China’s Agricultural Modernization Strategy towards 2035

Wei Houkai1,2* and Cui Kai1

1Rural Development Institute (RDI), Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS), Beijing, China

2 University of Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (UCASS)

Abstract: China’s agricultural modernization drive has made steady progress with great achievements. After six decades of development, China has reached the mid-stage of agricultural modernization. By the average pace of recent years, China is poised to attain agricultural and rural modernization by 2035, but progress will vary considerably across regions and sectors. A transition towards an agricultural powerhouse is the only path towards agricultural modernization. Being a large agricultural producer, China has yet to qualify as an agricultural powerhouse in terms of agricultural sufficiency, competitiveness, innovation, and sustainability. From the mid- and long-term perspective, our agricultural modernization should proceed in light of China’s rural reform experience, focusing on food security, agricultural industry, green transition, and agri-tech. With a regionally differentiated approach, China should aim to basically achieve agricultural and rural modernization in about 15 years and complete the transition towards an agricultural powerhouse in 20 years from 2020.

Keywords: agricultural modernization, agricultural powerhouse, implementation strategy

JEL classification code: Q10

DOI: 10.19602/j.chinaeconomist.2021.01.02