Study On Development And Influencing Factors Of Vegetable Production In Hebei Province

As one of the industries of spurring agricultural economic growth, the vegetable industry occupies an important position in agricultural production in China. Hebei Province, with a rich vegetable output, has been rapidly growing since 1978 in its vegetable productivity. In 2012, the whole vegetable planting area of Hebei was 1.203 million hectares and the output was 12.03 million tons, ranking respectively seventh and second of the country. Since 2001, the vegetable output value has excelled that of crops and the vegetable industry has become an important industry to promote rural economic development and drive the increase of farmers’ income. Currently, the development of vegetable industry of Hebei is faced with new opportunities and challenge. On the one hand, with the consumers demanding for better vegetable quality, the competition in both domestic market and abroad has become increasingly fierce. On the other hand, the central government has set forth requirements at higher levels on modern agriculture for advanced technology, moderate scale, high market competitiveness and sustainable ecological development. Under this circumstance, it really makes sense to study the deep factors that restrict the vegetable production of Hebei Province, to promote the sustainable development of vegetable industry and to drive the overall development of the rural economics of Hebei.By the combination of empirical and normative methods, starting from the domestic and foreign research status of vegetable industry, the thesis analyzed the characteristics of the development of both. Based on the elements in terms of inputs, this thesis also analyzed the existing problems of the vegetable industry of Hebei Province from four aspects of industrial organization, household activity, technology innovation, and industrial policy. Finally, some policy recommendations were put forward for promoting the development of vegetable industry of Hebei Province.Research results are as follows:First, on the basis of the resource endowment theory, the thesis analyzed the present resource status of vegetable production of Hebei Province as well as its resource endowment advantages and resource restrictions. The author holds the opinion that Hebei Province has a large population and high industrialization and urbanization, which makes not only the resource scarcity of vegetable development more obvious but also the potential to develop sightseeing agriculture and leisure agriculture greater.Second, based on the investigation, the thesis analyzed the characteristics of vegetable production and circulation, and according to industrial organization theory, analyzed the role industrial organization plays in the vegetable industry development of Hebei and the existing problems. From the angle of transaction cost, the game theory was adopted to analyze the phenomenon that it is difficult for the farmers and supermarkets to contact each other. It is concluded that in the current circumstances the connection model Enterprise+Cooperative+Farmer is suitable for the vegetable industry development of Hebei. However, every type of organization should have a clear division of labor and exploit their advantages to the full. Specialized farmer cooperatives are expected to build up their strength or unite together in the Internet distribution platform if they want to break the balance between supermarkets and the intermediary business.Third, according to the sample among the vegetable planting farmers in northern, southern and central Heibei Province, we analyzed the characteristics and operating efficiency of planters’ vegetable marketing behavior. Based on the social exchange theory, factors that influence the farmers’ safety production intention were analyzed by applying Logit two-element model. Based on the scale-economics theory, data envelope analysis was adopted analyze and compare the operating efficiency of farmers. It is concluded that farmers are generally willing to see the safety production of their vegetables but can’t properly master the technology. In terms of moderate scale operation, the author thinks that under the limited production technology, the appropriate planting area for farmers planting vegetables is 5-6 acres.Fourth, the influence of the factor of technology on vegetable production was studied. What was analyzed first of all was the achievements Hebei Province gained in recent years in the extension and application of vegetable production technology. Then, the existing problems were analyzed as well. Moreover, the factors that restrict the technology development were studied in aspects of policy, human capital and technology application.Fifth, based on the theory of property right and system, the development history of Chinese policies for vegetable industry was gone over. Taking the policy of Hebei Province Vegetable Demonstration County as an example, we analyzed the effect of the policy and explored the existing problems in supporting vegetable industry development of Hebei province. It is concluded that presently China has formed a policy system which aims at promoting the vegetable production, emphasizes improving the vegetable circulation and targets enhancing the quality of vegetables. Some problems, however, still exist, including the shortage of goals of serving for the public, the system’s being incomplete, etc.The innovation points in this paper are:(1) The phenomenon that it is difficult for the farmers and supermarkets to contact each other was studied based on the game theory. The author thinks that the cooperation between the supermarkets and the cooperatives or the intermediary business demonstrated the strategy of Nash Equilibrium. If cooperatives want to realize the balance between farmers and supermarkets, the original channel dependence should be broken and reorganized.(2) Logit two-element model method was applied to analyzing the main factors that affect the planters’ safety production willing. It is concluded that eleven variable quantities, including planting years and the products’ passing the authentication for the pollution-free vegetables, have significant influences.(3) By applying the measurement method of non parameter date envelope analysis, it is concluded that the most appropriate scale for farming households to plant solanaceous vegetables is 5-6 acres.