy
is imperative to optimize them through scientific recommendations.
management techniques and progressive technologies.
3
An exhaustive examination of agricultural efficiency and 2. Literature review
its influencing factors can offer a theoretical foundation 2.1. Current status of research in China and abroad
and informed decision-making support for the rational Scholars, both domestically and internationally, have
allocation of resources and the enhancement of production conducted extensive research on SLM and agricultural
efficiency, as viewed through the lens of SLM. As a result, efficiency evaluation within the broader context of
this investigation is not only academically innovative, but sustainable agricultural development. We present a
it also has substantial practical implications for agricultural comprehensive review of the existing literature to illustrate
management and policy formulation. the value-added contribution of this study, encompassing
To quantitatively assess the agricultural efficacy in critical issues, methodologies, and research findings.
Shaanxi province and investigate the primary factors
that influence it, this study implements the DEA-BCC 2.1.1. Primary concerns
(Data envelopment analysis-Banker, Charnes, Cooper) SLM and agricultural efficiency evaluation have emerged
model. With the complete consideration of multiple inputs as significant academic subjects in recent years. The
and multiple outputs, the DEA-BCC model effectively primary focus of domestic academicians is the integrated
measures the relative efficiency of production units as a development of rural and urban areas, agricultural
non-parametric method. From 2012 to 2021, we selected production technology innovation, and the efficacy of land
6,7
the input and output indicators of agricultural production resource utilization. For instance, Wang et al. empirically
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in Shaanxi province (Table 1). These indicators included examined the influence of collective operating construction
inputs such as land, machinery, water resources, and land entering the market on urban-rural integration
fertilizer, as well as outputs such as agricultural output development using a multi-period Difference-in-differences
value and crop yield. Analyzing the trend and development
characteristics of agricultural efficiency in Shaanxi province
using these data enables the assessment of the rationality of
resource allocation and production structure. 4,5
The objective of this investigation is to provide
conclusive data for a single year, as well as to elucidate
the dynamic evolution of agricultural efficiency through
comparative analyses of various time periods (e.g., 2012 –
2018 and 2019 – 2021). This type of longitudinal analysis
is instrumental in elucidating the long-term development
trend of agricultural production and identifying the
primary factors that influence agricultural efficiency.
In the final analysis, this investigation offers policy Figure 1. Regional map of Shaanxi province. Figure created by the author.

Volume 2 Issue 1 (2025) 2 doi: 10.36922/eer.5129