By Zhang Yunhua & Wu Zhenjun, Research Department of Rural Economy, DRC

Research Report, No.12, 2021 (Total6077) 2021-1-27

Abstract: Over the past decades, the temperature and precipitation in north China have improved significantly as the climate becomes warmer and wetter. The trend can promote the development and utilization of arable land reserve in northern regions and improve the output of grain and other crops, bringing unprecedented opportunities for China to increase its grain output. China needs to seize the opportunity of climate change from warm-dryness toward warm-wetness and build grain production bases in northwestern regions to enhance its grain production and supply capabilities. Relevant policy options are raised as follows. 1. We need to focus on developing grain production bases in the five provinces and autonomous regions in the northwest, the central and western regions of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region and Shanxi province and improve grain production infrastructure in northwest China across the board. 2. We need to improve both the quantity and quality of arable lands in the northwest. 3. We need to increase input in local water conservancy facilities through building large- and medium-sized anti-drought agricultural facilities as well as water diversion and drainage facilities and promoting water-saving irrigation and planting technologies. 4. We need to make study on the development of crops suited to warmer and wetter climate in the northwest and conduct selection of indigenous crops with strong adaptation to local conditions.

Keywords: climate change toward warm-wetness, grain production bases in northwest China, arable land reserve, grain output increase