Transformation of farmland use and driving mechanism in Xinjiang since China’s Western Development Policy

Abstract

Since the implementation of China’s Western Development Policy, Xinjiang has experienced rapid socio-economic development and significant changes in its land use patterns. As an important factor in agricultural production, farmland is of crucial for realizing the rural revitalization strategy. Based the theoretical mechanisms of farmland use transformation, this study selected five periods of land use and socioeconomic data from 2000, 2005, 2010, 2015, and 2018 to study the spatial and temporal evolutionary characteristics of farmland use transformation in Xinjiang since China’s Western Development Policy. We then explored the driving mechanisms using an optimal geographic detector model based on parameters. The results showed that (1) Xinjiang’s farmland use transitioned toward large scale and multifunctionality, and the transition characteristics are mainly of fluctuating growth type. The spatial transformation and functional transformation characteristics were generally consistent in spatial distribution. (2) There was a spatial agglomeration in the transformation, which was concentrated in the economic zone of the northern slope of Tianshan Mountain, the Yili River Valley and Kashgar region. The concentration of functional transformation of farmland has increased, but the spatial transformation of farmland has weakened. (3) The role of influencing factors on the transformation of farmland use differed with periods. Finally, the study concluded that the functional transformation of farmland in Xinjiang since China’s Western Development Policy is still at the stage of mainly production function. We suggest that the protection of farmland in Xinjiang in the New Western Development period should be achieved by promoting the transformation of the function of farmland. The findings of this study provide decision-making assistance for the management of farmland use in Xinjiang during the New Western Development period and are an effective tool for achieving the goals of sustainable farmland use and agricultural and rural modernization.