Analysis on Comparative Advantage of Major Crop Types and Its Influencing Factors: a Case of Chongqing City

Abstract

Crop production plays an important role in social and economic development. Exploiting the comparative advantages of major crop types has a profound effect on improving crop production. However, studies on these comparative advantages and their influencing factors are few. Here, the temporal variation characteristics of main crop types in Chongqing City from 1985 to 2021 were analyzed. The comparative advantages of these crop types were also evaluated, and the main factors that influenced them were determined using ordinary least square model. Results demonstrated that the temporal variation characteristics of sown area and comparative advantages in scale of six crop types in Chongqing City from 1985 to 2021 had obvious difference. The sown area of hemp crops showed the most variation among the six crop types. Tobacco, vegetable, and hemp crops had comparative advantages in scale in Chongqing City. GDP, pesticide usage, per capita disposable income of rural residents, agricultural film used, relative humidity, and atmospheric pressure were the major factors influencing the comparative advantages of the six crop types in Chongqing City from 1985 to 2021. These findings are useful for adjustment and optimization of planting structure, crop production management, and sustainable development of agriculture.