ABSTRACT
In China the mid-twentieth century, peasants were exploited by the feudal landlords and the ruling class was indifferent to agricultural development. The total value of agricultural output for 1981 was 172 billion yuan, 4.3 times higher than that of 1949, with a yearly average increase of 5.3 percent. The Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, established in 1956, is the highest institution of agricultural sciences in China. Since the founding of the People's Republic of China, agriculture has made significant progress as summarized, beginning especially during the period of eight years from 1949 to 1957, when the socialist transformation of agriculture was first being accomplished. The implementation of these policies has increased the enthusiasm for production of our country's hundreds of millions of peasants, pushed forward the development of agricultural production, and enlivened the rural economy. The government exercises complete or partial control over grain, cotton, and essential agricultural products, and sideline products like valuable medicinal herbs.
