Intraregional Agricultural Characteristics Critical in Explaining Farmland Abandonment:Evidence from Chugoku and Shikoku Region of Japan

Since the 1980 s,Japan has witnessed an unprecedented decline in agriculture chiefly due to farmers’aging,depopulation,and unfavorable socio-economic conditions.This development has resulted in an increase of farmland abandonment(FLA)across the country.However,it remains unclear as to how and to what extent FLA is influenced by intraregional agricultural characteristics.As such,this article discusses the issue of FLA by taking a closer look at the Chugoku and Shikoku region,as it has experienced the highest FLA rates in Japan in recent years.For this analysis,a total of 25 indicators retrieved from the census of agriculture and forestry at the former municipalities scale were selected to describe intraregional agricultural characteristics.We employed principal component analysis(PCA)to evaluate agricultural characteristics,while multiple linear regressions(MLR)was applied to explore their correlations with FLA and spatial variations.First,there are strong intraregional differences in the agricultural characteristics across the Chugoku and Shikoku region,with eight different principle components(PCs)describing their characteristics.Second,variables measuring agricultural characteristics explain nearly 52.8%of the variation in FLA in our sample.The sales orientation and scale of agriculture have the strongest negative correlation to FLA in the region,while the status of agricultural succession displays the strongest positive correlation to FLA.Third,in areas where agriculture is more stable and easier to maintain,FLA is more strongly influenced by changes in agricultural characteristics than by geographical variations.We argue that localized approaches and policies for future management need to take intraregional differences in agricultural characteristics and FLA into account.Our findings help to explain spatial variations in agricultural characteristics and FLA in regional contexts,suggesting the need for better-informed farmland use policies to mitigate further abandonment.

Research of Blockchain Technology in the Traceability of Characteristic Agricultural Products

With the increasingly prominent problem of food safety,the quality traceability of characteristic agricultural products has become a pressing issue.This study focuses on the application of blockchain technology in the traceability of characteristic agricultural products,aiming to explore its potential and practical value in improving the efficiency and transparency of the traceability system of agricultural products.Through the combination of case analysis and model construction,a blockchain-based traceability system for characteristic agricultural products was established.The results showed that the traceability system could effectively record the whole process information of agricultural products from production and processing to sales,and greatly improve the immutability and traceability of data.Lastly,this paper also points out that the use of blockchain technology can improve the market trust in characteristic agricultural products,provide consumers with authentic and reliable product information,and provide new technical means for the quality management of agricultural products.

Agricultural Heritage Systems Tourism： definition,characteristics and development framework

Architectural heritage comprises one o the most important elements of mountain settlements in Greece. It holds high cultural value, represents the tangible continuation of the past and forms the unique character and identity of each mountain region. Yet, controversy regarding funding for its preservation often arises. In this paper, we used two Contingent Valuation surveys to estimate the socia benefit deriving from protecting the traditiona architecture in the mountainous village of Sirako and through it, to examine perceptions and attitudes o local residents and visitors. Research findings revealed a strong social will in favor of the good＇s protection followed by high percentages of positive willingness to pay（WTP）. However, WTP is significantly higher among residents. Cultura heritage value, of the good, appears to prevail, along with the environmental one. However, both residents and visitors pointed out that local heritage, if wellpreserved, will boost tourism development. Residents appeared to better recognize the true level o architectural decay, expressed higher apprehension for its protection and were willing to pay higher amount of money. Tourists, on the other side expressed high satisfaction for their visit, appreciated the beauty and serenity emerging from local built and natural environment and spent several days visiting the surrounding area. The longer they stayed and gotfamiliar with the village, the more willing they were to contribute to local heritage＇s protection. Percentages reflecting indifference for protecting architecture were extremely low. Yet, they were higher among tourists. Traditional architecture is considered as public good; an opinion resulting in an important percentage of visitors stating that national government should provide the necessary funding. In addition, the architecture appears to hold a high level of topicality. Those descending from Sirako or emotionally connected to it, of both social groups,turned out to be more concerned about the good and with a stronger sense of responsibility for it. Usevalue of the good holds high economic value, as well,while higher percentages of zero WTP appeared among non-users. Research findings revealed social attitudes and perceptions on what constitutes architectural heritage, in its cultural and economic frame. If taken under consideration, they may form useful drivers for local, heritage-based, sustainable

Effect of Optimization of Agricultural Supply-side Factors on Characteristic Modern Agriculture--A Case Study of Chu Orange Manor

The structural imbalance of supply and demand of agricultural products is the result of agricultural products overemphasizing quantitative growth and neglecting quality improvement. The structural reform of agricultural supply side is to optimize the allocation of agricultural production factors,improve the quality and efficiency of supply,and meet the quality needs of consumers. The optimization of agricultural supply factors is the result of effective supply,rational allocation and comprehensive utilization of natural resources and social resources. The success of Chu Orange Manor has explained the function of the optimization of supply factors to the development of characteristic agriculture. That is,it has promoted the development of high-end agriculture,promoted the brand value of agricultural products,promoted the competitiveness of agriculture,broken the international green trade barrier of agricultural products,promoted the development of modern agriculture with characteristics,and realized the sustainable development of rural areas.

Integration and Development of China's Characteristic Agricultural Industry against the Backdrop of Rural Revitalization Strategy

At present,there are some problems in rural areas,such as the gradual decline of social trust,the dislocation of social norms and the disembeding of social network.As a result,the scale effect of characteristic agricultural industry is not obvious,the coordination of chain and network is low,and the willingness of farmers to participate is not strong.This article thinks that against the backdrop of the strategy of rural revitalization,we can explore the integration and development path of China's characteristic agricultural industry from three dimensions:social capital integration,chain-network synergy integration and brand value-driven integration.This paper analyzes how social capital is embedded in China's characteristic agricultural industry and form its own unique industrial brand,to give full play to the influence of brand value,and then drive the surrounding industries to form a highly integrated and symbiotic chain-network relationship,in order to improve the internal driving force of the characteristic agricultural industry.

Development and Application of Meteorological Disaster Monitoring and Early Warning Platform for Characteristic Agriculture in Huzhou City Based on GIS

Based on the needs of characteristic agricultural production for meteorological services in Huzhou City,we use C# programming language to develop the meteorological disaster monitoring and early warning platform for characteristic agriculture in Huzhou City. This platform integrates the functions of meteorological and agricultural information monitoring,disaster identification and early warning,fine weather forecast product display,and data query and management,which effectively enhances the capacity of meteorological disaster monitoring and early warning for characteristic agriculture in Huzhou City,and provides strong technical support for the meteorological and agricultural departments in the agricultural meteorological services.

Strategic Research on Developing Highland Characteristic Agriculture in Qujing

There are some advantages to develop highland characteristic agriculture in Qujing, such as the superior natural conditions and the favorable ecological environment. Some disadvantages are the outdated fundamental facilities and the laggard agricultural products breed and variety. This paper has put forward some strategies to develop the highland characteristic agriculture in Qujing, namely, to introduce and cultivate some agriculture industrialization leading enterprises; to import the improved breeds; to improve the quality of highland characteristic agricultural products, etc.

Meteorological Service of Characteristic Agriculture——A Case of Celery in Hulu River Region

[Objective] The aim was to analyze and conclude highlights of meteorolog- ical services for agriculture with the case of Celery industry belts in regions of Hulu River. [Method] In the research, a regression equation of celery growth and meteoro- logical factors was established, and meteorological indices of celery in growth period, meteorological disaster indices and highlights of meteorological service for farmers were analyzed in terms of meteorology based on observation of biomass, growth period, and information in national basic stations and automatic stations in regions of Hulu River. [Result] The sowing period and germination period of celery were more significantly influenced by lower temperature of spring in northern area, compared with southern area, hence, celery plants in northern area should be sown later. The suitable germination stage differed about ten days in the four regions from south to north from middle Apdl to middle May. In common climate, the regions in south of Xiao River are not suitable to grow celery under influence of higher temperature at 26 ℃. Hence, celery industry belts should be moved to the north along Hulu River. During growth period of outer leaf, however, celery were less influenced by hail. [Conclusion] The research lays foundation for meteorological service for agriculture.

Study on Comparative Advantage of Plateau Characteristic Agriculture in Yunnan

To find the highlighted advantage and development space of plateau characteristic agriculture in Yunnan,using qualitative and quantitative combining methods,comparative advantage of plateau characteristic agriculture in Yunnan is evaluated comprehensively.Qualitation takes Sichuan,Chongqing,Guizhou and Guangxi adjacent to Yunnan and Southeast Asian countries which are opening focus of " bridgehead" as reference objects,while quantitation takes 32 provinces of whole country except Hongkong and Macao as reference objects,and there are 4 kinds of qualitation indexes and 6 kinds of quantitation indexes containing 44 sub-items.Results show that comprehensive comparative advantage coefficient of plateau characteristic agriculture in Yunnan is 1.55,and it has 3 kinds of comprehensive comparative advantages:diversity,ecological security and time difference complementation.The research results could provide references for agricultural development in Yunnan and other plateau regions.

Crop Insurance Premium Ratemaking Based on Survey Data:A Case Study from Dingxing County, China

Premium ratemaking is an important issue to guarantee insurance balance of payments. Most ratemaking methods require large samples of long-term loss data or farm-level yield data, which are often unavailable in developing countries. This study develops a crop insurance ratemaking method with survey data. The method involves a questionnaire survey on characteristic yield information(average yield, high yield, and low yield) of farming households’ cropland. After compensating for random error, the probability distributions of farm-level yields are simulated with characteristic yields based on the linear additive model. The premium rate is calculated based on Monte Carlo yield simulation results. This method was applied to Dingxing County, North China to arrive at the insurance loss cost ratio and calculate the necessary premium rate. The method proposed in this study could serve as a feasible technique for crop insurance ratemaking inregions that lack sufficient long-term yield data, especially in developing countries with smallholder agriculture.