| FAQ |
| Does China still have land reserves for (rain-fed)
cultivation? |
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Yes. According to
the IIASA China AEZ model the country has - in addition to its current cropland area -
some 30 million hectares of land with grain cultivation potential. Much of these
reserves are in northern China, such as in Heilongjiang (see the in-depth analysis). |
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Some 15 million
hectares of this reserve, however, would need irrigation to become productive.
The development of additional water resources are therefore critical for China's food
security. |
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There are also large
grassland areas, which could be used more intensely for livestock production. However this
would require significant changes in livestock production methods (stable production). |
| While China has significant land reserves, massive investments into the
transportation infrastructure, water supply, and changes in production management would be
necessary to utilize the resources. |
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Revision 2.0 (First revision published in 1999)
- Copyright © 2011 by Gerhard K. Heilig. All rights reserved. (First revision: Copyright © 1999 by IIASA.) |
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