Disappearing Arable Land

Over the past seven years China's arable land shrunk by 100 million mu.

"From 1997 to 2004, China's arable land shrunk by 100 million mu," said Pan Wencan, chief of the Planning Department of the Ministry of Land Resources. The main reasons for this drastic reduction in arable land are the restoration of farmlands to forest, adjustments to agricultural structure, construction projects and disasters. The ministry has adopted the strictest measures possible to protect arable land in order to guarantee consistent grain production.