China agriculture modernisation and rural revitalisation-II

However, China is cognizant without investing in R&D, the dream of agricultural modernisation cannot be realized. Thus, it has enhanced its focus on R&D investment. According to the USDA report in 2015, China outpaced all major countries and was spending $10 billion on an annual basis. Since 2018, China has further enhanced the focus of agriculture-related R&D under the programme of rural revitalisation.

Simultaneously, China is promoting green agriculture and the green food industry. The government’s continuous efforts are making green and organic practices the new normal. The data shows between 2009 and 2018, China reduced nitrogen fertilizer, pesticide use and GHG emissions. These efforts contributed to environmental betterment, and the added value of ecosystem services was calculated at RMB 3.2 trillion.

The generous investment in R&D helped China enhance grain production. In 2023, China produced 695MT of grain, well above the 650MT required. The per capita production of grain is 480kg, which is above the global level of 400kg. China has enhanced its storage capacity by many folds to face the emergency, and now it can store 700MT of food. These policies and strategies have contributed to eliminating poverty in rural areas and ensuring food security.

Since the 19th National People’s Congress, China has further accelerated efforts to modernise agriculture under the rural revitalisation programme. It has pinned agriculture as the bedrock of building a modern socialist country. The rural revitalisation plan emphasises achievement of 22 objectives (3 mandatory and 19 anticipatory). It will strive to build a modern agriculture system and turn the country into an agricultural powerhouse.

In addition to rural revitalisation plan, China has also launched Modern Protected Agriculture Development Plan 2023-2030. China will be endeavoring to revolutionise the agriculture, fishery and livestock sectors under this plan. For that purpose, China will be building modern infrastructure, excelling in the production of machinery, and leading the investment for agriculture R&D.

A report highlighted China is already leading the investment in innovation in the agriculture sector. According to a report, China invested almost $20 billion in 2021. Moreover, the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS) plans to focus on seed research and development, agricultural machinery, and green agriculture. The government is also introducing robots and UAVs to manage agricultural practices.

At the same time, under the green development initiative in the New Era, China is accelerating efforts to promote green and sustainable agriculture practices. For many years, it has also invested in climate-smart agriculture, as China is vulnerable to climate change-related impacts and disasters. IFPRI study shows production of three major grain crops, corn, wheat and rice will lose production due to climate change impacts in China by 2030. For example, the yield of corn will drop by 1/5th, followed by wheat and rice.

Climate change will further complicate the situation by impacting water availability. Further, distribution of water resources among different regions of China will complicate the situation. The statistics show per capita availability of water is 2200 cm3, which is above the stress level. However, distribution of water between the northern and southern parts of the country is highly unequal in favour of Southern region. The Northern area holds a major chunk of population and arable land. Thus, climate change will pose severe challenges for agriculture and food security.

China has started serious and multi-dimensional reforms to combat the challenges. It is working to develop climate-resistant varieties and new irrigation techniques to save water, infrastructure to facilitate water diversion from south to north, hybrid seeds, new technologies to promote climate-compatible agriculture, and comprehensive protection of ecological systems. On the other hand, China has to control the emissions of GHG from the agriculture sector.

China envisions science and technology will drive innovation, green, protected and climate-smart agriculture. China has set science and technology contribution target at 70pc and mechanisation at 60pc. It will encourage investment in R&D, innovation and technology development. It is hoped the process of modernisation will accelerate in the coming years, and China will achieve the objectives of rural revitalisation and modernisation of agriculture.

In conclusion, through smart and wise policy, Pakistan can benefit from agricultural modernisation and rural revitalisation at multiple levels.

First, Pakistan can benefit from agricultural reforms. Right now, the country faces three challenges in the agriculture sector: input process, output prices, and land ownership system. Input prices are high, and farmers do not get the just price of their output. It is hampering the farming community and also causes poverty. Land ownership is skewed in a few hands, and almost 90pc of farmers are small farmers. Majority of them owns less than five acres. China has successfully reformed these areas without compromising food security and farmers’ welfare objectives. Pakistan can work with Chinese officials to learn the process of reforms.

Second, the modernisation drive, especially focusing on innovation and technology development, can bring new opportunities for Pakistan. Under the CPEC, Pakistan and China have decided to accelerate agricultural cooperation, and R&D is one of the areas for cooperation. It has been decided that China will help Pakistan build nine research centres. Pakistan can ask China to tag the R&D cooperation with it’s agriculture modernisation programmes. It will pave the way for modernisation of agriculture in Pakistan.

Third, China is making huge progress in the fields of smart and protected agriculture, and its contribution is showing a rising trend. The use of modern technology, like artificial intelligence, drones, etc., is also increasing. It is helping China increase the production and quality of agricultural products. Pakistan can also learn from these interventions.

Fourth, green agriculture is one of the major emerging areas under agriculture modernisation. China has heavily invested in green agriculture. It has started to reap the benefits of lower use of fertilizers and pesticides and the betterment of the environment. Pakistan can build cooperation with China to strengthen the development of green agriculture in the country. It will help Pakistan meet international obligations to lower GHG emissions from the agriculture sector.

Fifth, climate-smart agriculture is another area where Pakistan can seek cooperation from China. It is critical for our cpuntry being highly vulnerable to climate change and climate-related disasters.

Lastly, China is pouring enormous resources into modernising agriculture in the Xinjiang region. China is prioritising investment and bringing all companies to work in this region. This offers Pakistan a huge opportunity to benefit from the modernisation drive and build close collaboration with companies and institutes working in Xinjiang. The good thing is that the government of China is encouraging the Xinjiang region to build cooperation with Pakistan.