Research On Agricultural Development Of Chen Quzhen And Xiangxi Region(1920-1935)

During his administration in Xiangxi,Chen Quzhen attached great importance to agricultural development and took a series of measures to achieve certain results.Based on the existing archives and the collection of Chen Quzhen,this paper studies the background and reasons of Chen Quzhen’s agricultural development in Xiangxi,the measures and effects of developing agriculture,and analyzes the advantages and disadvantages of promoting agricultural development in Xiangxi.The reason why Chen Quzhen developed agriculture in Xiangxi is closely related to the background of the times and the realistic needs of ruling and developing Xiangxi.At the beginning of the Republic of China,warlord melee,domestic social unrest,economic and cultural development suffered heavy damage.In order to stabilize and consolidate political rule and develop social economy,the central and local governments attach great importance to the development of agriculture as the foundation of national economy.At the central government level,both the Beiyang government and the Nanjing National Government attach great importance to agriculture.In order to promote agricultural development,special government organs have been set up to manage agricultural matters,agricultural scientific research and extension institutions have been set up,and various agricultural policies and decrees have been promulgated to encourage and promote agricultural development.Under the influence of the central government and the provincial government,Chen Quzhen,based on the actual needs of ruling and developing Xiangxi,vigorously promoted the agricultural development of Xiangxi region under the influence of his traditional thought of economy,people’s livelihood and the thought of "establishing a country by agriculture ",according to the practical problems such as the accumulated disadvantages,the single agricultural structure,the production technology and the lack of development funds.In order to promote agricultural development in Xiangxi,Chen Quzhen formulated and implemented many policies.After relying on military forces to unify Xiangxi,he moved to prevent and protect the people,established the policy of protecting the environment and the people,eliminated the bandits in Xiangxi by means of recruitment and use,integrated the training units,and implemented autonomy.For Xiangxi agricultural development to create a relatively stable social environment.At the same time,the agricultural development plan has been formulated to promote agricultural development.Then,by rectifying rent,tax collection,encouraging reclamation and other measures to greatly improve farmers’ enthusiasm for production.Moreover,he developed forestry,aquaculture and planting,paid attention to the coordinated development of agriculture combined with handicraft industry and commerce,and promoted the adjustment of agricultural structure.He also improved agricultural science and technology by setting up agricultural education,organizing agricultural scientific research and extension institutions,and providing financial conditions for agricultural development in Xiangxi region by setting up rural finance.The practical effect of Chen Quzhen’s development of Xiangxi agriculture has both positive side and limitation.The positive side is that many of his measures have increased the economic income of the local government in Xiangxi and promoted the development of agriculture in Xiangxi.The limitation lies in the widespread cultivation of opium in Xiangxi,which endangers people’s physical and mental health and local social stability,and causes inadequate agricultural development due to the shortage of funds for agricultural development.In a word,the advantages and disadvantages of Chen Quzhen’s agricultural development in Xiangxi are helpful for contemporary reference.