The Role of Digital Financial Inclusion in Agricultural Sustainable Development: A Dual Perspective of Technology Adoption and Green Transformation

Based on provincial panel data spanning 2011–2025, this paper investigates the intrinsic mechanism through which digital financial inclusion affects agricultural sustainable development. The impact is transmitted via two core paths: green technology adoption and agricultural green transformation. Empirical results reveal that digital financial inclusion exerts a robust and significantly positive driving effect on agricultural sustainability. Such conclusion remains consistently reliable after mitigating potential endogeneity problems and performing comprehensive robustness examinations. Furthermore, two mutually complementary mediating channels are identified, and distinct synergistic interactions exist between the two pathways. Heterogeneity analysis demonstrates that the promoting effect is asymmetric and remarkably stronger in western China, major grain-producing zones, and regions with well-established digital infrastructure. These findings expand the theoretical framework concerning the nexus between digital finance and agricultural sustainable transition. Meanwhile, they provide targeted and operable policy implications for regional governments. The conclusions can effectively facilitate long-term low-carbon development and sustainable transformation of agriculture.