Expert: Improving farming efficiency is the key to China's agriculture

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Implementing China's Rural Vitalization Strategy, as well as upgrading the country's agricultural sector, would be the top priorities in the coming months, according to Agriculture Minister Han Changfu. Experts also say that improving farming efficiency is the key to upgrading the sector.

Agriculture is an important part of China, with farmers constituting almost half of the population.

As the global demand for food rises, which some project would double from 2005 to 2050, Merrill Lynch strategist Beijia Ma said that raising farming efficiency would become more significant, as “there is only around 1.4 billion hectares remaining arable land globally.”

CGTN Photo

With the threat of climate change to agriculture, the demand for water, energy and food will rise by about 35 to 40 percent in the next 15 to 20 years, while 70 percent of water demand currently comes from agriculture and 80 percent of energy production is water-intensive, Ma told CGTN.

So, how can the agricultural sector develop sustainably?

From Ma’s perspective, investments in energy efficiency and renewables are important, while highlighting green bonds as an innovative solution.

Energy efficiency investments rose 8.5 percent in 2016 to reach 231 billion US dollars, Ma says. China exhibits the fastest growth given strengthening energy efficiency policies. As for investment in renewables, Ma told CGTN that China is projected to account for one out of every three US dollars invested in renewables through 2040.