By Han Yang, Department of Rural Economy, DRC & Hu Lingxiao, Rural Development Institute at Chinese Academy of Social Sciences

Research Report, No.299, 2021 (Total 6364) 2021-10-15

Abstract: The major grain-producing areas in northeast China enjoy an important strategic position in ensuring the country’s food security. Currently, China’s major grain-producing areas are mostly located in the north whereas abundant water resources are in the south. Despite large and fast growth of grain output in northeast China, this region is still plagued by weak economic development and difficulties in increasing farmer’s income. In order to change such an uneven development landscape and enhance national food security, efforts are needed to promote the modernization of agriculture and rural areas. The northeast region needs to promote agricultural and rural modernization in major grain-producing areas through addressing problems of uneven development including rural population outflow that weakens the vitality of villages and towns, resulting in the lack of laborers, insufficient development of the agricultural industry system, inadequate development of rural industrial systems and infrastructure, poor living environment and low local fiscal revenue. The local authorities need to improve the spacial layout of agricultural production and residential areas of farmers, establish a rural personnel cultivation mechanism, improve the quality of arable lands, refine the building of water conservancy and irrigation infrastructure projects and promote the integrated development of thrice industries. Efforts are also needed to improve rural living environment and collective economy to promote rural modernization in all respects, increase central fiscal and financial input, and innovate government services to attract social investment.

Keywords: new development landscape, national grain security, major grain-producing areas in northeast China, modernization of agriculture and rural areas, uneven development