But even 400 kg. may be too low to nourish our population adequately in the twenty-first century. The best predictions of productivity growth are less than what China needs to achieve. A breakthrough in agricultural science then will be needed to meet China's food supply goal. Challenge Six Agricultural Investment is Too Low Chinese investment in agriculture fell from 5.9 percent average between 1952 and 1992 to just 2.9 percent in 1994. Successful development for China requires a much higher level of investment in agriculture.
China loses much land to erosion, desertification, and urbanization each year.
It concentrates almost exclusively on production to the neglect of the essential areas of food processing, transportation and fresh storage. Sulfur dioxide and particular pollution levels are high in large Chinese cities. Acid rain becomes more serious in South China each year. Solid waste disposal problems are serious. Although the health expectancy of the Chinese people has been increasing, the number of environmental illnesses is also growing.