Strategic transformation of regionalization for the agricultural comprehensive development: The example of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region in China

doi:10.1007/s11442-016-1352-6

Abstract

Abstract:

Strategic transformation of regionalization for agricultural comprehensive development (ACD) was presented by the Ministry of Finance of the People’s Republic of China (MOF) in 2014. The regionalization is the premise and basis of the sustainable development and improved competitiveness for agriculture. Based on the environmental resources related to agriculture, such as cropland, climate, water resources, terrain, geomorphology, patterns of the ACD projects, distribution of ecological planning, etc., we devised 13 indices using the geographic comprehensive regionalization method. The indices took into account a combination of dynamic and static, qualitative and quantitative, as well as agricultural and ecological factors. The strategic transformation of regionalization for the ACD in Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region of China was performed; seven types were included: prioritized regions, prioritized and restricted regions, protected regions, protected and restricted regions, restricted and prioritized regions, restricted and protected regions, and restricted regions. A further 24 subtypes were used based on locations and ecological zones. The regionalization results showed that prioritized regions were mainly in northern Ningxia, the most suitable area for agriculture. The protected and restricted regions were in central and southern Ningxia. In the central part, drought was the limiting factor for agriculture, and water conservation projects there should be supported. The ecological environment is fragile in southern Ningxia, so there is a need for ecologically sound agriculture to be developed in this region. Such regionalization could achieve two goals, namely agricultural conservation and eco-environmental protection. It was performed following the requirement for scientific regionalization to include three types of regions (prioritized regions, protected regions, and restricted regions), and was applied at the township scale in a provincial or autonomous region for the first time. The results provide both guidance for the strategic transformation of the ACD in Ningxia, and a reference for similar work in other provinces.

Key words: agricultural comprehensive development (ACD), regionalization, sustainable development, indices, Ningxia

Wenjiao SHI, Yunfeng HU, Xiaoli SHI, Zong WANG, Huimin YAN, Ziwei XU, Bo REN, Wenhui KUANG, Xinliang XU, Weiming CHENG, Yan CHEN, Dongbo WU. Strategic transformation of regionalization for the agricultural comprehensive development: The example of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region in China[J].Journal of Geographical Sciences, 2016, 26(12): 1675-1688.

Figures/Tables 6

Figure 1

Figure 2

Table 1

Figure 3

Table 2

The scheme for strategic transformation of regionalization for Ningxia Agricultural Comprehensive Development"

Types	Subtypes
I The prioritized regions	I1 The prioritized regions with paddy-dryland rotations in south Yinchuan
	I2 The prioritized regions with dryland in north Yinchuan and farmland with pumping irrigation in Taole
	I3 The prioritized regions irrigated with water-saving reform in the Weining Plain
II The prioritized and restricted regions	II1 The prioritized regions with paddy-dryland rotations in south Yinchuan, and the restricted regions with sand prevention and control
II The prioritized and restricted regions	II2 The prioritized and restricted regions irrigated with water-saving reform in the Weining Plain
III The protected regions	III1 The protected regions with soil erosion and water-saving irrigation in the valley
III The protected regions	III2 The protected regions with water-saving irrigation pumped from the Yellow River
IV The protected and restricted regions	IV1 The protected regions with water-saving irrigation pumped from the Yellow River and the restricted regions with soil erosion
IV The protected and restricted regions	IV2 The protected regions with grass-crop rotations, and the restricted regions with forest and grass
V The restricted and prioritized regions	V1 The restricted regions with forest and grass on Helan Mountain, and the prioritized regions with irrigated dryland in north Yinchuan
	V2 The restricted regions with forest and grass on Helan Mountain, and the prioritized regions with paddy-dryland rotations in south Yinchuan
	V3 The restricted regions with desert and semi-desert, and the prioritized regions with irrigation water-saving transformation
	V4 The restricted and the prioritized regions of desert steppe
VI The restricted and protected regions	VI1 The restricted and protected regions with sand prevention and control
	VI2 The restricted and protected regions with desert steppe
	VI3 The restricted and protected regions with forest and grass
	VI4 The restricted and protected regions with soil erosion
	VI5 The restricted and protected regions with water conservation
	VI6 The restricted and protected regions returning cropland to grassland
VII The restricted regions	VII1 The restricted regions with urban construction
	VII2 The restricted regions with sand prevention and control
	VII3 The restricted regions with forest and grass on Helan Mountain
	VII4 The restricted regions with desert steppe
	VII5 The restricted regions being returned from cropland to grassland

Table 2

Figure 4

References 39

1	Agricultural Regionalization Research Team of Geographical Society of China, 1965. The New Delelopment of Agricultural Regionalization in China, 1965.Acta Geographica Sinica, 31(4): 269-276. (in Chinese)
2	Chen Xiaohong, Wang Yujuan, Wan Luhe et al., 2012. Study on the eco-agriculture regionalization based on hierarchical cluster analysis in Northeast China.Economic Geography, 32(1): 137-140. (in Chinese)
3	Deng Jingzhong, 1960. The Research Methodology of Agricultural Regionalization in China. Beijing: Science Press. (in Chinese)
4	Deng Jingzhong, 1982. Some problems on the comprehensive agricultural regionalization of China.Geographical Research, 1(1): 9-18. (in Chinese) doi: 10.11821/yj1982010003
5	Deng Jingzhong, 1963. The preliminary discussion of national agricultural regionalization.Acta Geographica Sinica, 29(4): 265-280. (in Chinese) doi: 10.11821/xb196304001
6	Deng Jingzhong, 1984. Property, tasks and further problems of agricultural regionalization.Chinese Journal of Agricultural Resources and Regional Planning, 1: 57-68. (in Chinese) doi: 10.7621/cjarrp.1005-9121.19840109
7	Fan J, Li P, 2009. The scientific foundation of major function oriented zoning in China.Journal of Geographical Sciences, 19(5): 515-531. doi: 10.1007/s11442-009-0515-0
8	Fan Jie, 2015. Draft of major function oriented zoning of China.Acta Geographica Sinica, 70(2): 186-201. (in Chinese) doi: 10.11821/dlxb201502002
9	Feng Zhiming, Pan Mingqi, Zhang Jing, 2006. Study on zoning of China’s integrated land consolidation.Journal of Natural Resources, 21(1): 45-54. (in Chinese) doi: 10.11849/zrzyxb.2006.01.006
10	Government of the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, 2013. Atlas of Economic and Social Development of Ningxia and the Surrounding Neighboring Provinces. Beijing: Surveying and Mapping Press & Sino Maps Press. (in Chinese) doi: 10.1007/s12114-013-9162-x
11	Gu Chaolin, Zhang Xiaoming, Liu Jinyuan et al., 2007. The development spatial regionalization of Yancheng City and relevant consideration.Acta Geographica Sinica, 62(8): 787-798. (in Chinese)
12	Hou Xueyu, 1988. Chinese Ecological Regionalization and the Development Strategy of Big Agriculture. Beijing: Science Press. (in Chinese)
13	Huang Bingwei, 1959. China comprehensive natural zoning draft.Chinese Science Bulletin, 18: 594-602. (in Chinese)
14	Ji Yongzan, Yan Huimei, Liu Jiyuan et al., 2015. Spatial distribution pattern of Chinese high-yield, middle-yield and low-yield cultivated based on the MODIS data.Acta Geographica Sinica, 70(5): 766-778. (in Chinese) doi: 10.11821/dlxb201505008
15	Li Bingyuan, Pan Baotian, Cheng Weiming et al., 2013. Research on geomorphological regionalization of China.Acta Geographica Sinica, 68(3): 291-306. (in Chinese)
16	Lin Chao, 1954. Outline of physical geography regionalization in China.Acta Geographica Sinica, 20(4): 395-418. (in Chinese)
17	Liu Y, Zhang Y, Guo L, 2010. Towards realistic assessment of cultivated land quality in an ecologically fragile environment: A satellite imagery-based approach.Applied Geography, 30(2): 271-281. doi: 10.1016/j.apgeog.2009.07.002
18	Liu Yanhua, Zheng Du, Ge Quansheng et al., 2005. Problems on the research of comprehensive regionalization in China.Geographical Research, 24(3): 321-329. (in Chinese) doi: 10.11821/yj2005030001
19	Liu Yuying, Shi Daming, Hu Yixin et al., 2013. Risk analysis and regionalization of agrometeorological drought hazard in Jilin Province of Northeast China.Chinese Journal of Ecology, 32(6): 1518-1524. (in Chinese)
20	Lv Xiaofang, Wang Yanglin, Zhang Yili et al., 2007. Research on agricultural functions regionalization and sustainable development strategy of ecologically vulnerable environment in the west of China: A case of Yanchi county in Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region.Journal of Natural Resources, 22(2): 177-184. (in Chinese) doi: 10.11849/zrzyxb.2007.02.003
21	Miao Bailing, Hou Qiong, Liang Cunzhu, 2015. Agricultural climate regionalization of dryland farming for potato in Yinshan based on GIS.Chinese Journal of Applied Ecology, 26(1): 278-282. (in Chinese)
22	Ren Mei’e, Yang Renzhang, 1961. Problems on the research of natural regionalization in China.Acta Geographica Sinica, 27(1): 66-74. (in Chinese)
23	Tao Hongjun, Chen Tizhu, 2014. Literature review on agricultural regionalization theory and practice research. Chinese Journal of Agricultural Resources and Regional Planning, 35(2): 59-66. The Agricultural Regionalization Research Team of Geographical Society of China.
24	The Second Land Survey of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region Atlas Compilation Committee, 2012. The Second Land Survey of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region Atlas. Beijing: Surveying and Mapping Press & Sino Maps Press.
25	Wang Chuansheng, Zhao Haiying, Sun Guiyan et al., 2010. Function zoning of development optimized area at a county level: A case study of Shangyu, Zhejiang.Geographical Research, 29(3): 481-490. (in Chinese) doi: 10.1097/ICO.0b013e3182000add
26	Wang Lianxi, Meng Dan, Geng Xiuhua et al., 2013. GIS based drought risk assessment and zoning in Ningxia.Journal of Natural Disasters, 22(5): 213-220. (in Chinese)
27	Wu Shaohong, Liu Weidong, 2005. An integrated approach to classification of territorial system: A case study of Tibetan Plateau.Geographical Research, 24(2): 169-177, 321. (in Chinese) doi: 10.11821/yj2005020002
28	Xie Gaodi, Zhang Changshun, Zhang Linbo et al., 2012. China’s country-scale ecological regionalization.Journal of Natural Resources, 27(1): 154-162. (in Chinese) doi: 10.11849/zrzyxb.2012.01.016
29	Xu Jitian, Chen Baiming, Zhang Xueqin, 2001. Ecosystem productivity regionalization of China.Acta Geographica Sinica, 56(4): 401-408. (in Chinese)
30	Zhao Songqiao, 1983. A new scheme for comprehensive physical regionalization.Acta Geographica Sinica, 38(1): 1-10. (in Chinese)
31	Zhao Yan, Wang Zhiguo, Sun Baoping et al., 2013. A primary study on scheme of soil and water conservation regionalization in China.Acta Geographica Sinica, 68(3): 307-317. (in Chinese)
32	Zheng Du, Ou Yang, Zhou Chenghu, 2008. Understanding of and thinking over geographical regionalization methodology.Acta Geographica Sinica, 63(6): 563-573. (in Chinese) doi: 10.3321/j.issn:0375-5444.2008.06.001
33	Zheng Jingyun, Yin Yunhe, Li Bingyuan, 2010. A new scheme for climate regionalization in China.Acta Geographica Sinica, 65(1): 3-12. (in Chinese) doi: 10.11821/xb201001002
34	Zhou Chenghu, Cheng Weiming, Qian Jinkai et al., 2009. Research on the classification system of digital land geomorphology of 1:1000000 in China.Journal of Geo-information Science, 11(6): 707-724. (in Chinese) doi: 10.1016/S1874-8651(10)60080-4
35	Zhou Lisan, 1979. The significance of agricultural regionalization and its relationship with agricultural modernization.Soil Fertilizer, (6): 3-7. (in Chinese)
36	Zhou Lisan, 1981. Some problems on the agricultural regionalization.Scientia Geographica Sinica, 1(1): 11-21. (in Chinese)
37	Zhou Lisan, 1993. Theory and Practice of Agricultural Regionalization in China. Hefei: University of Science and Technology of China Press. (in Chinese)
38	Zhou Lisan, Sun Han, Shen Yuqing, 1981. Comprehensive Agricultural Regionalization of China. Beijing: Agricultural Press. (in Chinese)
39	Zhou Qiye, 1957. Fundamental problems on the division of agricultural regions of China.Acta Geographica Sinica, 23(2): 127-144. (in Chinese)

[1]	ZHOU Liang, ZHOU Chenghu, CHE Lei, WANG Bao. Spatio-temporal evolution and influencing factors of urban green development efficiency in China [J]. Journal of Geographical Sciences, 2020, 30(5): 724-742.
[2]	WANG Nan, CHENG Weiming, WANG Baixue, LIU Qiangyi, ZHOU Chenghu. Geomorphological regionalization theory system and division methodology of China [J]. Journal of Geographical Sciences, 2020, 30(2): 212-232.
[3]	Yansui LIU, Yongsheng WANG. Rural land engineering and poverty alleviation:Lessons from typical regions in China [J]. Journal of Geographical Sciences, 2019, 29(5): 643-657.
[4]	LIU Cuiling, XU Yaping, WANG Fahui. Population distribution patterns and changes in China 1953-2010: A regionalization approach [J]. Journal of Geographical Sciences, 2019, 29(11): 1908-1922.
[5]	Wei SUN, Cheng CHEN, Lei WANG. Spatial function regionalization and governance of coastal zone: A case study in Ningbo City [J]. Journal of Geographical Sciences, 2018, 28(8): 1167-1181.
[6]	Chuanglin FANG, Haimeng LIU, Kui LUO, Xiaohua YU. Process and proposal for comprehensive regionalization of Chinese human geography [J]. Journal of Geographical Sciences, 2017, 27(10): 1155-1168.
[7]	NOJAROV Peter. Genetic climatic regionalization of the Balkan Peninsula using cluster analysis [J]. Journal of Geographical Sciences, 2017, 27(1): 43-61.
[8]	Shaohong WU, Yunhe YIN, Du *ZHENG, Qinye YANG, Haoyu DENG. Advances in terrestrial system research in China [J]. Journal of Geographical Sciences, 2016, 26(7): 791-802.
[9]	Qingwen MIN, Yongxun ZHANG, Wenjun *JIAO, Xueping SUN. Responding to common questions on the conservation of agricultural heritage systems in China [J]. Journal of Geographical Sciences, 2016, 26(7): 969-982.
[10]	Chuanglin FANG, Yan *WANG, Jiawen FANG. A comprehensive assessment of urban vulnerability and its spatial differentiation in China [J]. Journal of Geographical Sciences, 2016, 26(2): 153-170.
[11]	Chuanglin FANG, Haitao MA, Zhenbo WANG, Guangdong LI. The sustainable development of innovative cities in China: Comprehensive assessment and future configuration [J]. Journal of Geographical Sciences, 2014, 24(6): 1095-1114.
[12]	WANG Qiong, ZHANG Mingjun, WANG Shengjie, MA Qian, SUN Meiping. Changes in temperature extremes in the Yangtze River Basin, 1962-2011 [J]. , 2014, 24(1): 59-75.
[13]	MA Caihong, REN Zhiyuan, LI Xiaoyan. Natural capital accounting in Xi’an City of western China during 1995-2011 [J]. , 2013, 23(6): 1123-1135.
[14]	ZHAO Yan, WANG Zhiguo, SUN Baoping, ZHANG Chao, JI Qiang, FENG Lei, SHI Mingchang. A study on scheme of soil and water conservation regionalization in China [J]. , 2013, 23(4): 721-734.
[15]	LIN Zhenming, XIA Bin. Sustainability analysis of the urban ecosystem in Guangzhou City based on information entropy between 2004 and 2010 [J]. Journal of Geographical Sciences, 2013, 23(3): 417-435.