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The agriculture of China
Book reviews
443
Chapter 7 is a reflection on development practice, the project, and the book itself. It calls for a pluralist orientation in development work and reminds us that development practitioners are part of the problem and of the solution. Indeed it reminds the reader of a need for humility among those who attempt to improve the lot of others. I recommend Development in Practice for all who are concerned with the successes and failures of international development. It is worth reading and remembering.
Thomas P. Thompson
The Agriculture of China. Xu Guohua and L. J. Peel. Oxford University Press, 1991. 300pp. ISBN 0 19 859208 6. Price: £45-00 (hardback). This book presents interesting and novel information for those readers seeking to learn about the agriculture of China. The book contains eight different parts with clear titles befitting the content. Part one deals with the natural environment of China: geographic location, major natural geographic regions, the formation of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, topography, climate, rivers, soils, natural vegetation, wildlife, fish and other aquatic resources. The second part reviews the history and social background from Xia kingdom dynasties up to the present. This part is helpful for understanding the relationship between agricultural practices and customs of the different nationalities within China's borders. Like Chinese culture, traditional Chinese agriculture had an early origin and progressed rather slowly over a period of several thousand years, and was sometimes in an advanced position compared with other countries. China is the third largest country in the world with a land area of 9"6 million km 2, covering latitudes from 4 ° 15'N to 53 ° 31' N and longitudes from 73 ° 43' E to 135 ° 5' E. Different climates and different ethnic populations have resulted in different cropping systems, and the third part describes these. Details of the ten agricultural regions of China are discussed in the fourth part, with particular emphasis on the problems faced in each which, until now, have seldom been talked about openly. Part five, which is written by five separate authors, presents details on infrastructure and agricultural inputs such as irrigation, flood control, drainage, agricultural chemicals, animal feedstuffs, agriculture machinery, transportation, communications, and energy consumption in rural areas. The sixth part is devoted largely to the rural economy. In China, agriculture has always been regarded as an important part of the national economy. Economic reform began in 1979 and was first carried out in the countryside;
444
Book reviews
the Chinese rural economy then developed rapidly and substantially. The difference between the cities and the countryside is still obvious, however. Part seven describes agricultural education, research, and extension systems, and the ways in which these services are organized. The concluding part reviews the characteristics and problems of Chinese agriculture, and prospects for the future. A large population coupled with limited cultivable land have resulted in two major agricultural practices: deep ploughing and the crushing of clods to smaller particle sizes, aimed at increasing crop yield; and multiple cropping, which aims to increase total production per unit area. Some problems, such as the loss of cultivable land through desertification, environmental pollution, and the shortage of water resources are discussed. One shortcoming of the book is that no mention is made of the lack of agricultural management expertise. This has led to disasters in the past, such as the flooding in China during the summer of 1991, and will lead to even more serious disasters in the future, unless this issue is addressed. The text is clearly produced, and the figures and tables are well laid out. Each part includes a list of relevant references. All in all, this is a valuable book for anyone interested in a better understanding of the many facets of Chinese agriculture. Wan Xia
443
Chapter 7 is a reflection on development practice, the project, and the book itself. It calls for a pluralist orientation in development work and reminds us that development practitioners are part of the problem and of the solution. Indeed it reminds the reader of a need for humility among those who attempt to improve the lot of others. I recommend Development in Practice for all who are concerned with the successes and failures of international development. It is worth reading and remembering.
Thomas P. Thompson
The Agriculture of China. Xu Guohua and L. J. Peel. Oxford University Press, 1991. 300pp. ISBN 0 19 859208 6. Price: £45-00 (hardback). This book presents interesting and novel information for those readers seeking to learn about the agriculture of China. The book contains eight different parts with clear titles befitting the content. Part one deals with the natural environment of China: geographic location, major natural geographic regions, the formation of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, topography, climate, rivers, soils, natural vegetation, wildlife, fish and other aquatic resources. The second part reviews the history and social background from Xia kingdom dynasties up to the present. This part is helpful for understanding the relationship between agricultural practices and customs of the different nationalities within China's borders. Like Chinese culture, traditional Chinese agriculture had an early origin and progressed rather slowly over a period of several thousand years, and was sometimes in an advanced position compared with other countries. China is the third largest country in the world with a land area of 9"6 million km 2, covering latitudes from 4 ° 15'N to 53 ° 31' N and longitudes from 73 ° 43' E to 135 ° 5' E. Different climates and different ethnic populations have resulted in different cropping systems, and the third part describes these. Details of the ten agricultural regions of China are discussed in the fourth part, with particular emphasis on the problems faced in each which, until now, have seldom been talked about openly. Part five, which is written by five separate authors, presents details on infrastructure and agricultural inputs such as irrigation, flood control, drainage, agricultural chemicals, animal feedstuffs, agriculture machinery, transportation, communications, and energy consumption in rural areas. The sixth part is devoted largely to the rural economy. In China, agriculture has always been regarded as an important part of the national economy. Economic reform began in 1979 and was first carried out in the countryside;
444
Book reviews
the Chinese rural economy then developed rapidly and substantially. The difference between the cities and the countryside is still obvious, however. Part seven describes agricultural education, research, and extension systems, and the ways in which these services are organized. The concluding part reviews the characteristics and problems of Chinese agriculture, and prospects for the future. A large population coupled with limited cultivable land have resulted in two major agricultural practices: deep ploughing and the crushing of clods to smaller particle sizes, aimed at increasing crop yield; and multiple cropping, which aims to increase total production per unit area. Some problems, such as the loss of cultivable land through desertification, environmental pollution, and the shortage of water resources are discussed. One shortcoming of the book is that no mention is made of the lack of agricultural management expertise. This has led to disasters in the past, such as the flooding in China during the summer of 1991, and will lead to even more serious disasters in the future, unless this issue is addressed. The text is clearly produced, and the figures and tables are well laid out. Each part includes a list of relevant references. All in all, this is a valuable book for anyone interested in a better understanding of the many facets of Chinese agriculture. Wan Xia