The Role of Chinese Rural Women in the Development of Agriculture

摘要

China is a large agricultural country with a high population, little cultivated land and limited land resources. Eighty percent of the population is distributed in the rural areas. China's agriculture has developed quickly, especially since 1979 whenthe system of contracted responsibilities on the household basis with remuneration linked to output was implemented. The farmers became motivated and the development of agricultural production in China improved as never before. From 1979 to 1992, the total production value of agriculture increased at a rate of 5.9% on average annually. The total grain production increased from 332.12 million tons in 1979 to 442.66 million tons in 1992 with an annual average increase of 2.7%; production of coarse grainssuch as maize, soybean and tuber crops increased from 95.96 million tons in 1979 to 134.12 million tons in 1992 with an the annual average increase of 2.8%. The grain yield increased by a large margin, from 2,835 kg per ha in 1979 to 3,141 kg per ha in 1992. The rural women in China are important participants in agricultural production and have made a great contribution to the development of China's agriculture.