Analysis on Features of Agricultural Structure Change and Agricultural Competitiveness in Hubei Province

The output data of crop farming, forestry, animal husbandry and fishery in the Hubei Statistical Yearbook-2009 is used to analyze the features of agricultural structure change in Hubei Province since 1983; according to the relevant data in Hubei Statistical Yearbook and China Statistical Yearbook in 2005 and 2009, and adopting the shift-share analysis model, the difference in agricultural economic growth between Hubei and other provinces in Central China as well as the difference among the 17 regions of Hubei Province during 2004-2008 are analyzed. Results show that, the agriculture in Hubei Province shows significant overall advantages in central China and has stronger competitiveness, but its crop farming and fishery structure are not quite reasonable, and the competitive advantages of its fishery and agricultural services still need to be strengthened; the agricultural structure within Hubei province sees an obvious regional differences, viewed from the total deviation, Huanggang, Jingmen and Yichang enjoy competitive edge in the whole province, from the viewpoint of industrial sectors, Huanggang is the most competitive in its planting, forestry and animal husbandry, while Jingmen is the strongest in fishery and Xiangfan has a competitive edge over others in its agricultural services. Based on those results above, it is proposed that Hubei Province should fully recognize its natural conditions, resources endowment and current differences in the economic status of each places, work out measures to suit local conditions, take full use of its advantages, extend its production chain and go on the development road with regional characteristics.