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Over 100m Countryside Labor Forces Shift to Non-agricultural Industries
Figures from the State Statistics Bureau say between 1978 and 2000 130m Chinese countryside labor-forces shifted to non-agricultural industries, or a yearly average of 5.91million.
This is mainly because of the reform of economic system carried out since the implementation of reform and opening up policy. Centered on the household contract responsibility system with remuneration linked to output, it has given the peasantry status of an independent producer, thus leading to rational deployment of the resources of productive forces.
The next reason is the rapid development of agricultural, non-agricultural sectors in the countryside and booming of small towns. During the 9th Five-year Plan Period (1996-2000), China's small towns had seen a growth at an annual average of 11.1 percent, absorbing more than 60m surplus labor-forces.
Large-scale shifting of laborers from countryside has promoted the overall development of social economy.
First, the non-agricultural rate of population in countryside increased tremendously. In 1952 only 5 percent countryside laborers engaged in non-agricultural sectors and in 1978 the figure stood at 7.1 percent while in 2000 it was 31.6 percent.
Secondly, agricultural productivity witnessed a sharp rise. By 2000 each labor yielded an average 1409 kg of grain, 187 kg of meat and created an output value of 4460 yuan, an increase of 32 percent, 5.2 times and 11.5 times respectively over 1978.
Thirdly, it has contributed greatly to the increase of peasants' incomes. From 1978 to 2000 net incomes from non-agricultural sectors contributed 44 percent to peasants' income growth.
Fourthly, it has changed the traditional way of life of the peasants, raised their overall quality in living, accelerated the shake-off of poverty, promoted cultural exchanges between rural and urban areas and maintained the social stability in the countryside.
By PD Online Staff Li Heng
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