China’s agriculture sector made consistent progress in promoting green development, as highlighted in the China Agricultural Green Development Report 2024, released during a conference in Beijing on Friday.
The report, jointly issued by the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS) and the China Agricultural Green Development Research Society, serves as a vital resource to further implement China’s green growth strategies. According to CAAS President Huang Sanwen, it supports the advancement of high-quality, eco-focused agricultural and rural development with efficient, low-carbon practices.
The report details major achievements made in 2024. China improved both the quality and efficiency of its high-standard farmland projects, while boosting ecological preservation and pollution mitigation on existing farmland. More than 80 million mu (around 5.33 million hectares) of such farmland were newly developed or upgraded last year.
China also advanced its third national soil survey, collecting data from over 2.87 million sampling points and gathering 3.11 million soil samples.
In addition, the country strengthened its system for protecting biological agricultural resources. The 2024 census revealed long-term preservation of 580,000 crop germplasm resources, 1.4 million genetic samples from livestock and poultry, and 270,000 strains of microbial agricultural materials.
Chemical input use continued to decline due to targeted actions. Fertilizer application totaled 49.88 million tonnes in 2024, showing a 5% drop compared to 2020. Pesticide use in crop farming stood at 242,000 tonnes (100% purity), marking the eighth consecutive year of reduction.
Mechanization in agriculture also progressed, with the national mechanization rate for crop planting and harvesting surpassing 75%, further enhancing productivity.
The report also noted rising rural incomes. In 2024, rural residents had a per capita disposable income of 23,119 yuan (about USD 3,220), reflecting a 6.3% year-on-year growth—outpacing income growth in urban areas by 1.9 percentage points.
Digitalization in agricultural resource management also improved. China expanded the use of digital tools for managing agricultural resources and reinforced long-term monitoring through fixed observation stations dedicated to green agriculture.
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