Sustaining China: Agriculture and the Environment

Abstract

China has been an agricultural country since ancient times. The role of agriculture is especially important for China to support its very large population, but modernization of agricultural sector has been delayed in contrast to the rapid development and reform of industry sector. Rural population has exhibited a sharp decline in the last 50 years, but farmers still account for more than half of the nation’s population. Their incomes are much lower than those of urban residents, and public welfare services in rural villages are significantly inferior to what is offered in cities. A vast area of agricultural land is subject to land erosion that is called water and soil runoff in China, and government is promoting nationwide ecological construction projects to return farmland to forestry to prevent erosion. The use of fertilizers and pesticides is causing water pollution in rivers and lakes, and people are more concerned about the safety of food, showing greater interest in natural foods.