China Agricultural Yearbook (1997)

Author: Editor-in-Chief: Cai Shenglin et al.
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 1998-01-01
Features:
Excerpt:
(III) Farmers' income grew rapidly in 1996. The per capita net income of farmers reached 1,926 yuan, an increase of 348 yuan from 1995, a growth rate of 22%. After adjusting for price factors, the actual growth compared to the previous year was 9%, making it the highest growth rate in the "Eighth Five-Year Plan" period. In 1996, the pace of poverty alleviation accelerated, and new progress was made in poverty alleviation development. Another 7 million plus impoverished people across the country solved their food and clothing problems, marking the highest number of people lifted out of poverty in recent years.
From the perspective of income sources, the per capita net income of farmers in 1996 had the following characteristics:
First, household operating income remained the main component of farmers' income. Among the per capita basic income of 1,813 yuan, the per capita net income from household operations was 1,362 yuan, an increase of 236.2 yuan, a growth rate of 22.08%, accounting for 70.7% of total net income. Although it decreased by 0.7 percentage points compared to the previous year, it still remained the dominant income source.
Second, the share of income from the industry was significant. The per capita net income from the industry was 1,192.61 yuan, an increase of 196 yuan, a growth rate of 20%, accounting for 60% of total net income.
Third, there was little change in the total and incremental structure of farmers' net income. The total structure of per capita net income sources fluctuated within 1 percentage point, with basic income increasing by 0.3 percentage points and property and transfer income decreasing by 0.3 percentage points. The incremental structure of per capita net income also fluctuated within 2 percentage points, with basic income increasing by 2 percentage points and property and transfer income decreasing by 2 percentage points.
Fourth, the growth rate of per capita net income in central and western regions exceeded that in eastern regions. In 1996, the per capita net income of farmers in eastern, central, and western regions was 2,549 yuan, 1,763 yuan, and 1,288 yuan, respectively, with a significant gap still existing among the eastern, central, and western regions. However, compared to the previous year, the growth rate of per capita net income in central and western regions exceeded that in eastern regions. The growth rates of per capita net income in eastern, central, and western regions were 19.8%, 25.7%, and 21.5%, respectively, marking the first time since the 1990s that this phenomenon occurred. It is particularly noteworthy that the growth rate of per capita net income in western regions approached the national average, with a growth rate only 0.5 percentage points lower.
(IV) Prosperity in rural markets
With two consecutive years of agricultural, comprehensive development of the rural economy, and rapid growth in farmers' income, the rural market flourished. In 1996, the total retail sales of consumer goods in counties and below reached 969.3 billion yuan, an increase of 18.3% from the previous year, with an actual growth of 11.2% after adjusting for price factors. Among them, the retail sales of social consumer goods in counties and below exceeded 640 billion yuan, an increase of over 108 billion yuan from the previous year, with a growth rate of around 20%. The number of rural markets reached over 64,560, and the total transaction volume of rural market trade exceeded 680 billion yuan, an increase of around 26% from the previous year. The transaction volume of agricultural and sideline products also grew significantly. The retail price of rural goods increased by 6.4% compared to the previous year, 0.3 percentage points higher than the national average and 0.6 percentage points higher than urban areas. The consumer price index in rural areas increased by 7.9% compared to the previous year, 0.4 percentage points lower than the national average and 0.9 percentage points lower than the consumer price index in urban areas. The retail price of agricultural production materials increased by 8.4%, a decrease of 1.9 percentage points from the previous year.
(V) Further improvement in agricultural productivity
In 1996, agricultural investment in the country increased, and the level of material equipment in agriculture and the contribution rate of technology to agriculture improved. The fixed asset investment in agriculture, forestry, animal husbandry, fishery, and water conservancy reached 33.6 billion yuan (excluding investment by rural collectives and individuals), an increase of 27.5% from the previous year, accounting for 1.9% of the total fixed asset investment, an increase of 0.1 percentage point. The total power of agricultural machinery in the country reached 385.469 billion kilowatts, an increase of 7.56% from the previous year. The annual consumption of chemical fertilizers reached 382.79 million tons (calculated based on pure quantity), an increase of 6.5% from the previous year. The annual electricity consumption in rural areas was 167.65 billion kilowatt-hours. The effective irrigated area of farmland reached 51.161 million hectares, an increase of 3.8% from the previous year. The pace of "technology-driven agriculture" accelerated, and the area of advanced and applicable technologies was expanded, with technology contributing 39% to agricultural growth, an increase of about 4 percentage points compared to the previous year. In 1996, agriculture achieved a bumper harvest, and the rural economy showed a positive outlook, playing a significant role in national economic and social development. On one hand, the production of major agricultural products increased, achieving a basic balance between total supply and demand, ensuring the basic living needs of the people and laying a material foundation for social stability, creating a more favorable environment for reform and development. On the other hand, the improvement in the supply-demand situation of major agricultural products led to stable market prices, especially the stabilization of grain prices, which in turn stabilized the prices of food, accounting for about 50% of consumer spending, thus effectively curbing inflation. At the same time, the comprehensive development of the rural economy and the increase in farmers' income and living standards led to higher purchasing power, expanding market demand for urban industrial development. It can be said that the macroeconomic situation in 1996 was favorable, and the achievements in national economic development and curbing inflation exceeded expectations, with the bumper harvest and comprehensive development of the rural economy playing a crucial role.
The main reasons for the bumper harvest in agriculture and the comprehensive development of the rural economy are:
First, greater emphasis was placed on agriculture and rural work, with increased efforts.
Second, policies and measures from the central to local levels were effective.
Third, the overall weather conditions were generally favorable, and disaster prevention and mitigation efforts were well-executed.
Fourth, investment in agriculture increased from the central, local, collective, and farmers.
Fifth, technology played a significant role.
The fundamental and key factor is that the Party Central Committee and the State Council adopted a series of correct and effective policies, mobilizing the enthusiasm of the vast majority of farmers. In summary, the bumper harvest in agriculture and the positive rural economic situation in 1996 were the result of the correct leadership of the Party Central Committee and the State Council, with the whole country working together and the hard work of rural cadres and farmers.
(Government Research Office, Rural Department)
Overview of Crop Farming
1996 was the first year of the implementation of the "Ninth Five-Year Plan." After overcoming severe natural disasters, crop farming achieved a good harvest, with the total output of grain setting a new historical high record, achieving the goal of starting well and laying a solid foundation for the "Ninth Five-Year Plan" as proposed at the beginning of the year.
1. The total sown area of crops increased slightly, and the multiple cropping index was further improved. According to statistics, the total sown area of crops in China in 1996 reached 152,444.69 thousand hectares, an increase of 2,565.8 thousand hectares from the previous year, a growth rate of 1.71%. Among them, the sown area of grain crops reached 112,547.76 thousand hectares, an increase of 2,487.01 thousand hectares, a growth rate of 2.26%; the sown area of economic crops reached 145,710.33 thousand hectares, an increase of 2,299.8 thousand hectares, a growth rate of 1.5%; and the sown area of other crops reached 6,622.82 thousand hectares, an increase of 266 thousand hectares, a growth rate of 0.5%. Due to the increase in the total sown area of crops, the multiple cropping index in China was improved to some extent, reaching 156.7% in 1996, an increase of 0.6 percentage points from the previous year.
2. Grain crops set a new historical high record. According to statistics, the sown area of cereals in 1996 reached 92,208.02 thousand hectares, an increase of 2,898.29 thousand hectares, a growth rate of 3.25%; the yield per hectare of cereals reached 4,893 kilograms, an increase of 234 kilograms, a growth rate of 5.0%; and the total output of cereals reached 45,126.45 million tons, an increase of 3,515.27 million tons compared to the highly productive year of 1995, a growth rate of 8.45%. Among them: the sown area of rice reached 31,406.13 thousand hectares, an increase of 661.25 thousand hectares, a growth rate of 2.1%; the yield per hectare of rice reached 6,212 kilograms, an increase of 188 kilograms, a growth rate of 3.1%; and the total output of rice reached 19,510.2 million tons, an increase of 987.48 million tons, a growth rate of 5.33%. The sown area of wheat reached 29,610.5 thousand hectares, an increase of 750.5 thousand hectares, a growth rate of 2.6%; the yield per hectare of wheat reached 3,734 kilograms, an increase of 193 kilograms, a growth rate of 5.5%; and the total output of wheat reached 11,057.0 million tons, an increase of 835.46 million tons, a growth rate of 8.2%. The sown area of corn reached 24,498.3 thousand hectares, an increase of 1,722.4 thousand hectares, a growth rate of 7.56%; the yield per hectare of corn reached 5,203 kilograms, an increase of 286 kilograms, a growth rate of 5.8%; and the total output of corn reached 12,747.00 million tons, an increase of 1,548.06 million tons, a growth rate of 13.8%. In 1996, China's grain production achieved a good harvest in every season, every crop, and every major region. First, the area and output of summer grain, early rice, and autumn grain all increased, achieving increased production every season. The area of summer grain expanded, with an output of 113.527 million tons, an increase of 6.5915 million tons compared to the previous year; the area of early rice continued to recover, with an output of 44 million tons, an increase of 1.758 million tons; the area of autumn grain expanded significantly, with an increase of over 5 million tons. Second, the output of wheat, corn, and rice all increased, achieving balanced production of major grain crops. The output of wheat increased by over 8.3 million tons compared to the previous year, the output of rice increased by over 9.8 million tons, and the output of corn increased by over 15.4 million tons. Third, all six major administrative regions in the country achieved increased production, achieving balanced production among regions. From the provincial perspective, about two-thirds of the provinces in the country set new historical high records for grain output. On the national level, five indicators—grain output, summer grain output, autumn grain output, wheat output, and corn output—all set new historical high records. While the total output increased, balanced growth was achieved in terms of seasons, crops, and regions, which played a positive role in ensuring total balance and improving the supply-demand relationship between varieties and regions.
The grain production situation in China in 1996 was very good, with four main reasons: First, leadership was strengthened. In 1996, local and regional governments implemented the "rice bag" governor responsibility system, increased the leadership and work intensity for grain, established grain production responsibility systems, signed responsibility letters at all levels, and focused on the implementation of area and measures, which played an important role in the recovery and stability of grain area. Second, technology was emphasized. Local governments, in conjunction with the advancement of the "seed engineering" program, improved the "three rates" of grain seeds; technology promotion focused on grain production technology promotion such as unified seed supply for wheat, dry seedling and throwing seedling for rice, and plastic film mulching for corn. At the same time, under the leadership of the "Bumper Harvest Plan," implementation was strictly enforced; at the same time, the promotion of key production technologies was transformed from a departmental behavior to government action, increasing the intensity of technology promotion. Third, the price of grain was raised. In 1996, the state significantly increased the purchase price of grain, with a price increase of 42%, while local governments continued to implement the "grain-fertilizer" linkage policy for purchase grain. Southern coastal provinces increased the extra subsidy standard for purchase grain. Combined with the late-term effect of the high grain market price in 1995, farmers' enthusiasm for growing grain was boosted. Fourth, disaster prevention and mitigation work was strengthened. Local governments established the concept of "disaster prevention and mitigation, strive for a bumper harvest," strengthened the awareness of disaster prevention and mitigation, and made preparations in terms of organization, materials, and technology to prevent and mitigate major disasters. Before the disasters, the State Council held telephone meetings for disaster prevention and mitigation in the north and across the country, fully deploying disaster prevention work. A sound disaster monitoring network was established to promptly grasp the development dynamics of disasters. After the disasters occurred, relevant departments, especially the agricultural department, were promptly organized to fight the front lines of disaster resistance, adopting corresponding measures according to local conditions to reduce disaster losses.
3. The sown area of major economic crops increased and decreased. The sown area of cotton reached 47,222.29 thousand hectares, a decrease of 6,991.2 thousand hectares, a decrease of 13%; the yield per hectare reached 890 kilograms, an increase of 10 kilograms, a growth rate of 1.3%; and the total output reached 4,203.2 million tons, a decrease of 564.3 million tons, a decrease of 11.84%. The sown area of oilseeds reached 12,554 thousand hectares, a decrease of 546.56 thousand hectares, with a yield per hectare of 1,760 kilograms, a decrease of 43 kilograms; the total output reached 2,210.5 million tons, a decrease of 400,000 tons, a decrease of 1.8%. The sown area of sugar crops reached 18,459.7 thousand hectares, an increase of 260 thousand hectares, a growth rate of 1.4%; the yield per hectare reached 45,289 kilograms, an increase of 1,662 kilograms, a growth rate of 3.8%; and the total output reached 8,360.24 million tons, an increase of 420.11 million tons, a growth rate of 5.3%. The area of vegetables continued to expand compared to the previous year, with an increase in both total output and market supply, and the scale of off-season production, south-to-north vegetable transportation, and west-to-east vegetable transportation gradually expanded, further improving the market supply situation. The sown area of vegetables in 1996 reached 10,490.4 thousand hectares, an increase of 975.66 thousand hectares, a growth rate of 10.30%; the yield per hectare reached 28,959 kilograms, an increase of 1,925 kilograms, a growth rate of 7.1%; and the total output reached 303,079.4 million tons, an increase of 46,567.0 million tons, a growth rate of 18.1%. The output of fruits and tea both increased compared to the previous year, with total outputs of 46.5282 million tons and 593.4 thousand tons, respectively, an increase of 438.2 million tons and 0.48 thousand tons, a growth rate of 10.4% and 1.7%, respectively. The sown area of hemp reached 349.23 thousand hectares, a decrease of 26.77 thousand hectares, a decrease of 7.1%; the yield per hectare decreased by 109 kilograms, a decrease of 4.6%; and the total output reached 795,000 tons, a decrease of 102,000 tons, a decrease of 11%.