Study On The Development Of Japonica Rice Instead Of Indica Rice In Jiangsu Province

Rice is one of the most important grain crops in China, with two subspecies:indica rice and japonica rice. Indica rice is mainly distributed in the southern rice region, while japonica rice is mainly located in the northern rice region. Since the1950s, the government has constantly encouraged to plant japonica rice instead of indica rice in the southern rice region according to the ecological conditions. Located in the southern rice region, Jiangsu Province is a vital production and consumption province in China. Since1949, rice develoment in Jiangsu Province has experienced several explorations and attempts of planting japonica rice instead of indica rice, with certain representativeness in the southern rice region. The historical process of planting japonica rice instead of indica rice in Jiangsu Province was analyzed, the temporal and spatial variation of indica rice and japonica rice were researched and the cost-benefit of indica rice and japonica rice was compared. Based on analysis of farmer’s behavior, the driving force and resistance of planting japonica rice instead of indica rice in Jiangsu Province were researched, the necessity of planting japonica rice instead of indica rice was analyzed and suggestions were put forward. The main results are as follows:1. Japonica rice was popularized in Jiangsu Province scince the1950s, japonica rice was developed quickly in the1960s and was transformed into indica rice in the1970s. Double cropping rice was adjusted to enlarge hybrid rice in the1980s. Japonica rice was developed instead of indica rice in the1990s, and japoniac rice was promoted steadily early in this century. The alternation of indica rice and japonica rice in Jiangsu Province depended on the improved cultivating conditions in each period, the increase in living standard, the requirement of total grain amount, the progress of science and technology as well as the seed selection and application of new varieties.2. In the past two decades, Indica rice development in Jiangsu Province had experienced the stage of growth, dropping sharply, developing steadily and decreasing smoothly. The indica rice had the tendency of decreasing in area and gathered to the northern part of Jiangsu Province and the low hilly area, with significant characteristic of spatial autocorrelation and spatial agglomeration. Japonica rice development in Jiangsu Province had experienced the stage of decreasing smoothly, increasing, dropping and restoring growth. The area of Japonica rice had the tendency of rising with fluctuation, the core of spatial distribution shifted from the south to the north. The Japonica rice in Jiangsu Province was mainly located in the plain region with indistinctive characteristic of spatial autocorrelation and spatial agglomeration.3. In the past decade, the total output, total cost, production cost, land cost, net profit and cost profit percentage of japonica rice were all higher than indica rice. The advantage of japonica rice in yield and purchasing price led to a higher total yield than indica rice. Compared with indica rice, japonica rice was characterized by higher investment and higher profit.4. It was believed that japonica rice was superior to indica rice in yield and lodging resistance, inferior in palatability and disease-resistance and more water was needed compared with Indica rice. Resources, economy and society were the major reasons for farmers to adopt Indica rice. The resource factors mainly included geomorphic feature, soil and low-lying fields. The economic factors could be arosed in some areas for the comprehensive benefit of japonica rice with no comparative advantage. The society factors consisted of cognition and farming habits of farmers, the traditional small farming system, healthy consideration, arrangement of irrigation and crops, land fragmentation, unsound extension system and rice market system. Policies, technology and large farming household were the major reasons for farmers to adopt japonica rice. The technology factors consisted of the cultivation change of mulberry field, the features and benefits of different rice cultivation ways. The large farming household promoted the development of Japonica rice by the choice of japonica rice and the influence on the ordinary farmers. The access to new technology and the awareness of self-study of farmers also accelerated the development of japonica rice.5. The market demand of japonica rice expanding continuously, the advantages of japonica in yield, quality, resistance, profit and supporting technologies made planting japonica rice instead of indica rice an inevitable developing trend.Based on the above results, the principle of planting japonica rice instead of indica rice in the dominant growing region of Jiangsu Province was proposed, such as extending japonica rice in appropriate areas, improving inappropriate areas step by step, reserving little dominant areas for Indica rice. Planting japonica rice instead of indica rice should be promoted in order through the policy support, technology support and the lead of large farming household.