Calculation of the contribution rate of agricultural technological progress in six provinces of central China

The contribution rate of agricultural technological progress is an important index measuring the development of agricultural science and technology. Agriculture is the foundation and an important support for the rise of Central China. To scientifically measure the contribution of progress in agricultural technology to agricultural economic growth in central China during 1990-2014 and to reveal the output efficiencies of main input factors, human capital is used as an indirect variable introducing the translog production function model; furthermore, interactions between human capital and direct input factors such as agricultural capital, agricultural labor force, and sowing area of main crops are used to reflect the influence of human capital on production function. Results classify the current agricultural development in Central China as belonging to the extensive and capital-driven growth mode. The space for Central China to facilitate agricultural economic growth through capital input will become smaller gradually, technological progress will be the main power in agricultural economic growth, and human capital will also promote agricultural economic development to a certain degree. The agricultural economic development in Central China is transformed from extended production into connotative growth. Moreover, it is necessary to enlarge the input of progress in agricultural science and technology and to take effective measures to elevate the educational level of labor. This research aims to significantly guide the formulation and adjustment of local governmental agricultural policies in Central China.