| Poverty Alleviation through Science and Technology (PAST), an essential strategic measure to reduce poverty in rural areas proposed and implemented by State Scientific and Technological Commission in 1986, is the vital component of poverty-alleviation-oriented strategic deployment of Chinese government. It aims at reforming closed small-scale peasant economy with advanced science and technology in poverty-stricken areas, improving scientific and cultural quality of rural population, enhancing resource development and labour productivity, advancing the development of commodity economy, and speeding up the process of poverty shaking-off and fortune building-up for rural population. In recent years, with the change of quantity of impoverished population and the nature of poverty in Chongqing rural areas, greater importance has been attached to the role of science and technology in increasing peasants'income and improving rural economy. Shizhu Tujia nationality autonomous county in Chongqing city, the state-level poverty stricken county as well as the immigrant county of the Three Gorges Reservoir Area, has been working with Southwest Normal University to establish a comprehensive demonstration base of agricultural technology since 2003. Seizing the opportunity of the implementation of 'Two Plannings and One Programme" and "The Programme for the Development of key Industry of Green Ecological Economy in Shizhu Tujia Nationality Autonomous County of the Three Gorges Reservoir Areas in Chongqing City", making full use of ecological advantages and technological force in Shizhu County, and with investor introduction, talent training, large investor supporting as the main approaches, this base has made great achievements in the combination of research and production, the consistency in industry programming and scientific projects scheming, the cultivation of key agricultural industry and subsequent product development, funding securing and projects initiation, etc. The effect of PAST being monitored and evaluated theoretically and practically, there still lacks sufficient researches on its mechanism, operating conditions and practical approaches.The present dissertation, taking Shizhu County as an example, on the basis of theoretical analysis of the nature, causes and manifestations of poverty, and the research of public satisfaction of the effect of PAST, analyzes the achievements of PAST in Chongqing rural areas and the related reasons, and examines its mechanism, target mode, structural elements and innovative approaches, with the aim of policy recommendation in the new era on innovative modes of poverty alleviation in rural areas of Chongqing city and even the whole nation, and on the exploration of long-acting poverty elimination mechanism.The following are the major concern of the present dissertation:Firstly, a theoretical analysis of the mode and mechanism of PAST is made. The mode of PAST is proposed in the light of the actual situation, that is, extreme deficiency in science and technology, shortage of talent in science and technology, and backwardness of production technology. Technology-based, market-oriented, PAST mode lays stress on virtuous circle in the self-development of poverty-stricken areas through rational exploitation of local resources, transformation of competitive advantage from recourses advantage, and improvement of peasants'competence. Great importance has been attached to the introduction of advanced and practical technology with great adaptability to regional differences. The combination of poverty elimination and illiteracy elimination is essential to PAST mode. Technology and talent are infused into poverty-stricken areas. Technology demonstration sites are set up to offer various kinds of training. Meanwhile, the comprehensive network education system is established to help peasants keep abreast of advanced techniques through the Internet and improve their cultural quality.Secondly, the advantages of PAST mode are revealed through the comparison of different modes in different stages in Chongqing city. In recent years, quantity and quality of poverty alleviation programs are much stressed. As being consistent with the aim of PAST, namely, to strengthen agricultural production technology in rural poverty-stricken areas, to increase the income of rural population, to propel the development of rural economy, and to improve peasants' life quality, the implementation of PAST in Chongqing city results in effective technical guidance for rural population, and the consequent success in providing adequate food and clothing for people in some poverty-stricken areas, and certain progress in rural economical developmentThirdly, the effect and public evaluation of PAST in Shizhu county is examined by way of case study and field research. The present dissertation, through the application of CD function to evaluate contribution made by technological advance upon agriculture in Shizhu county, concludes that since 2000, the contribution of the level of comprehensive technological advance upon agriculture in Shizhu county has even outweighed that of the input of capital and labour force. The findings of field research demonstrate a general satisfaction with the achievements made by PAST. There is increasing demand in science and technology, either from individual peasant household or from the enterprises.Fourthly, feasible approach to innovative mode of poverty alleviation as well as practical approach to poverty alleviation in Chongqing rural areas has been explored with the analysis of the formation and perfection of Shizhu Mode. With natural resources and other aspects considered, the future innovative mode in Chongqing city should be government-guided and peasant-household-based with effective connection between universities and enterprises, which is characteristic of compulsory implementation by the government, mutual participation of different social forces, and organic linking of technology, talent, funds and poverty alleviation tasks.Fifthly, stop-gap measures should not be encouraged to alleviate poverty in different rural areas. Emphasis should be placed on the following aspects as far as Shizhu Mode summary, application of PAST as well as effect enhancement are concerned:to achieve unity in understanding of the significance of PAST; to accelerate the transformation of scientific and technological achievements and the application of high and new agricultural technology; to make full use of rural resources to improve efficiency of PAST; to establish profit sharing mechanism between talent in science and technology and leading enterprises to reduce risks; and to establish Agricultural Technology Association to strengthen cooperation between universities and enterprises in developing industry with local advantages.
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