| Community supported agriculture (known as "CSA"), in brief, it is a new mode of agriculture which the consumer members prepay the healthy and safe agricultural products directly and regularly to their producers. Thereby it can eliminate the "Lemon effect" of the agricultural market, and make trade fairness.In recent years, an increasing number of CSA projects have sprung up in economically developed areas of Fujian province, drawing much social attention. However, because the Community supported agriculture is an exotic new thing, there is almost not systematic study on the present situation and the development of the CSA in China. Therefore, this study by means of the researchers’ "participatory research" made the general survey of the CSA in Fujian, positively analyzed the eco-efficiency of different CSA farms based on multi-entities, discussed the relationship of synergetic development between the new farms and the new pattern of agriculture. It not only helps industry planning and forecasting, but also provides a reference basis of formulating relevant policies and regulations for the governments.This study fully addressed the research progress of domestic and foreign CSA, with a view of its sustainable development preliminarily discussed the characteristics, functions and challenges of Chinese CSA. Based on the positive investigation, it summed up the actuality and development of the CSA in Fujian province. And on this basis, this study selected cases in accordance with the types of different operators from the perspective of the innovating agricultural operation system. Then, according to the principles of ecological economics, this study performed a positive analysis of the eco-efficiency. Finally, this study summarized the advantages and disadvantages in the development of various cases, and seek the potential CSA samples and revelatory experiences for new rural construction in Fujian, jointing the urban and rural economy, realizing the transformation of farmers and increasing the rate of graduates employment. The main results are listed as follows:Firstly, the investigation into the characteristics, functions and dilemmas of CSA mode in China:by reading literature and field work, refining summarized the core of the features and functions of CSA in China, based the framework of agricultural multi-function theory and sustainable development theory, the author addressed how important and feasible to popularize the CSA as a new agricultural model in China.Secondly, the investigation of the Community supported agriculture in Fujian province:according to the general survey, there are 25 significant (above environment-friendly production, advanced orders, direct-home delivery) CSA projects in Fujian province. By the views of the regional characteristics, resources endowment, development status of social and economic, there was a SWOT analysis about CSA development of Fujian.Thirdly, the quantitative analysis of eco-efficiency between different types of CSA farms:on the basis of general investigations, the study selected individual/family, agricultural enterprise, non-agricultural enterprise, three types of CSA operators are representative. Using Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA), the eco-efficiency of each case was evaluated. The study found that the eco-efficiency of individual/family farm was the highest, and the technical level and scale were also excellent.Fourthly, the multi-case analysis of the synergetic development between the new farmers and CSA:based on the multi-case analysis on the different types of CSA, which were classified by the operators of individual/family, agricultural enterprise, non-agricultural enterprise, civil organization. This study discussed that the new type of farmers promoted the development of CSA in Fujian and CSA also made new peasantry and the family farm to glow the vitality, reflecting the co-evolution relationship between the new farmers and the new pattern of agriculture. |
