Comprehensive evaluation on the level of agricultural modernization in Shaanxi Province

Agricultural modernization is a dynamic development process. In order to understand the development trend of agricultural modernization and to bring the modernization of agriculture to a higher development level. It is necessary to carry out a scientific and quantitative evaluation of agricultural modernization. Based on the statistical data of agricultural modernization in Shaanxi Province since 2007, and applying the Delphi method and multi-level analysis method, this paper constructed a comprehensive evaluation index system of agricultural modernization in Shaanxi Province, which includes four criteria indicators and 13 specific indicators, to analyze the development trend and structural characteristics of agricultural modernization of Shaanxi Province. In addition, this paper also explored the advantages and disadvantages of Shaanxi Province during the process of agricultural modernization. Results show that: 1) in 2015, the development of modern agriculture in Shaanxi Province has made a great progress and the development level of agricultural modernization has transformed from the initial stage steadily into the basic implementation stage. The comprehensive score reached 75.40 points; 2) the standard level of agricultural modernization transformed from good to excellent and the compliance rate reached 83.78%; and 3) there are still many challenges in the development of modern agriculture in Shaanxi Province, including slow progress of the level of sustainable development of agricultural modernization, unbalanced development, and lower development levels evaluated by the 7 specific indicators compared to the national averages. To promote the development of agricultural modernization in Shaanxi Province, this paper puts forward the following suggestions: strengthening the ecological protection and improving the sustainable development of agriculture, focusing on the weak links of modern agriculture and optimizing the standard of agricultural modernization, and enhancing the construction of independent innovation capability and catching up with the development level of agricultural modernization in China.