ABSTRACT
China has the largest population (1.3 billion) in the world. It produces 500 million tonnes of food, which works to 400 kg per capita. It has to feed 22% of the population of the world by using 7% of the world’s land and 8% of the world’s freshwater. China’s total population is expected to reach 1.37 billion in 2010, 1.46 billion in 2020 and 1.5 billion around 2033, and to stabilize at 1.6 billion later (Hu, A.G., 2006). In 2020, the projected population of 1.5 billion would need 600 million tonnes of food grains, i.e. 100 million tonnes more than the present food production. When the Chinese population will reach 1.6 billion, 640 million tonnes of food will be required. It is estimated that there would be deficit of 1300-2600 billion m3 water by 2030. Therefore, the only option for sustainable development of agriculture and economy is to undertake water-saving agriculture, to develop the Blue Revolution and comprehensive drainage systems. As the total extent of land and water endowment of the country remains the same, the per capita endowment of land and water would decrease pro rata with time as the population increases. Increasing population would need more food. Also more land would be needed for the construction of habitations and establishment of industries and social facilities. The challenge facing China is how to grow more food with lesser amount of land and water.
