Abstract: Based on the survey data of rice production in the Jianghan Plain, this study analyzed the factors that affected the level of agricultural production trusteeship of farmers from the perspective of their trusteeship willingness in different stages of agricultural production. The results indicated that the reduction of labor force among farmers and the high-intensity labor involved in land preparation and harvesting in agricultural production had increased their willingness to engage in production trusteeship. In the technology-intensive stage of agricultural production trusteeship, professional service organizations provided farmers with agricultural machinery, equipment, and production technology that enhanced their trusteeship willingness. However, in the seedling raising and transplanting stage, equipment factors had a negative impact on farmers’ trusteeship willingness,perhaps because the labor intensity in the seedling raising and transplanting process was lower than that in other processes, and farmers chose manual planting and relied more on their accumulated seedling raising and transplanting techniques over the years. The transformation of farmers’ production and management concepts, the pursuit of efficient and convenient agricultural production, and their desire for convenience had prompted farmers to participate in agricultural production trusteeship. Therefore, efforts should be made to strengthen the construction of agricultural infrastructure in major grain producing areas and the cultivation of talents in production trusteeship, increase government support, and establish a sound system of agricultural production service standards.

Key words: agricultural production, farmers, entrustment willingness, rice production, Jianghan Plain