Great overview of China's agricultural development (what works and what may not work), thank you! As you described the various regions and climates, I could picture the varied colours and textures on a map inside my mind.
You write: "This rural strategy also aims to strengthen county-level economies, reducing pressure on overcrowded cities by promoting local industries and infrastructure development. Yet whether these measures will genuinely revitalise rural areas remains doubtful. Despite state-led investment, much of the countryside still struggles with an ageing population and limited economic opportunity. The push for agricultural modernisation will benefit state-backed enterprises more than small farmers, potentially consolidating farmland under large agribusiness rather than fostering independent rural economies."
Based on reports that over 20% of young people in China remain unemployed (not sure whether this figure is accurate), do you think it is possible the CCP may consider forcibly moving these youngsters to agriculturally-based projects around the country? Is that possible/achievable in today's China?
That’s not just possible—it’s already a fundamental part of some rural revitalisation plans, particularly in places like Chongqing, which often serves as a testing ground for broader Chinese policy. I touched on this briefly in a previous edition of The Harvest, but I plan to explore it in more depth soon.
Rural governments are actively trying to attract skilled, educated workers to the countryside—partly as a response to the middle-income trap. However, this doesn’t solve the core issue: many of the unemployed young people returning from cities don’t have the skills to meet these new demands. If better-educated, wealthier urban migrants start taking rural jobs, while locals are left behind, this could fuel significant social unrest.
Beyond that, there’s a deep-rooted perception problem. For most young Chinese, the countryside is still seen as a poverty-stricken backwater that their families worked hard to escape. Even if jobs were available, most rural areas lack the infrastructure, housing, and lifestyle that urban-educated workers expect.
As for the idea of forcibly relocating unemployed youth to agricultural projects—that would require a drastic shift in policy and a level of state intervention that, at least for now, seems unlikely. Unless Beijing reaches a much greater state of economic or social crisis, I don’t see it happening.
Great overview of China's agricultural development (what works and what may not work), thank you! As you described the various regions and climates, I could picture the varied colours and textures on a map inside my mind.
You write: "This rural strategy also aims to strengthen county-level economies, reducing pressure on overcrowded cities by promoting local industries and infrastructure development. Yet whether these measures will genuinely revitalise rural areas remains doubtful. Despite state-led investment, much of the countryside still struggles with an ageing population and limited economic opportunity. The push for agricultural modernisation will benefit state-backed enterprises more than small farmers, potentially consolidating farmland under large agribusiness rather than fostering independent rural economies."
Based on reports that over 20% of young people in China remain unemployed (not sure whether this figure is accurate), do you think it is possible the CCP may consider forcibly moving these youngsters to agriculturally-based projects around the country? Is that possible/achievable in today's China?
That’s not just possible—it’s already a fundamental part of some rural revitalisation plans, particularly in places like Chongqing, which often serves as a testing ground for broader Chinese policy. I touched on this briefly in a previous edition of The Harvest, but I plan to explore it in more depth soon.
Rural governments are actively trying to attract skilled, educated workers to the countryside—partly as a response to the middle-income trap. However, this doesn’t solve the core issue: many of the unemployed young people returning from cities don’t have the skills to meet these new demands. If better-educated, wealthier urban migrants start taking rural jobs, while locals are left behind, this could fuel significant social unrest.
Beyond that, there’s a deep-rooted perception problem. For most young Chinese, the countryside is still seen as a poverty-stricken backwater that their families worked hard to escape. Even if jobs were available, most rural areas lack the infrastructure, housing, and lifestyle that urban-educated workers expect.
As for the idea of forcibly relocating unemployed youth to agricultural projects—that would require a drastic shift in policy and a level of state intervention that, at least for now, seems unlikely. Unless Beijing reaches a much greater state of economic or social crisis, I don’t see it happening.