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Zhou Qiren: Agriculture Needn’t be Byname for Low Income

Jun 17-2021   



Rural revitalization still falls behind the ‘comprehensive modernization’ targets despite the progress made by farmers, the agriculture industry and rural areas in general. In a commentary for Beijing Daily, Prof. Zhou Qiren of the NSD looks into the size and distribution of the potential of rural revitalization.

 

To fully grasp its potential, one must cast eyes on the national economy as a whole, writes Prof. Zhou. Of foremost importance is to examine the unmet demand for rural areas, the agriculture industry and the farmers.

 

Over the last few decades, a large number of productive factors have been siphoned off from the countryside to urban areas. As generations of young and educated laborers leave for city jobs, villages have got stuck in limbo. On the other hand, fast urbanization and industrialization are creating new demand that is yet to be met and offers tremendous opportunity for farmers.

 

The rising national income has generated strong demand for high-quality food, much of which has been solved through import and long-distance transportation. Against the backdrop of the pandemic, the food supply chain is bound to shorten, cutting the physical distance between production and consumption to ensure more freshness and lower carbon emissions. The rural areas close to the 600 cities can work to meet such rising needs of the urban counterparts.

 

Prof. Zhou also spells out other possibilities. Tourism in rural areas, if further improved, can expect to attract more urban visitors. Besides, agriculture can become a high-tech industry by embracing new technologies. He cautions that not all villages are suitable for developing non-farming industries; most of them are, and should be, rooted in farming.

 

Starting with the adjacent areas of big cities and applying technologies to agriculture will bring hope to farmers and the rural areas. Countries like Denmark and the Netherlands are excellent examples of building a strong agricultural industry through technologies rather than land input. Agriculture needn’t be a byname for low income.

Zhou Qiren: Agriculture Needn’t be Byname for Low Income

Jun 17-2021   



Rural revitalization still falls behind the ‘comprehensive modernization’ targets despite the progress made by farmers, the agriculture industry and rural areas in general. In a commentary for Beijing Daily, Prof. Zhou Qiren of the NSD looks into the size and distribution of the potential of rural revitalization.

 

To fully grasp its potential, one must cast eyes on the national economy as a whole, writes Prof. Zhou. Of foremost importance is to examine the unmet demand for rural areas, the agriculture industry and the farmers.

 

Over the last few decades, a large number of productive factors have been siphoned off from the countryside to urban areas. As generations of young and educated laborers leave for city jobs, villages have got stuck in limbo. On the other hand, fast urbanization and industrialization are creating new demand that is yet to be met and offers tremendous opportunity for farmers.

 

The rising national income has generated strong demand for high-quality food, much of which has been solved through import and long-distance transportation. Against the backdrop of the pandemic, the food supply chain is bound to shorten, cutting the physical distance between production and consumption to ensure more freshness and lower carbon emissions. The rural areas close to the 600 cities can work to meet such rising needs of the urban counterparts.

 

Prof. Zhou also spells out other possibilities. Tourism in rural areas, if further improved, can expect to attract more urban visitors. Besides, agriculture can become a high-tech industry by embracing new technologies. He cautions that not all villages are suitable for developing non-farming industries; most of them are, and should be, rooted in farming.

 

Starting with the adjacent areas of big cities and applying technologies to agriculture will bring hope to farmers and the rural areas. Countries like Denmark and the Netherlands are excellent examples of building a strong agricultural industry through technologies rather than land input. Agriculture needn’t be a byname for low income.