Comprehensive Evaluation of Agricultural Modernization Levels
Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
Based on article quality, I have some minor suggestions.
- Avoid writing too lengthy abstract. Better to start it with the main objective.
- Introduction is fine. It would be better if the structure of the article can be added at the end of the introduction.
- I recommend writing all equations using the Insert Equation option in MS Word.
- I think you should write round values of percentage (without decimal) on the trend line of Figure 1.
- Please increase the font size of the legends of Figure 1 to make it more visible for the readers.
- Every legend of Figure 1 should start with a capital letter.
- I recommend writing round values of percentage (without decimal) in Table 4.
- Please increase the font size of the legends of Figure 3 to make it more visible for the readers.
- I recommend writing round values of percentage (without decimal) in Table 5.
Author Response
Response to Reviewer 1 Comments
First of all, thank you very much for reviewing my article. After reading your opinions, I find that there are many problems in my article. Your suggestions are of great help to my article. I have modified the article as follows:
Point 1: Avoid writing too lengthy abstract. Better to start it with the main objective.
Response1: I have adjusted the article abstract appropriately, deleted the description of the case study at the beginning, and started with the main objective.
Point 2: Introduction is fine. It would be better if the structure of the article can be added at the end of the introduction.
Response 2: I have added the structure of the article at the end of the article, which consists of five parts.
Point 3: I recommend writing all equations using the Insert Equation option in MS Word.
Response 3: It has been modified as required.
Point 4: I think you should write round values of percentage (without decimal) on the trend line of Figure 1.
Response 4: It has been modified as required.
Point 5: Please increase the font size of the legends of Figure 1 to make it more visible for the readers.
Response 5: It has been modified as required.
Point 6: Every legend of Figure 1 should start with a capital letter.
Response 6: It has been modified as required.
Point 7: I recommend writing round values of percentage (without decimal) in Table 4.
Response 7: It has been modified as required.
Point 8: Please increase the font size of the legends of Figure 3 to make it more visible for the readers.
Response 8: It has been modified as required.
Point 9: I recommend writing round values of percentage (without decimal) in Table 5.
Response 9: It has been modified as required.
Thank you again for your valuable and precious comments, which will be very helpful to my article.
Reviewer 2 Report
row 227, 228 and 230. incorect KWH . corect is kWh.
Author Response
Response to Reviewer 2 Comments
First of all, thank you very much for reviewing my article. After reading your opinions, I find that there are many problems in my article. Your suggestions are of great help to my article. I have modified the article as follows:
Point: Comments and Suggestions for Authorsrow 227, 228 and 230. incorect KWH . corect is kWh.
Response: It has been modified as required.
Thank you again for your valuable and precious comments, which will be very helpful to my article.
Reviewer 3 Report
This article compressed 23 indices (6 first-level and 17 second-level) into one paper to describe how these indices may be used to advance sustainable agricultural modernization in Shandong Province and transform it into a powerful agricultural province in China. The concept sounds reasonable but the methodology and result presentation are too complicated and too difficult to understand. I cannot see clearly in this paper how a policy maker can use the information provided to add value to advancing agricultural modernization in Shandong Province in China.
Throughout the paper several terminologies were used without defining what they mean, for example, how are the following terms defined: "agricultural production system", "agricultural management system", "agricultural output benefit", "agricultural industrial system", "rural social development", and "agricultural sustainable system", etc.?
There are several adopted computational methodologies without citing sources of reference; several mathematical equations were incompletely explained; Tables are poorly constructed and unexplained, etc.
It is not clear how the authors arrived at the conclusions stated at the end of the paper --- what data did the authors use to arrive at the policy recommendations from L449-485?
Author Response
Response to Reviewer 3 Comments
First of all, thank you very much for reviewing my article. After reading your opinions, I find that there are many problems in my article. Your suggestions are of great help to my article. I have modified the article as follows:
Point 1: This article compressed 23 indices (6 first-level and 17 second-level) into one paper to describe how these indices may be used to advance sustainable agricultural modernization in Shandong Province and transform it into a powerful agricultural province in China. The concept sounds reasonable but the methodology and result presentation are too complicated and too difficult to understand. I cannot see clearly in this paper how a policy maker can use the information provided to add value to advancing agricultural modernization in Shandong Province in China.
Response 1: Thank you very much. In this study, we evaluated of the sustainable agricultural modernization in Shandong Province through the construction of the index system. Moreover, we analyzed the development of agricultural modernization, the internal characteristics of agricultural modernization in Shandong Province, and the obstacle factors in different stages.
Point 2: Throughout the paper several terminologies were used without defining what they mean, for example, how are the following terms defined: "agricultural production system", "agricultural management system", "agricultural output benefit", "agricultural industrial system", "rural social development", and "agricultural sustainable system", etc.?
Response2: Thank you very much. We have defined these terminologies in the revised paper.
Point 3: There are several adopted computational methodologies without citing sources of reference; several mathematical equations were incompletely explained; Tables are poorly constructed and unexplained, etc.
Response 3:
â‘ Reference sources have been added to the four calculation methods of the article, which have been modified as required.
â‘¡ For formula (1) (2)，X’ ij is the standardized value of the jth index in the ith year; Xij is the original value of the jth index in the ith year; maxXj/minXj refer to the maximum and minimum values of the jth index respectively. I have added an explanation after the formula (1)(2). For formula (3) ，pij is the proportion of the jth indicator value in year i. The rest of the equations are explained in the text.
â‘¢ Table 4 is a statistical table about the value of the obstacles to agricultural modernization, with the passage of time, the high obstacle factors are gradually clarified. Table 5 is a table of the top five barrier factors. Table 6 is the key obstacle factor for the top two of the 17 prefecture-level cities in 2010, 2014, and 2019.
Point 4: It is not clear how the authors arrived at the conclusions stated at the end of the paper --- what data did the authors use to arrive at the policy recommendations from L449-485?
Response 4: Thank you very much. Due to the regional differences in the level of agricultural modernization in Shandong Province, it is proposed to develop industries according to local conditions and optimize the industrial structure. The total mechanical power and per capita electricity consumption are the key obstacle factors in all regions. Therefore, it is proposed to improve the input of agricultural production factors, and the input is different in different regions. The main obstacle factors in the high-level fluctuation stage include the employment rate of the rural population. Expenditures on agriculture, forestry, water affairs and agricultural finance are the main obstacles restricting more than half of the cities in Shandong Province. Therefore, I think it is very important to take measures related to the investment on agriculture.
Thank you again for your valuable and precious comments, which will be very helpful to my article.
Reviewer 4 Report
Introduction
In the introduction, the authors do not argue the need to create their own index (lines 88-92), when in the previous paragraph (lines 62-80), they cite a list of indices from the literature, used for modernisation evaluation.
The description of the case study (lines 46-53) should be left to the second paragraph.
The introduction does not describe and contextualise agricultural modernisation and the difference between the tools available to measure it. This is fundamental to justify the research need.
Materials & Methods
Before section 2.1, I do suggest describing in a paragraph the case study to help the reader understand the geographic and socio-economic aspects characteristics of the region.
lines 108-110: please avoid using empty words. Explain what you mean by sustainability and how agricultural modernisation achieves sustainability.
table 1: I suggest separating the first-level indexes by a line to understand which second-level indices are for which first-level index.
I doubt these indicators could measure the sustainability of agriculture. For example, for sustainable water management water productivity should be considered. Another example, fertilisers' usage per se is not a bad practice, on the contrary, without the right amount of nutrients, a crop cannot grow healthy.
Results & Discussions
The analytical framework is based on consolidated methods. However, given that the authors are proposing their own evaluation index, I was expecting the discussions to include an assessment of strengths and weaknesses compared to other modernisation indices. This is important for the applicability of the research in other Chinese provinces.
Finally, I understand that it would be difficult to add a conclusion after a long discussion, however, the authors need at least a couple of recommendations and suggestions as a conclusion.
Author Response
Response to Reviewer 4Comments
First of all, thank you very much for reviewing my article. After reading your opinions, I find that there are many problems in my article. Your suggestions are of great help to my article. I have modified the article as follows:
Point 1: In the introduction, the authors do not argue the need to create their own index (lines 88-92), when in the previous paragraph (lines 62-80), they cite a list of indices from the literature, used for modernisation evaluation.
Response 1: The index selection was based on numerous references and documents from the Chinese government. We did not create our own indicators, but integrated the existing indicators for evaluating agricultural modernization, and summarize an indicator evaluation system for the evaluation of agricultural modernization.
Point 2: The description of the case study (lines 46-53) should be left to the second paragraph.
Response 2: It has been modified as required. The case description has placed in the second paragraph.
Point 3: The introduction does not describe and contextualise agricultural modernisation and the difference between the tools available to measure it. This is fundamental to justify the research need.
Response 3: Thank you very much. At the beginning of the introduction, the meaning of agricultural modernization is added. Moreover, after summarizing the measurement methods, a comparison of several measurement methods is added. The multi-index comprehensive measurement method is the most reasonable and widely used method.
Point 4: Before section 2.1, I do suggest describing in a paragraph the case study to help the reader understand the geographic and socio-economic aspects characteristics of the region.
Response 4: Thank you very much for the suggestion. In the second paragraph of the introduction, we have included the case description
Point 5: lines 108-110: please avoid using empty words. Explain what you mean by sustainability and how agricultural modernisation achieves sustainability.
Response 5: Thank you very much. We removed blank words from lines 108-110, and
added a description of the meaning of agricultural sustainability. Moreover, we have added a description of agricultural modernization for sustainability.
Point 6: table 1: I suggest separating the first-level indexes by a line to understand which second-level indices are for which first-level index.
Response 6: Thank you. It has been modified as required.
Point 7: I doubt these indicators could measure the sustainability of agriculture. For example, for sustainable water management water productivity should be considered. Another example, fertilisers' usage per se is not a bad practice, on the contrary, without the right amount of nutrients, a crop cannot grow healthy.
Response 7: Thank you very much. In fact, some indicators have a positive impact, and some indicators have a negative impact. According to existing research reports, the application rate of chemical fertilizers per hectare of crops in China is 506.11 kg/ha, which is 2.05 times that of the United Kingdom and 3.69 times that of the United States, far higher than the level of developed countries in the world. The use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides per unit area is much higher than the world average, resulting in a decline in the quality of arable land. Therefore, for China, the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides is not conducive to the development of agricultural modernization and agricultural sustainability. Therefore, the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides is regarded as a negative indicator in this paper, which has a negative impact.
Point 8: The analytical framework is based on consolidated methods. However, given that the authors are proposing their own evaluation index, I was expecting the discussions to include an assessment of strengths and weaknesses compared to other modernisation indices. This is important for the applicability of the research in other Chinese provinces.
Response 8: The previous article pointed out that the indicators were selected according to the "National Agricultural Modernization Testing and Evaluation Indicator System Scheme" proposed by China in 2016 and the system included in modern agriculture proposed in the report of the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China. We have sorted out 25 studies on evaluating agricultural modernization, and obtained the index system used in the article according to the evaluation system indicators selected in the collected references. The construction of this index system is used to evaluate and measure the level of agricultural modernization. These metrics are also applicable to studies in other provinces in China.
Point 9: Finally, I understand that it would be difficult to add a conclusion after a long discussion, however, the authors need at least a couple of recommendations and suggestions as a conclusion.
Response 9: Thank you very much. We have followed the instruction in the revised article.
Thank you again for your valuable and precious comments, which will be very helpful to my article.
Round 2
Reviewer 4 Report
The revised version does not include the suggestions sent after the first revision, and, in the second revision, the authors did not include a response to justify.
Author Response
Response to Reviewer 4
Thank you very much for spending time to review the article. We have revised it according to your comments and provided line-by-line answers.
Point 1: In the introduction, the authors do not argue the need to create their own index (lines 88-92), when in the previous paragraph (lines 62-80), they cite a list of indices from the literature, used for modernisation evaluation.
Response 1: The index selection was based on numerous references and documents from the Chinese government. We did not create our indicators, but integrated the existing indicators for evaluating agricultural modernization, and summarized an indicator evaluation system for the evaluation of agricultural modernization.
Point 2: The description of the case study (lines 46-53) should be left to the second paragraph.
Response 2: It has been modified as required. The case description has placed in the second paragraph. Moreover, in the case study, we have added measures and achievements to promote sustainable agricultural development.
Point 3: The introduction does not describe and contextualise agricultural modernisation and the difference between the tools available to measure it. This is fundamental to justify the research need.
Response 3: Thank you very much. At the beginning of the introduction, the meaning of agricultural modernization is briefly introduced, and the relationship between the evaluation of agricultural modernization and the realization of sustainable agricultural development is added. Moreover, in the fourth paragraph of the introduction, we have added a comparison of several measurement methods. The multi-index comprehensive measurement method is the most reasonable and widely used method.
Point 4: Before section 2.1, I do suggest describing in a paragraph the case study to help the reader understand the geographic and socio-economic aspects characteristics of the region.
Response 4 : Thank you very much for the suggestion. In the second paragraph of the introduction, we have provided the geographic and socio-economic aspects and characteristics of the region.
Point 5: lines 108-110: please avoid using empty words. Explain what you mean by sustainability and how agricultural modernisation achieves sustainability.
Response 5: Thank you very much. We removed blank words from lines 108-110, and added a description of the meaning of agricultural sustainability. Moreover, we have added a description of how agricultural modernization contributes to sustainable agricultural development.
Point 6: table 1: I suggest separating the first-level indexes by a line to understand which second-level indices are for which first-level index.
Response 6: Thank you. It has been modified in the revised article.
Point 7: I doubt these indicators could measure the sustainability of agriculture. For example, for sustainable water management water productivity should be considered. Another example, fertilisers' usage per se is not a bad practice, on the contrary, without the right amount of nutrients, a crop cannot grow healthy.
Response 7: Thank you very much. We construct an index evaluation system including 6 first-level indicators and 17 second-level indicators. This index evaluation system is used to measure the level of agricultural modernization in Shandong Province. Agricultural modernization is the realization path of agricultural sustainable development, and it is also one of the contents of agricultural sustainable development. Therefore, article title is revised as “Comprehensive evaluation of agricultural modernization Level”.
In addition, the sixth first-level indicator in the indicator system is agricultural sustainable development, and the agricultural sustainable development indicator here is one of the indicators to measure agricultural modernization. It includes three secondary indicators: the construction rate of shelterbelts, the average amount of pesticides used on the land, and the average amount of fertilizer applied on the land. Water productivity does not appear in the index construction as a secondary index; fertilizer application appears in the index system as a negative index. Because of the current situation in China, the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides per unit area in China is much higher than the world average. Excessive use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides will pollute the land and lead to a decline in the quality of cultivated land. The excessive use of chemical fertilizers has adverse effects on agricultural modernization and sustainable agricultural development. Therefore, the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides is a negative indicator in the selection of indicators.
Point 8: The analytical framework is based on consolidated methods. However, given that the authors are proposing their evaluation index, I was expecting the discussions to include an assessment of strengths and weaknesses compared to other modernisation indices. This is important for the applicability of the research in other Chinese provinces.
Response 8: Thank you very much. It has been explained in the introduction that there are many kinds of index evaluation methods. We have compared the characteristics and shortcomings of the various methods. At the end, the evaluation method we chose is the multi-indicator comprehensive measurement method that also been used in most previous studies. The construction of the evaluation system was based on the "National Agricultural Modernization Testing and Evaluation Index System Scheme".
Point 9: Finally, I understand that it would be difficult to add a conclusion after a long discussion, however, the authors need at least a couple of recommendations and suggestions as a conclusion.
Response 9: Thank you very much. Recommendations and suggestions have been provided in the revised article.
Thank you very much once again for your valuable time and precious comments.
Round 3
Reviewer 4 Report
accepted
