Research On The Agricultural Development Of Baiyangdian Region(1644-1937)

To strengthen the research on the history of agricultural economy in a specific region is helpful to understand the similarities and differences of the transformation and development of different regional economic forms,and to clearly show the regional characteristics of agricultural economy in a certain region.Taking agriculture in Baiyang Lake from 1644 to1937 as the research object,this paper studies the historical features,operational mechanism and internal laws of agricultural changes under the long-term perspective,and from the ecological,institutional and technical aspects reflected many aspects and many impact factors of traditional agricultural,and then the overall evaluation of the region’s agricultural changes.The study found that Since the Qing Dynasty the land has been effectively reclaimed,with a high rate of reclamation and an increasing area in Baiyang Lake.With the government’s encouragement of land reclamation and land conversion of official land,land tenure relations have also undergone corresponding changes.During the Qing Dynasty,the most obvious is the continuous development of private ownership of land,land outside the official land mainly for small farmers and landlords.During the Republic of China period,the distribution of land rights led to the formation of a relatively scattered land ownership pattern,with a large proportion of farmers engaged in farming,a small number of landlords and peasants employed,and the phenomenon of uneven and absolute concentration of land ownership.The crop planting structure gradually changes to the direction of rationalization,showing a slow and gradual evolution of the overall trend,with distinct regional characteristics.As for grain planting,the development of paddy fields has been changing from prosperity to decline along with the evolution of the ecological environment in Baiyang Lake.The early Qing Dynasty was the peak period of paddy field development in Baiyang Lake area.In this period,the ecological environment of this area was superior,the Paddy field planting area was wide,large,the yield was relatively high,but the proportion of paddy field in the grain crop planting structure was relatively small,and it was in a secondary position.Since the mid-Qing Dynasty,the Paddy field development gradually declined,mainly by the government to promote sporadic trial planting in the beach land along the river,or by the local residents in low-lying areas near the water along the river.During the Qing Dynasty,the dry land grain crops kept the basic pattern of wheat,millet,sorghum and corn in Baiyang Lake.During the Republic of China period,dryland grain crops continued the planting structure and basic pattern formed in the Qing Dynasty.However,the planting area of various crops,the proportion of land and importance began to adjust and change slowly in the each region.Before Late Qing Dynasty,the main Cash crop were cotton,beans,hemp,reeds and Indigo in Baiyang Lake.The planting areas were limited and the regional distribution was unbalanced.Since modern times,Cash crop has not only expanded its scale and increased its commercialization,but also adjusted its planting structure,and Cash crop such as peanut and tobacco have been promoted.However,the distribution of some Cash crop is obviously different and uneven among counties.There is a close relationship between fishery and sideline and local economy.As a characteristic industry,fishery and Reed Mat industry play an important role in local economy.As an important livelihood economy,the fishing industry and the Reed Mat industry are related to the livelihood of the employees.Their products are closely related to the daily lives of ordinary people and permeate many aspects of people’s lives,it is beneficial to the optimization and adjustment of the local economic structure.Baiyang Lake has a well-developed sideline industry with various types.In addition to the Reed Mat industry,there are cotton textile industry,Grain Processing Industry,dyeing and Weaving Industry and other types.Among them,the cotton textile industry is a relatively common type of sideline.Its development not only promoted the rise of specialized markets,but also made a close connection between the rural grass-roots market and central markets such as Tianjin,conducive to the prosperity of the town business and the development of regional trade.A series of changes in agriculture from 1644 to 1937 were the result of many factors in Baiyang Lake.Flood crisis,widespread saline-alkali land and biological disasters are the main environmental problems that restrict its agricultural development.Therefore,building water conservancy projects,control floods,improve saline-alkali land,prevent and control insect pests,that plays an active role in ensuring agricultural security,improving land,enlarging cultivated land area and adjusting crop planting structure.The modernization of agricultural and government organs,the testing of agricultural science and technology,the development of modern transportation,and the influence of regional market,it plays a vital role in revitalizing agriculture,popularizing fine varieties,chemical fertilizers,advocating modern farm implements,and improve agricultural production factors,improve agricultural production efficiency,optimize crop planting structure,raising the level of marketization of agricultural and sideline products.In a word,the agriculture have changed from 1644 to 1937 in Baiyang Lake area.Influenced by the natural and social factors,the change presented a slow and limited state with distinct regional characteristics.