Social Sciences in China (Chinese Edition)

No. 3, 2025

Leapfrog of Underdeveloped Agricultural Regions amid Industrialization—Investigation of Agricultural Transformation in the Farming-Pastoral Ecotone

(Abstract)

Wang Juan

China’s vast geography has shaped a diverse, regionally specific array of agricultural practices. In traditional agriculture, the farming-pastoral ecotone—centered on the 400 mm isohyet and the eastern edge of the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau—was long underdeveloped. Limited water and heat resources, combined with a sparse labor force, had historically led to an extensive production system focused on dryland cereals. Since the late 1990s, however, a capital-and labor-intensive vegetable industry has gradually emerged in this region, securing a significant role in China’s national agricultural landscape. This shift did not stem from the steady advancement of local agriculture, but was instead driven by industrialization-related factors, including advancements in the macro-technical environment, large-scale labor migration, and the expansion of nationwide markets. This shift demonstrates how industrialization can catalyze leapfrog development in underdeveloped agricultural regions. Beyond its economic impact, this shift has also ushered in a comprehensive transformation of local agricultural practices. A new production model, characterized by migrant labor and a high degree of labor specialization, offers a potential pathway for modernizing traditional “human-powered agriculture.”