Abstract
The diverse value of rural areas has been gradually highlighted, and promoting the sustainable development of rural areas with the theoretical guidance of rural multifunction is the key to realizing rural revitalization. This study defined the concept of rural multifunction from the perspective of resident’s demands and divided it into five main functions including rural agricultural production, nonagricultural production, living, ecological environment, and social security. By constructing the evaluation index system of rural multifunction, we analysed the spatial distribution characteristics of 160 villages of Jingjiang in Jiangsu Province. And functional combinations were identified to select targeted rural development paths oriented by balanced development of rural multifunction. The results showed the following. (1) The development of various rural functions in Jingjiang city was uneven, and agricultural production function still dominated. (2) The villages with strong agricultural production function were mainly concentrated in the northwest, while the villages with a high level of nonagricultural production function were mostly distributed in the industrial parks or around towns. There is still much room for improvement in social security function, especially in areas dominated by nonagricultural production. Nonagricultural production function had a negative effect on the ecological environment function, which is contrary to the agricultural production function. (3) Balanced development rather than equal development of rural functions should be pursued to achieve multifunctionality. Scientific guidance for the functional growth of villages in Jingjiang city and theoretical support for the microscale evaluation of rural multifunction and its application were provided by the research results.
Highlights
Academic Editor: Qingdu Li e diverse value of rural areas has been gradually highlighted, and promoting the sustainable development of rural areas with the theoretical guidance of rural multifunction is the key to realizing rural revitalization. is study defined the concept of rural multifunction from the perspective of resident’s demands and divided it into five main functions including rural agricultural production, nonagricultural production, living, ecological environment, and social security
Functional combinations were identified to select targeted rural development paths oriented by balanced development of rural multifunction. e results showed the following. (1) e development of various rural functions in Jingjiang city was uneven, and agricultural production function still dominated. (2) e villages with strong agricultural production function were mainly concentrated in the northwest, while the villages with a high level of nonagricultural production function were mostly distributed in the industrial parks or around towns. ere is still much room for improvement in social security function, especially in areas dominated by nonagricultural production
We further improved the index system of rural multifunction on villages and identified the dominant functions and inferior functions to accurately characterize spatial differentiation of rural multifunction. en, we proposed the concept of balanced development of rural multifunction and explained why we should take balanced development as the goal orientation
Summary
Academic Editor: Qingdu Li e diverse value of rural areas has been gradually highlighted, and promoting the sustainable development of rural areas with the theoretical guidance of rural multifunction is the key to realizing rural revitalization. is study defined the concept of rural multifunction from the perspective of resident’s demands and divided it into five main functions including rural agricultural production, nonagricultural production, living, ecological environment, and social security. Rural revitalization and transformation and paired rural-urban development can be supported theoretically by the multifunctional theory of rural areas [9, 10], namely, strengthening the research on rural multifunction and perfecting rural multifunctional theory are of great significance for optimizing the functional pattern and realizing rural revival in the new era. Under this trend, rural multifunction and its application have become a widely discussed topic in academia. The existing research has strengthened the theoretical and practical foundations of research on multifunction, the related research is still somewhat weak compared with that on multifunctional agriculture and urban multifunction [17]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
