Growing Populations, Changing Landscapes: Studies from India, China, and the United States

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Jishui County, Taihe County, and Jinggangshan City—from 1949 to 1988). Per capita production increased slowly prior to the early 1980s because of rapid population growth, even though total production showed an overall rise.

Stage Two: Diversification of Agricultural Production. With implementation of the national economic reform policy and the “household responsibility system,” the production of grain, pork, eggs, and fish increased in the 1980s ( Figure 8-13). Three factors led to these increases. First, an increase in grain production provided a basis for production of other forms of food. Second, with the market economy developing rapidly, agricultural products could be sold on the free market, and farmers sought additional sources of income from, for example, selling eggs or pork. Third, people's standard of living increased, and the demand for food became more diversified. From 1989 to 1996 the production of grain increased by 6.7 percent, eggs by 30 percent, meat by 95 percent, and fish by 127 percent. It was significant that the increase in the production of fish and meat products and eggs is much higher than that of grain.

The value of food exports from the region rose from 1978 to 1988. For example, in the late 1980s the value of cereal and food oil exports abroad was nearly five times what it had been in 1978; the value of exports of particular local goods and livestock increased at the same rate. Value fell in both categories in 1984 largely because of fluctuations in the international market. After 1984 the export values of cereal and food oil rose at a higher rate.

Stage Three: Changing Patterns of Expenditure and Diversification of Food. In the Jitai Basin consumption patterns in both urban and rural areas have changed in recent years. Consumption of housing, clothing, and fuel has increased in urban areas, while relative spending on food has decreased. By contrast, in the rural areas of Jiangxi Province relative consumption of food has remained stable, while the proportion of purchases of clothing, housing, and fuels has decreased.

According to the per capita purchasing patterns in the urban and rural areas of Jiangxi Province in 1989 and 1996, both grain and vegetable consumption decreased, while the consumption of food oil, meat (pork, beef, mutton, and poultry), eggs, fish, and wine increased. As for fuel consumption, coal is being replaced by natural gas in urban areas.

In rural areas consumption patterns show some similar trends, but with a smaller change from 1989 to 1996. In 1996 people consumed more food oil, meat, eggs, fish, and wine than in 1989. Also significant, residents consumed 4.8 times more fruit in 1996 than in 1989.

Changes in consumption were paralleled by changes in crop production. In Taihe County, where data were available, the land devoted to

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