Total Factor Productivity of Herdsmen Animal Husbandry in Pastoral Areas: Regional Differences and Driving Factors

In the context of China’s implementation of the rural revitalization strategy, it is essential to study the total factor productivity of animal husbandry in pastoral areas under the grassland ecological compensation policy, which is essential for promoting the harmonious development of animal husbandry production and grassland ecology in pastoral areas and helping the rural revitalization strategy. Based on the survey data of pastoral areas in Inner Mongolia, this paper measured and comparatively analyzed the differences in the changes in total factor productivity of pastoral households in each region and its convergence and discussed the main factors driving the total factor productivity of animal husbandry. The results of the study show that: (1) Except for Ulanqab City, the annual average total factor productivity of animal husbandry in the region as a whole and in each region is greater than 1, indicating that the animal husbandry production level of herdsmen has been improved to some extent during the policy implementation period. From the phased situation, the overall total factor productivity of animal husbandry in the Inner Mongolia region shows a characteristic of decreasing first and then increasing, while each region shows a different trend of change. (2) In terms of convergence, there is a certain degree of convergence during the policy period for both the region as a whole and each region, indicating that as the grassland compensation policy advances, the spatial differences in herdsmen total factor productivity in animal husbandry show a trend of gradual reduction, and the overall sample represents the sample of all the investigated areas. (3) In terms of driving factors, herdsmen education level, the degree of travel convenience, the degree of by-business, whether they participate in the subsidy policy, and whether they are fined have significant positive effects on their total factor productivity in animal husbandry, while the family dependency ratio and the degree of government regulation have significant negative effects on total factor productivity in animal husbandry. This paper takes the total factor productivity of animal husbandry in pastoral areas as the starting point, providing a new perspective for the research on the effect of the grassland ecological compensation policy. At the same time, it expands the driving factors of total factor productivity in animal husbandry. The conclusion provides a reference for improving the grassland ecological compensation policy and coordinating the harmonious development of production, life, and ecology in pastoral areas