Zoning of sustainable agricultural development in China

Based on relative advantage assessment, the zoning of sustainable agricultural development in China is exammed. An index system of sustainable development is constructed, consisting of five supporting systems: (1) agricultural resources, (2) agricultural development, (3) environment and ecosystem, (4) rural society, and (5) science, education and management. Included in the five supporting systems are 95 factors that are selected at the provincial level as basic indices. A method of assessing relative assets/debts is then used to calculate the net assets (i.e. relative advantage) for each provincial unit. This is done for both the five supporting systems and their total capability. The assessment results are then ranked, and the geographical patterns mapped. Based on the above assessment results, the whole country is divided into nine agricultural development regions (first-level), and 22 sub-regions (second-level). The first-level zones reflect each region's direction for future sustainable agricultural development and management. The second-level zones reflect their level of development, and whether or not each sub-region has reached the basic criteria of sustainable agricultural development. A zoning at provincial level for sustainable agricultural development in China is, thereby, established. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.Agriculture, MultidisciplinarySCI(E)8ARTICLE138-628