For given technology, there exists diminishing marginal returns in agricultural investment which is not only a theoretical question, but also a practical issue. The law of diminishing marginal returns in agricultural investment results in increasing difficulties for farmers to raise revenue. According to Marx's Capital, there are two main causes for diminishing marginal returns in agricultural investment. One is the relative decline of natural fertility of land and the commensurate increase in required investment to improve land fertility. The other is the limited substitutability between variable production factors and fixed ones, such as land in agriculture that more investment beyond a certain amount leads to decline in productivity. A better understanding of the theory of diminishing marginal returns in agricultural investment in Marx's Capital will be useful in several aspects. It helps adjust appropriately the ratios between production factors in agriculture and improve agricultural science and technology. There are also benefits in widening the vision on the strategies to broaden the operating functionality of agriculture, to optimize agriculture production structure and production value chain, and ultimately to improve agricultural productivity and transformation agricultural development.%在一定生产技术条件下,农业投资收益递减是客观存在的经济现象,导致我国农民增收的难度越来越大.这既是一个理论问题,也是一个现实问题.根据马克思在《资本论》中的剖析,农业投资收益递减,主要有两方面原因:一是自然肥力比重下降、需要人类支付费用的人工肥力比重上升;二是变动农业生产要素对固定农业生产要素(如土地)的替代弹性存在限度,超过一定限度追加投资生产率便迅速下降.正确认识《资本论》中有关农业投资收益递减理论,有助于调节农业生产要素比例关系,促进农业科学技术进步;也有助于不断拓展农业功能,调整农业经营结构,完善农业产业链,促进农业提质增效,加快转变农业发展方式.
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