Adaptation science and policy in China's agricultural sector

Abstract

In recent years, China's central government has begun to articulate its adaptation policy and to identify measures to adapt the nation's agriculture to changing precipitation patterns, higher temperatures, and extreme events. These developments are occurring at a time when the agricultural sector is in flux: while the major grain crops-rice, wheat, and corn-are still central to food security, many smallholder farmers have shifted away from land-intensive production to growing higher-value, labour-intensive horticultural products, such as fruit and vegetables. In addition, new forms of agriculture are emerging because of out-migration and land transfers. This review introduces the adaptation policy context for agricultural adaptation in China and reviews existing research on impacts and adaptation. It then discusses how well existing research and policy actually reflect the challenges of adapting China's farms to climate change. Four issues are discussed which together suggest that current science and policy very poorly reflect challenges on the ground: the framing of agriculture as a relatively homogeneous sector; the absence of any vulnerability assessments attuned to local contexts; a bias toward large-scale engineering solutions; and insufficient consideration of local government capacity.

Sustainable Agriculture Development in Northwest China Under the Impacts of Global Climate Change

“…However, the impacts of climate change on agriculture in Northwest China has not received adequate attention in national and regional studies (12)(13)(14); particularly, a long-term, systematic thinking on adaption of agricultural system to climate change is lacking (15). We argue that climate change needs to be considered as one of the most important variables in agriculture policy making and planning in Northwest China.…”

Planned resettlement to avoid climatic hazards: What prospects for just outcomes in China?

“…their purpose is to assist poor people, not to displace poor people in the way of mega-projects. To some extent, these projects continue to rely on local government fiscal capacity, which varies widely (Rogers, 2016), and can affect the availability of housing subsidies and the quality of infrastructure. In past poverty resettlement projects, households have received 11 000 RMB (Shanxi) and 25 000 RMB (Shaanxi), while the average cost of resettlement is 79 000 RMB per household (Lo et al, 2016).…”

“…While China's central government invests huge amounts of money in resettlement, and in recent years significantly reduced the debt burden, there remain adverse impacts on financial capital. To some extent, these projects continue to rely on local government fiscal capacity, which varies widely (Rogers, 2016), and can affect the availability of housing subsidies and the quality of infrastructure. While there may be some additional funding from local philanthropists or agribusinesses, there is nothing like the transfer of wealth from China's eastern provinces seen in the Three Gorges Dam project.…”