The sustainable development strategy of rice production in the middle reaches of Yangtze River

Rice production in the middle reaches of Yangtze River plays an important role in China. It has many advantages, including long history, high yield, and big economic contribution. In the context of Yangtze River economic belt, the rice production in the middle reaches of Yangtze River is very important, too. To ensure national food security, this study analyzed the status, characteristics, and some problems of rice production in the middle reaches of Yangtze River and provided some policy suggestions for the sustainable development of rice industry. Results show that rice production in the middle reaches of Yangtze River is facing some significant problems, including the shrinkage of rice field, decreasing rice yield, declining rice quality, the shortage of labor, increasing deserted field, small production scale, low mechanization level, serious soil pollution, declining soil fertility, low economic return, weak foundation, and increasing disaster risks. These problems will negatively impact the sustainable development of rice production. To maintain the sustainable development of the rice industry in this region, this paper suggests: to recover the lost rice field, to increase rice yield, to enhance policy support, to expand the operation scales, and to improve production mechanization levels. In addition, increasing soil fertility, treating soil pollution, preventing and reducing disaster risks, and applying “six good” measures are also important to the rice production in the middle reaches of Yangtze River.