China’s grain production: status and prospects

JIANG Changyun1 (姜长云), ZHANG Xiaomin2 (张晓敏) and ZHANG Yanping3 (张艳平)
1Research Institute of Industrial Economics and Technical Economics, NDRC
2Doctoral student from the School of Economics and Management, Nanjing Agricultural University
3Doctoral student from the School of Economics and Management, China Agricultural University

Abstract:
In this paper, we first look back at China’s grain production since reform and opening up and review the main factors of grain production at different stages. Secondly we find that the improvement of the per unit yield has become a major factor in the increase of grain production, and that corn has become a major grain production support variety; compared with the other varieties, paddy rice is most vulnerable in production; grain production has increasingly become dependant on scientific and technological progress and the role of infrastructure. Thirdly, the transformation of low-yielding fields in the future, the development of reserve land resources and acceleration of scientific and technological progress – these factors together promote China’s great potential for grain production; but through adjusting variety structure to promote grain production is nearly impossible. Finally, the main constraints of China’s future grain production are as follows: reduction of arable land and water shortages is becoming increasingly constrained; agricultural comparative advantage is low; opportunity cost is high and accelerating at the same time; and the uncertainties of (1) whether the agricultural inputs by government at all levels of can significantly increase the intensity; (2) whether support of the reform of grain production and systems can achieve breakthrough; and (3) whether the risk of the development of grain production can be effectively prevented. On this basis, we draw the relevant conclusions and policy recommendations.
Key words:
Grain; Output; Yield potential; Restraints

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