In China, a country where two-thirds of the population live in rural areas, farming is the least popular occupation.

A survey by Beijing-based Horizon Research revealed that 98 per cent of 2,070 farmers now living rich-than-average lives surveyed expect their children to choose non-farming jobs as their future occupations.

Another survey by Shanghai Women's Federation showed that 90 per cent of parents have a negative view of farming as a career, which they considered to be low income and hard work.

The two surveys, although targeted at different groups, produced similar results, which should sound an alarm to us.

In a country where agriculture is crucial to the national economy, the survey results are both disheartening and thought-provoking.

"Knowing how difficult their lives as farmers have been, most parents would not want their children to follow in their footsteps to become farmers," said Liu Lijun, a Ministry of Agriculture official.

Because of economic reforms, farmers' incomes have grown considerably in recent years, but such growth has slowed in recent years because of sluggish domestic demands and lower prices for farm produces.

The per capita farmers' income increased by 4.6 per cent and 4.3 per cent in 1997 and 1998 respectively, the lowest growth rate of farmers' income in 20 years since China began its reform and opening up to the outside world.

The difficult life of some farmers can be partially attributed to the heavy tax burdens and illegal financial levies they bear.

According to a 1997 State Administration of Taxation survey of 5,000 rural households in 12 provinces, each farmer had to pay 149 yuan (US$18.90) in various fees per year, out of a total per capita tax burden of 195 yuan (US$23.50).

In Hunan Province, local officials have allegedly used illegal methods to get money from farmers, such as taxes on the slaughter of pigs irrespective of whether they had any and taxes on cash crops like tobacco, whether or not a farmer produced them.

Despite government measures to reduce taxes on farmers, the issue is complicated and difficult to solve.

Taxes and various charges on farmers have worked against government efforts to expand domestic demand and kickstart the national economy.

Many farmers left their farms and went to big cities for extra money.

Undeniably, the flow of rural migrant workers into big cities provides a much-needed source of labour.

But a worrisome problem arises: many young people in landlocked hinterland areas of the West who have good educations leave for lucrative jobs in big cities, leaving few behind to farm.

A report from the Communist Youth League shows that among 50 million migrant workers, farmers under the age of 35 account for 71 per cent.

"If this problem is not addressed, how will China's agriculture ever be modernized?" asked Liu.

And who will volunteer to go to the countryside to put farmers on the track to prosperity by teaching them more skills and new technology?

The lack of talented personnel in the agricultural sector is a big hurdle to China's rural economy today.

Even though the State has come up with preferential policies to lure students majoring in agriculture to work in the countryside, most have not responded to the government's call with enthusiasm.

The harsh living conditions in rural areas are the major reason.

The number of university students majoring in agriculture and forestry is also decreasing.

According to a China Youth Daily report, there are only three forestry-related departments left at Beijing's Forestry University established in 1952.

Beijing Agriculture University is also mired in a similar embarrassing situation.

The funds earmarked by the State for the research of agriculture-related topics in those universities, fall far short of what is needed.

To survive, some universities have no choice but to abandon agriculture-related departments unpopular with students, and add some more market-oriented majors.

Liu Yianqiong, a student who will take the college entrance examination this summer, complained, "I am quite interested in agriculture, but my parents do not want me to apply for this major because they think studying agriculture means losing jobs in the future."

Tian Jin's experience proves that Liu may have something to worry about. A graduate student at Beijing Agriculture University, Tian Jin has had trouble finding a job in the agricultural sector. Some agricultural sectors are reluctant to take in more students because of the capital shortage.

"My expectations for a job is actually very low, and I just want to have a small room in which to conduct experiments and do research, while going to the fields to teach farmers how to grow vegetables more scientifically," Liu said.

But the real picture is not so rosy.

Because of capital shortages in agricultural sectors, many counties cannot afford to hire more graduates.

But the question remains: can money talk in the current situation in which some local cadres fail to understand the importance of science to the rural economy?

For the agriculture to solve the current dilemma, governmental policies to help the rural economy with capital and technological support, although quite necessary, may not be a panacea.

Steps should be taken to make local officials realize the importance of farming and allocate money accordingly.

As usual, formulating policies is one thing, and implementing those policies is another.

Given this reality, an effective supervision system to regulate the behaviour of local government is a viable option.

Only when leaders fully realized the importance of technology to the rural economy, can a solution to the problem of rural areas be found.