A Study On Technological Change Pattern Of Wheat Production In China

Since 1980s, rapid grain production growth in Chinese agriculture could be attributed to technological change. China is big wheat producer, in order to maintain sustainable development of wheat production, increase wheat output, improve wheat quality, increase production profit, and reduce production costs we have to rely on support of science and technology.Technological change is viewed as a dynamic response to resource endowments and economic environment. Economic forces induce development of technology; changes in factor prices induce generation of different technology patterns; changes in market demand induce direction of technology development.Most studies focus on technology development patterns with respect to the whole planting industry, but different crops represent different production characteristics, therefore their research results are partially biased.This paper analyzes wheat production from 1990 to 2002. Using Cobb-Douglas average production function model, the paper analyzes major factors influencing wheat output, factors generating growth; calculates technological change rate per year. In addition, using E-S production function model, the paper calculates index of biological and chemical technological change and index of mechanical technological change in 1990 and 2002. Compared land productivity (Y/A) and labor productivity (Y/L) in country level with province level, the paper studies technological change patterns from 1990 to 2002.Through certain statistical and econometric analysis, the paper arrive the following conclusions:1. Technological change is the most important factor influencing Chinese wheat output.2. Pattern of wheat production development is mainly mechanical technological change.3. Changes in market demand induce development of wheat production for special purpose.4. Occurrence of disasters affects wheat production negatively. Based on the above conclusions, the policy implications are as follows:1. Maintaining sustainable increase of wheat output, the government should increase input in R&D of biological and chemical technology.2. The wheat industry has to reduce production costs by means of technological change.3. The government should accelerate structural adjustment of wheat varieties and quality according to market demand.4. In order to improve disaster-resisting capability, the government should increase infrastructure input.5. The government should take measures to optimize extension system of agricultural technology.