Understanding the mechanism of energy poverty affecting irrigation efficiency: evidence from rural China

Environ Sci Pollut Res Int. 2022 Oct;29(47):70963-70975. doi: 10.1007/s11356-022-20874-y. Epub 2022 May 20.

Abstract

Lower irrigation efficiency and energy poverty cast a pall on the prospects for sustainable development. However, their relationship is poorly understood, particularly in rural China. Using the China Family Panel Studies 2014-2018 waves, this study examines the impact of energy poverty (EP) on irrigation water efficiency (IWE). Result show that EP reduced IWE by 28.3 ~ 42.4%. These results are robust to a variety of estimation methods. The underlying mechanisms, as revealed by structural equation modeling, are that health and non-agricultural employment act as mediators of the EP-IWE relationship. Non-agricultural employment has a positive and statistically significant mediating effect, indicating that efforts to alleviate energy poverty are partially transmitted to IWE.

Keywords: China Family Panel Studies; Energy poverty; Irrigation water-use efficiency; Mediating effect; Structural equation modeling.

MeSH terms

  • China
  • Humans
  • Poverty*
  • Rural Population*
  • Socioeconomic Factors
  • Water

Substances

  • Water