Abstract: Based on the survey data of farmers’ crop trusteeship in Shandong Province, the impact of agricultural production trusteeship on farmers’ green production was empirically analyzed by using the PSM (Propensity score matching) method and the mediating -effect model, and the mediating roles of green-technology adoption and peer effect in the influencing mechanism were further explored. The results showed that technical and scale effects could be generated by agricultural production trusteeship, with farmers’green production directly promoted. Moreover, a higher degree of promotion of green production was achieved by full-trusteeship service than by semi-trusteeship service. Farmers’ green production could also be promoted by agricultural production trusteeship through green-technology adoption and peer effect, meaning that mediating roles were played by green-technology adoption and peer effect. Heterogeneity was found in agricultural production trusteeship regarding different operation scales and whether family members engaged in part-time jobs. Specifically, a better promotion effect on the green production of farmers with small-scale operations and families with migrant workers was exerted by agricultural production trusteeship. Therefore, farmers should be encouraged to actively participate in trusteeship services. Training on the application of green technologies should be conducted with the help of trusteeship organizations, and a sound quality-standard system for trusteeship service organizations should be established.

Key words: agricultural production trusteeship, green production of rural households, adoption of green technologies, peer effect, mediation effect