Pressures on farmland in China will increase

Significance

Beijing’s heavy emphasis on grain cultivation and total arable area aims to guarantee long-term food security and self-sufficiency, but that has been challenged by land encroachment, natural disasters, urbanisation, structural changes in farmland use, shifting dietary trends and local governments’ land sales.

Impacts

• Farmland protection policies that curb land sales for non-agricultural commercial development will erode local governments’ revenue.
• Measures protecting farmland and maximising grain output will imperil the benefits of income-enhancing agricultural diversification.
• Denting farmers’ incomes will endanger fulfilment of another of Xi’s signature goals -- that of reducing rural poverty.