Understanding the impact of Internet access on farmers' willingness to participate in farmer professional cooperatives

The widespread application of Internet technology in rural development has significantly facilitated the modernisation of agriculture and profoundly and positively impacts sustainable rural development. This study empirically investigates the effect of Internet access on farmers` participation in farmer professional cooperatives based on a sample of 3 349 participants from the 2020 China Rural Revitalization Survey (CRRS), using both probit regression and instrumental variable probit (Ivprobit) regression models. The results indicate that, firstly, Internet access significantly enhances farmers` participation in farmer professional cooperatives. Secondly, Internet access influences farmers' decisions to join professional cooperatives differently, with older farmers, those with less education, and non-cadre individuals being more significantly affected in their willingness to participate. The findings deepen the understanding of the relationship between digital technology and organisational participation in rural development and provide empirical evidence for formulating more targeted rural development policies.