Development Status and Countermeasures of Se-enriched Functional Agriculture in Cenxi City

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1. Agricultural Technology Extension Station of Nuodong Town, Cenxi City, Wuzhou 543214, China; 2. Agricultural Bureau of Cenxi City, Wuzhou 543200, China; 3. College of Agronomy, Yulin Normal University, Yulin 537000, China

Abstract Selenium (Se) is an indispensable trace element in the internal organization of human body. It plays an important role in protecting human health and life safety. Cenxi City is aone of the natural Se-enriched areas in Guangxi and has the natural advantages of developing Se-enriched agricultural products. The development status of Se-enriched agricultural products in Cenxi City was described, and the countermeasures for the development of Se-enriched agricultural products were put forward in this paper, in order to provide reference for the development of Se-enriched agriculture in Cenxi City.

Key words Se-enriched agriculture, Development status, Countermeasures

1 Introduction

In April 2017, General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized during the inspection in Guangxi that China’s upgrading of agricultural product consumption is accelerating. To adapt to this development trend, focus must be paid on developing high-value-added and high-quality agricultural products, increasing the supply of green high-quality agricultural products and enhancing the overall quality, efficiency and competitiveness of agriculture through the development of Se-enriched agriculture. At the same time, the report of the Fifth Plenary Session of the 18th National Congress raises the building of "healthy China" into a national strategy. Se-enriched functional agriculture, as a new industry and new business, with its unique health care function, has opened a new profit breakthrough for the development of agricultural industry[1], and injected new kinetic energy into the development of agricultural industrialization. The Se-enriched soil in Guangxi has a large area and a wide distribution, and the average content of Se in the soil is high, which (0.55 mg/kg) is twice the national average (0.26 mg/kg)[2], ranking among the highest in China.

Therefore, developing Se-enriched functional agriculture in Guangxi with its unique Se-enriched advantages not only complies with the development needs of the country and society, and it is also in line with China’s need to upgrade its agricultural industry and promote the structural reform of the supply side of agriculture with its own advantages.

2 Development status of Se-enriched functional agriculture in Cenxi

2.1AdvantagesofSe-enrichedspecialtyagriculturalproductsareoutstandingCenxi City is one of the natural Se-enriched areas in Guangxi. The soil of 14 townships was sampled and tested by the agricultural department of Cenxi City. The results showed that the content of Se in most soil samples reached the standard of Se-enriched soil[3], and the agricultural advantage is outstanding. Cenxi City is at the junction of Guangdong and Guangxi and in the junction of the Pearl River Delta economic circle and Southwest China. It is an important hinterland connecting the economic radiation of South China, the Pearl River Delta, Hong Kong and Macao, and is also the connection point between the resource-based economy of the Southwest China and the coastal export-oriented economy, with obvious location advantage. On this basis, Cenxi City has developed famous and characteristic crops such as Camellia, golden camellia, soft-branch camellia,Illicium,Laurus,PsidiumguajavaLinn., carambola, Sanhua plum, lemon, jackfruit, lychee, longan, Jitai green pear, millet, Shuiwen Huaishan,Ixerisdenticulate,Acanthopanaxand chayote seedlings, rich in agricultural products[4].

In recent years, Cenxi City has developed the Se-enriched agricultural industry as an effective carrier. Combined the development status and regional advantages of local agriculture, the development of Se-enriched functional agriculture is promoted, and focus is paid on the production of safe and natural Se-enriched agricultural products, striving to creating regional brands of Se-enriched products[5]. Currently, Se-enriched products such as Dayao Mountain White Tea, Anping Town Ziyu Huaishan, Gudian Chicken eggs, millet and Cenxi apple have been developed[6].

In 2015, the third China Se-enriched Agricultural Technology and Industry Innovation Forum was held in Nanning. Experts and scholars participating in the forum and government representatives from all over the country discussed in depth the issues such as expanding the market of the Se-enriched agricultural products, promoting the upgrading and development of local characteristic agriculture and increasing farmers’ income, and they made important recommendations for Se-enriched agricultural technology and innovation, normative and healthy development of Se-enriched industry, and building an industry communication platform.

The document [Gui Zheng Ban Fa (2016)55]ofImplementationOpinionsoftheGeneralOfficeofthePeople’sGovernmentofGuangxiZhuangAutonomousRegiononAcceleratingtheTransformingoftheModeofAgriculturalDevelopmentstipulates to vigorously promote the continuous exploration and innovation of health maintenance and longevity and the development of happy agriculture in Guangxi, effectively establish the foundation for the development of Se-enriched agricultural products in Guangxi, actively build and improve the development mechanism of the Se-enriched agricultural products in Guangxi, and effectively guide enterprises to participate in the competition in the market.

On March 19, 2017, the China Se-enriched Agriculture Development Conference hosted by China Agricultural Technology Extension Association was held in Beijing. This meeting launched the Se-enriched product traceability system. The meeting pointed out that the policy to promote the development of Se-enriched agriculture should be strategical, forward-looking and scientific when it is enacted. At the same time, the development of Se-enriched agriculture must be combined with local policies for targeted poverty alleviation, achieving coordinated development. At present, the primary task of the development of Se-enriched agriculture is to improve the scientific and technological level of agricultural production, thereby effectively improving the yield and quality of Se-enriched agricultural products.

2.2ThelevelofSe-enrichedagriculturalproductsislowandtherecognitionisnothighAt present, the Se-enriched agricultural products in Cenxi City are all in the stage of producing some primary products, lacking high-tech products with high added value. Compared with the more mature development ideas, Se-enriched industries and products in other regions, the development of Se-enriched agriculture in Gangnan District of Guigang City started late, reflected by not high regional popularity, not enough brand influence, and not high product reputation. They have no obvious identification mark and certain market recognition in the national market. At the same time, there are few brands of local Se-enriched agricultural products, and their influence is limited.

2.3Thegovernment’ssupportissmall,andthepropagandaneedstobeimprovedAt present, there are few support projects for the development of Se-enriched agricultural products in Cenxi City. The funds allocated by the government for the development of Se-enriched agricultural products are obviously insufficient. The scale of the demonstration is mall. In a word, the driving effect is limited. Currently, most residents have insufficient understanding of the harm of Se deficiency and the important physiological functions of Se. There is still a lack of social consensus on the popularization of Se knowledge, Se-enriched technology and the significance of Se-enriched resources development. For Se-enriched agricultural products, as emerging industries, the propaganda of the governments and media needs to be improved.

3 Countermeasures and suggestions for the development of Se-enriched functional agriculture in Cenxi

3.1Adheringtothegovernment’sleadershipandstrengtheningthetop-leveldesignIn the development of Se-enriched agricultural industry, full play should be given to the leading role of the government to guide and support the comprehensive development of Se-enriched industries. The first is to optimize the regional layout of the Se-enriched agricultural industry and determine the development direction, goals and priorities of the Se-enriched agricultural industry. The second is to strengthen the management of Se-enriched agricultural industry. Local standard certification for Se content of Se-enriched products should be established, and quality information files and query system should be established and improved to form a quality and safety inspection and testing public technology service platform and product quality and safety and market supervision long-term mechanism. The third is to improve the product quality management system. The access mechanism must be controlled strictly, and the Se-enriched livestock products and deep-processed products should be identified to eliminate the chaotic labeling of Se-enriched products[7]. The fourth is to increase policy and funding support. The capital investment in the entire Se-enriched industry will be further increased, and enough power will be invested to help enterprises plan, declare, and fight for projects, accelerating the growth of enterprises through projects and funds. Commercial banks will be coordinated actively to increase credit support for Se-enriched enterprises. Through effective channels such as interest subsidies or risk compensation, focus will be paid on solving the financial difficulties of small- and medium-sized enterprises.

3.2StrengtheningthemainbodyofenterprisesandadheringtomarketoperationThe first is to cultivate leading enterprises. A group of new leading enterprises with scale, grade and influence will be cultivated actively in the Se-enriched industry, and the development of En-enriched product processing enterprises with a certain foundation and scale, good market prospects and strong competitiveness will be supported. Enterprises will be encouraged and supported to independently create brands, develop products, apply for patents and declare "three products and one standard". A group of entrepreneurs with strategic development capabilities and modern management will be cultivated. The second is to speed up the construction of bases. Based on the existing basis, the construction of large-scale modern farming and breeding bases will be accelerated, and enterprises will be guided and introduced to new models, the supply base of raw materials will be constructed and expanded, taking the road of integration of cultivation, farming and processing. The third is market action to make the fittest survive. The Se-enriched business entities will be guided to take the development path of specialization, precision, speciality and newness, and the Se-enriched business entities will be supported to declare pollution-free agricultural products, green food and organic food certification, thereby effectively using the agricultural "three products" certificate[8].

3.3AdheringtotechnologicalinnovationandstrengtheningscientificandtechnologicalsupportThe first is to develop a platform for technological innovation. The apply to the Provincial Department of Land and Resources and the Department of Agriculture will be encouraged, and the cooperation with provincial agricultural and forestry universities, provincial academies and other scientific research institutions will be increased to integrate scientific and technological resources. Open research and development will be implemented. As a result, a technology platform led by governments, dominated by enterprises, assisted by research institutes and based on Se-enriched industry research will be established gradually for research and development of Se-enriched products, enhancing the scientific and technological content of Se-enriched products and improving the contribution rate of science and technology in the development of Se-enriched industries. The second is to attach importance to personnel training. The production technology training and talent team construction of Se-enriched products will be strengthened. The approach of coming in and going out will be taken to solve the shortage of emergency technicians. At the same time, local students will be encouraged to apply for relevant majors in the development of Se-enriched products to reserve talents. The third is to implement the system of science and technology special commissioners. Scientific and technological personnel will be encouraged to adopt technical services, technology contracting, technology shareholding,etc. to participate in the development and entrepreneurship of the Se-enriched industry.