Process and Problems of Farmland Expansion to Forestland in Rural China : A Case Study of Village X in Tongliao City of Inner Mongolia

Abstract

China's farmland expansion had been promoted to modernize and intensify agricultural management under the land contracting system. Through field studies in the countryside of Inner Mongolia, we analyzed the formation process and problems of management of farms with farmland expanded. The following two results were clarified by interviews to village leaders and farmers. Firstly, farmland had been expanded mainly due to forestland conversion and wasteland reclamation. As a result of applying modern agricultural technologies, such as "planting with reasonably high density" and developing multiple uses, both harvest and productivity of corn increased. Secondly, forestland conversion had caused such problems as environmental degradation, violation of Forest Law, and contradiction with the policy of returning farmland to forestland. Both farmers and government are facing these problems. The paper suggested that the government not rely on forestland conversion, but take actions to establish systems providing farmers more off-farm employment opportunities to maintain and increase farmers' income.