Background Changting county was once one of the most severely affected areas by soil erosion in the red soil region of southern China. During the control process, in order to ensure the effectiveness of soil erosion management while promoting socio-economic development, Changting county gradually shifted towards the development of commodity-type ecological agriculture. Today, Changting county has been designated as a pilot area for high-quality soil and water conservation development, with a focus on the coordinated advancement of ecology and economy. Therefore, gaining an in-depth understanding of the development stages of commodity-type ecological agriculture in Changting county and analyzing its driving factors is of great significance for promoting the county’s high-quality soil and water conservation development.

Methods Based on statistical and survey data from Changting county between 1992 and 2022, an evaluation index system for commodity-type ecological agriculture was established. The analytic hierarchy process and entropy methods were employed to determine the weights of various indices, ensuring a comprehensive assessment of agricultural development. The comprehensive index method was then used to evaluate the overall development level of commodity-type ecological agriculture in Changting county, providing insights into its evolution over the years. This approach integrates both qualitative and quantitative analysis, facilitating a multi-dimensional understanding of the agricultural development process.

Results 1) The ecological and economic systems of commodity-type ecological agriculture in Changting county have undergone three distinct stages: Phase I (1992–1996): This phase was characterized by a stable ecological system but a declining economic system. The average development index of the ecological system (0.1398) was lower than that of the economic system (0.2795). Phase II (1997–2017): This stage witnessed accelerated expansion of the ecological system and a gradual recovery of the economic system. The average development index of the ecological system (0.5607) surpassed that of the economic system (0.4246). Phase III (2018–2022): In this phase, the ecological system remained stable, while the economic system continued to grow. The economic system's average development index (0.7739) overtook the ecological system's index (0.7175). 2) The overall development of commodity-type ecological agriculture in Changting county has passed through four major stages: poor (1992–1997) with an average development index of 0.2140, medium (1998–2006) with an index of 0.3656, good (2007–2020) with an index of 0.6426, and excellent (2021–2022) with an index of 0.7760.

Conclusions From 1992 to 2022, the development of commodity-type ecological agriculture in Changting county has made remarkable progress, showing a positive development trend. The ecological and economic systems are gradually becoming more coordinated, forming a more stable interactive relationship. Soil and water conservation policies and measures have played a key role in promoting the sustainable development of ecological agriculture in the region.