ABSTRACT
This conclusion presents some closing thoughts on the key concepts discussed in the preceding chapters of this book. The book describes since the early 1960s the government has gradually changed its financial policies in favor of agriculture. It examines the policies and programs for agricultural development and the concomitant institutional changes and technological progress in China's agriculture since 1949. The book outlines the post-Mao period that has ushered in the latest swing of policy changes: peasant incentives are being increased; technological progress is given a top priority; state financial resources for agriculture are being increased. As late 1979, one of China's policy objectives was to "import, manufacture and popularize advanced farm machinery so as to raise labor productivity by a wide margin." Although the policy of rapid mechanization has been modified since then, it remains the long-term objective of the Chinese leaders to raise agricultural labor productivity significantly by mechanization.
