Strategic Analysis of the Cultivated Land Protection in the Development of Metropolitan Zone by AHP-SWOT Method——A Case Study of Chibi City in Hubei Province

The purpose of the study is to analyze the cultivated land protection strategy in the development of Metropolitan Zone. On the basis of on-the-spot investigations, AHP-SWOT method is employed. The results indicate that the strengths of the cultivated land protection in Chibi City are backup resources advantage, the balance of cultivated land occupation and compensation in different region, legal system advantage, etc. The weaknesses are the cultivated land keeping decreased in numbers, low quality of the cultivated land, unclear property right, the grass-roots units are lack of understanding of cultivated land protection, etc. The opportunities are the new round of land-use planning, the highly valued of the three agricultural issues, abolishment of agricultural tax, agricultural market construction, etc. The threats are the development of metropolitan zone engrossing the cultivated land, project of returning farmland, to forests, adjustment of agricultural structure, low comparative profit of agricultural products, etc. The analysis of AHP indicates that the development of Metropolitan Zone engrossing the cultivated land is the worst threat, the balance of cultivated land occupation and compensation in different region is the most advantageous strength, the new round of land-use planning is the best opportunity and the cultivated land keeping decreased in numbers is the worst weakness.