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Measurement Indicators and an Evaluation Approach for Assessing the Sustainable Development Capacity of Tropical Agriculture: A Case Study for Hainan Province, China

Author

Listed:
  • Huichun Ye

    (International Research Center of Big Data for Sustainable Development Goals, Beijing 100094, China
    Key Laboratory of Digital Earth Science, Aerospace Information Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100094, China
    State Key Laboratory of Remote Sensing Science, Aerospace Information Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100094, China
    Key Laboratory of Earth Observation of Hainan Province, Hainan Aerospace Information Research Institute, Sanya 572029, China)

  • Hongye Wang

    (Cultivated Land Quality Monitoring and Protection Center, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Beijing 100125, China)

  • Chaojia Nie

    (International Research Center of Big Data for Sustainable Development Goals, Beijing 100094, China
    Key Laboratory of Digital Earth Science, Aerospace Information Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100094, China)

  • Jingjing Wang

    (School of Forestry, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China)

  • Wenjiang Huang

    (International Research Center of Big Data for Sustainable Development Goals, Beijing 100094, China
    Key Laboratory of Digital Earth Science, Aerospace Information Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100094, China
    State Key Laboratory of Remote Sensing Science, Aerospace Information Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100094, China
    Key Laboratory of Earth Observation of Hainan Province, Hainan Aerospace Information Research Institute, Sanya 572029, China)

  • Lingling Teng

    (Hainan State Farms Design Institute Co., Ltd., Haikou 570226, China)

  • Mingquan Wu

    (International Research Center of Big Data for Sustainable Development Goals, Beijing 100094, China
    State Key Laboratory of Remote Sensing Science, Aerospace Information Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100094, China)

Abstract

Agriculture is increasingly facing major challenges, such as climate change, the scarcity of natural resources, environmental degradation, labor shortages, and changing societal demands. To meet these challenges, there is an urgent need to move towards more sustainable agricultural practices. The aim of this research was to construct the evaluation index system for the sustainable development of tropical agriculture and evaluate the sustainable development level of tropical agriculture in China’s Hainan Province from 1988 to 2020. Eighteen indicators were selected from the four aspects of agricultural resources, the ecological environment, economic conditions, and social conditions to establish an evaluation index system for the sustainable development of tropical agriculture. A combination of the Coefficient of Variation Method (CVM) and the Index Weighted Method (IWM) was applied to evaluate the comprehensive index of the sustainable development of tropical agriculture. The results of our research indicate that there were significant differences in the level of sustainable agricultural development in Hainan in 2020 across counties and cities, with a downward trend from the central mountainous areas to the surrounding coastal areas. The cities and counties of Wuzhishan, Lingshui, and Qiongzhong had a high level of sustainable development, while Sanya, Dongfang, Wenchang, Qionghai, Ding’an, Danzhou, and Haikou had a low level. From 1988 to 2020, the sustainable development level of tropical agriculture in the province gradually improved, with the highest improvement value of the sustainability index (SI) in Wuzhishan, Wanning, Chengmai, Linggao, and Lingshui and the lowest improvement value of the SI in Baisha, Haikou, and Sanya. Indicators such as the use of agricultural mechanization, construction of farmland infrastructure, improvement of crop productivity, investment in science and technology, and investment in agricultural insurance played a positive role in promoting sustainable development. However, the high use of fertilizers, pesticides, and agricultural films per unit area and the increase in agricultural input prices were not conducive to the sustainable development of tropical agriculture. It is suggested to strengthen the construction and protection of farmland quality, improve the farmland ecological environment, promote agricultural scientific and technological innovation, and formulate feasible policies for the sustainable development of tropical agriculture. The results provide a basic theoretical and methodological reference for achieving Hainan’s sustainable development goals and for assessing the sustainable development capacity of tropical agriculture in similar regions.

Suggested Citation

  • Huichun Ye & Hongye Wang & Chaojia Nie & Jingjing Wang & Wenjiang Huang & Lingling Teng & Mingquan Wu, 2023. "Measurement Indicators and an Evaluation Approach for Assessing the Sustainable Development Capacity of Tropical Agriculture: A Case Study for Hainan Province, China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(11), pages 1-17, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:11:p:8778-:d:1158787
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Qingsong Wang & Xueliang Yuan & Jian Zhang & Yun Gao & Jinglan Hong & Jian Zuo & Wei Liu, 2015. "Assessment of the Sustainable Development Capacity with the Entropy Weight Coefficient Method," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 7(10), pages 1-22, October.
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    4. Paula Trivino-Tarradas & Manuel R. Gomez-Ariza & Gottlieb Basch & Emilio J. Gonzalez-Sanchez, 2019. "Sustainability Assessment of Annual and Permanent Crops: The Inspia Model," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(3), pages 1-21, January.
    5. Minjie Li & Jian Wang & Yihui Chen, 2019. "Evaluation and Influencing Factors of Sustainable Development Capability of Agriculture in Countries along the Belt and Road Route," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(7), pages 1-28, April.
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