ABSTRACT
This chapter documents how China has tried to feed its large population since 1950. The years since 1950 can be placed into two periods: food scarcity (1950–1979); and food abundance (since 1980). It highlights food security practices in China since the early 1950s. The major factors responsible for China's improved food supply are all largely economic in nature. Hence, changes in the economic institution, most importantly the reinstallation of incentives to individual workers and the reintroduction of markets, have been primarily responsible for the improved food security in China. By the end of the land reform, there were about 106 million rural households, each with about 1 hectare of arable land. While many farmers were zealous to work the land, some of them lacked capital, draught animals or essential farming tools. The government encouraged this kind of cooperation and issued a draft resolution about mutual aid and cooperation in agricultural production in December 1951.
