Once a Symbol of Power, Farming Now an Economic Drag in China by Ian Johnson
As China does its best to make the democratic movements in Hong Kong seem like little ripples against the tide, the PRC is dealing with problems that will further push the government into thinking of reform in both economic and political spheres.
Agriculture has played the most significant factor in the rise of many a dynasty throughout Chinese period and as the government of China sees it now, the agriculture sector is the most important in which they need to pay attention to in order to remain a stable and prosperous economy. The problem is that the government does not allow for the proper avenues or tools necessary for the agriculture of China to prosper economy. Steering as far away from the ideological and moral arguments against communism and for capitalism, the fact is, liberal economies are much more prosperous monetary wise then any economy that practice socialistic or communist tactics. Does capitalism necessarily prosper all citizens in the country, not necessarily, but if China’s bid for world economic power that will last long enough to make true the prediction of an “Asian Century” the PRC must learn to reform land ownership and private ownership of land and businesses in order to materialize the most efficient and prosperous economy possible.
Privatizing land ownership to increase agricultural revenue will guarantee the highest returns possible. Larger land plots to create large-scale farms, while the former farmers who benefit from selling of their lands, is economically desirous. Now if China wants to continue to honor the revered farmer, that is all and well, but to do so keeping their current economic practices would mean the farmer would have to live off of menial income and in many apparent and contemporary cases, leave the farm anyway for more promising income in the cities. The goal for China now should be to figure a way in which their farmers will be able to adjust and adapt to the possible downfall of either situation. What educational reforms can directly correlate to this problem and solve the issue of farmers not being marketable in the cities? Can China keep the farmers on their land by privatizing ownership while providing incentives for selective farming and policies alike? Another key essential problem is the inherent greed in the system. As Johnson explains in his article, yet does not full focus on is that this is one of the biggest money makers for the state and by privatizing land ownership and instituting less than favorable land reforms, the state will lose out. It is a little clearer now why reform is slow and why there is so much stagnation. The big-wigs at the top rely on their plots of land to generate their income while, reform will take the money out of their hands and put it with the people they supposedly fought for in the peasant rebellions of the past.