The cultivated land in southern China, on the other hand, would only be affected slightly by increased tropical storms. In addition there are some 30 million hectares of land reserves - primarily in the North. Most of the reserves in arid regions could be cultivated, if irrigation water would be available. We believe that the most critical resource for China's agriculture is water, not land. Massive investments into the water infrastructure will be needed.
Soil degradation exists, but often outside cultivated areas.
Finally, it should be emphasized that economic and policy measures are the key to China's food security. It was caused by faulty policy measures. More than anything else, it will be the decisions of policy makers that will determine whether China can feed its population by the middle of the next century. All rights reserved.