Research On The Policies And Practice Of Resistant Varieties Breeding And Popularizing In China(1949-1978)

At present,agro-environmental protection,food security and food safety are major issues that have attracted the attention of the government and the public.Breeding and popularizing resistant varieties can effectively reduce the occurrence of pests and diseases,reduce the amount of pesticides used,and have the triple role of protecting the agricultural ecological environment,ensuring food safety,and stabilizing agricultural production.Therefore,it has received increasing attention.However,up to the present day,the system for breeding and popularization of resistant varieties in China have not yet been established,which is very unfavorable for the smooth development of breeding and popularization of resistant varieties.Reviewing the history of breeding and popularization of resistant varieties and summing up historical experiences and lessons is an important way to further improve the system for breeding and popularization of resistant varieties and promote green development in agriculture.The period of 1949-1978 was an early period of exploration for breeding and popularization of resistant varieties in China.Academic research on it has been very weak.In view of this,starting from the perspective of the history of environmental economics,this paper systematically examines the policies and practices for the breeding and popularization of resistant varieties in China from 1949 to 1978.1949-1957 was the starting stage for the breeding and popularization of resistant varieties.During the recovery period of the national economy,with the weak foundation of the pesticide industry and the severe shortage of pesticide supplies,the government had attached great importance to resistant varieties.At the period of the first five-years plan,with the increase of pesticide production,plant protection policy gradually changed to chemical pesticide control mainly.Resistance varieties had been reduced in importance.By popularizing resistant varieties,pests and diseases like wheat rust,wheat midge and blast were controlled effectively.At the same time,some problems were revealed in the breeding and popularization of resistant varieties.1958-1971 was a twisted development stage for the breeding and popularization of resistant varieties.After the Great Leap Forward movement started,plant protection work appeared in a one-sided dependence on drug prevention and control,but disease resistant varieties were still valued.Affected by the Great Leap Forward,the breeding and popularization of disease-resistant varieties had become even more urgent.It had not only failed to achieve its goals,but had also led to a backlash against the promotion work.After entering the national economy adjustment period,the breeding and popularization of resistant varieties gradually restored.The wheat production area in China once again curbed the occurrence of wheat rust by replacing anti-rust varieties.After the Cultural Revolution began,the breeding and popularization of resistant varieties fell back again.The problems caused by one-sided dependence on chemical pesticides become increasingly serious,and the work of pests and diseases control run into trouble.1972-1978 was a breakthrough stage for the breeding and popularization of resistant varieties.In the early 1970s,China’s environmental awareness began to awaken.The policy of plant protection gradually completed the transformation to prevention first and comprehensive prevention and control.Resistant varieties received unprecedented attention.Seed work had been restored again.At the same time,breeding technology has also made great progress and achieved several breakthroughs.Based on the above observations,this paper concludes that the general progress of the breeding and popularization of resistant varieties in China from 1949 to 1978 was slow;the effectiveness of breeding and popularization of resistant varieties was mainly determined by economic factors;prior to the reform and opening up,the Chinese government lacked awareness of the environmental significance of resistant varieties;institutional system construction is the key to the development of breeding and popularization of resistant varieties.