Influencing mechanism of farmers’ willingness to non-grain production of cropland based on SOR-MOA integration model

Introduction Food security is of the paramount importance to the countries, exploring the willingness of farmers to non-grain production of cropland (NGPC) is conducive to the stability of cultivated land area and protecting food security. Methods Take Ruzhou City of Henan province as the research area, based on SOR-MOA integration model, the structural equation model (SEM) and DEMATEL model are adopted, this paper explores the influencing mechanism of farmers’ willingness to NGPC from the perspective of livelihood according to 600 questionnaires. Results The results show that: (1) Perceived benefit (PB) has an enhanced effect on the willingness of NGPC of both types of part-time farmers. However the impact of PB on the willingness of NGPC of the low part-time farmers is greater than that of the high part-time farmers. (2) Perceived risk (PR) has a blocking effect on the willingness of NGPC of both types of farmers. PR has a stronger effect on the willingness to NGPC for the high part-time farmers. (3) Opportunity and ability have a positive impact on the motivation of two types of part-time farmers for NGPC. Among the two, ability has a greater influence. (4) Motivation can promote the PB of both types of part-time farmers, but the degrees of influence are different. Motivation has a blocking effect on the PR of the two types of the part-time farmers, but it has a stronger blocking effect on the PR of the low part-time farmers. Discussion This study puts forward to adjustment measures and control suggestions from the aspects of opportunity, motivation, ability and perceived value of NGPC.