planning/plan

[anhnha]

Hello Teachers,
Please help me about when we need use gerund or noun. I always feel confused about use of gerund or noun when I write a sentence.
For example:
Rice production in general still focused a lot on output and quantity, and had not been accompanied by planning and identification of consumption markets.
In this sentence why the writer used planning rather than plan? Is there any difference between them?
How can I use properly gerund or noun in writing?
Thank a lot!

[anhnha]

I knew the meaning of "planning" and "plan" but I still feel confused about this.
Planning: the act or process of drawing up plans or layouts for some project or enterprise.
Plan: a series of steps to be carried out or goals to be accomplished.
Planning is a action or process while plan is an arrangement scheme.Although they have different meaning but I think that the general meaning of two sentences(one use plan and the other use planning) are same.
Is it right?