China’s countryside revival gets a government push with farm subsidies and other reforms
- Mechanisation and technological advances to be made available for small household farms in new commitment from Beijing
China’s massive agricultural sector is set for a revival following a government commitment to introduce new measures to speed up mechanisation for its farmers, boost domestic demand and raise rural incomes.
The announcement, which includes equipment subsidies for the rural sector, followed the State Council meeting on Wednesday.
China’s rural population has been steadily declining as a result of rapid industrialisation and urbanisation, and it needs to encourage farmers to raise mechanisation rates to cover the labour shortfall and improve yields.
The cabinet said in a statement that China would grant subsidies to encourage the use of deeper ploughing machines and also make it easier for farmers to borrow money to buy machinery.
China is making its vegetables grow bigger, faster and stronger ... using electricity
Under the new rules, domestic and foreign agricultural machinery would be treated equally.