Journal of Agricultural Economics and Rural Development AJAERD

Vol. 5(3), pp. 673-677, December, 2019. © www.premierpublishers.org, ISSN: 2167-0477

Review Article

Analysis of Arable Land Protection Policies of China

*1Humayun Khan, 2Nsabimana Leonard
1,2School of Economics and Management, Zhejiang Ocean University, China
This study investigated the arable land protection policies of China. A sample size of 150 staff
members of different departments of census and agriculture was selected. We have used the non-
probability technique and in non-probability, we selected the convenience sampling method. The
data were analyzed using OLS model. The result of the study revealed that all the variables, which
includes, land conversion policy, and land tickets are impacting positively except contract law,
which depicts that there is an error in the model due to the short sample size. Finally, the findings
revealed that although the contract law was beneficial for the farmers and the country, but still it
should not be promoted as it imposes a negative effect as per the results.

Key words: Arable land, Land Policy, Contract law, Land Conversion

INTRODUCTION
Agricultural land is considered as one of the most
important factors of production, providing many of the
basic necessities of a living society. It has also been found
form the study conducted by Obersteiner et al., (2016,
P.25) that social development is closely associated with
the utilization and development of resources related to
land. As per the reports of the United Nations, land
resources, especially the arable land holds great
significance for a country (Zhou et al., 2017, P.38). Land
for residential, industrial, commercial, community and use
are also seeking agricultural land. Due to the decline in
agricultural production, the department divides farmers
into ordinary land. Land cover is limited by natural
resources, and land use is greatly reduced by daily
population growth and urbanization. With the loss of
natural resources, there may be some problems and
threats to food security (Gardi et al., 2015, P.911). It is a
noticeable fact that China is an agricultural country and
almost 30% of the total rice productions all over the globe
are produced in China (Jiao et al., 2018, P.93). This made
China to be one of the biggest exporters of rice globally.
Therefore, it is important to protect the arable land as there
is always a threat of big companies capturing agricultural
lands for commercial use.
It has been an identifiable fact that arable land is the most
significant piece of land holding a strong economic position.
The crops produced from that land is responsible for two
most important things; first, it is used to feed the people of
the country and then it is used for economic development
by exporting it (Dixon, 2015, P.9). The safety of cultivated
land has been identified as one of the key factors affecting
China's economic development. Economic reforms in the
1980s slowed the economic growth of China, but rapid
rural employment put pressure on valuable agricultural
land (Chow, 2017, P.1189). The urbanization process in
the big cities of China is forming a platform. The loss
caused by the expansion of civilization has become one of
the main factors in the change of land use in the territory
of China. The industrial growth of China is highlighted on
many platforms. The rapid industrialization is helping
China to sustain economic stability (Chow, 2017, P.1187).
China's industrial sector and rapid urbanization have
introduced unique criteria that prevent cities from leaving
(Long & Liu, 2016, P.5). In this crisis, the Chinese
government has accepted a substantial reduction in land
use and introduced certain policies to protect the land. The
Chinese government passed the “Land Administration of
the People’s Republic of China” on June 25, 1986 (Lian,
Glendinning & Yin, 2016, P.721). The Constitution was
enacted in accordance with the laws of the country and
aims to support the governance of land where public rights
are protected. Protecting and safeguarding the natural
resources of the land, the government uses the
constitutional policies. The protection of the agricultural
land and promote social and economic development are
also done with the help of those policies (Shi et al., 2016,
*Corresponding Author: Humayun Khan, School of
Economics and Management, Zhejiang Ocean University,
China. E-mail: khan@zjou.edu.cn
Co-Author Email: nsabimanaleonard123@gmail.com

Analysis of Arable Land Protection Policies of China

Humayun and Nsabimana 674
P.790). In order to protect cultivated land, the law
stipulates that the state protects cultivated land and
regulates the conversion of cultivated land to undeveloped
land. Hence, the goal of the study set by the researcher is
to analyze the arable land protection policies of China.
The main aim of the study is to analyze the arable land
protection policies of China. In addition to this, we have
developed two key objectives, which are to
• investigate the importance of arable land policies in
China
• recommend efficient policies to protect the arable land
in China
It has also been mentioned above that arable land is a
significant component of the economy. The crops
produced in China add value to the economy (Ito & Vézina,
2016, P.7). In the above section, the researcher has
mentioned that China is experiencing slow economic
growth; therefore, there is need for protection policies for
arable land in the country. The following study is important
for the policymakers of China, who are supervising the
agricultural department (Hou et al., 2018 P.1011). In
addition to this, the analysis will also help in examining
what factors are responsible for the slow economic growth
and what can contribute to the effective implementation.
The protection policies are needed to be implemented
because of the threat that companies can capture this land
just because of their industrial advantage. The analysis of
the protection policies will help the government in
determining the actual factors which are affecting the
arable lands of China (Xu et al., 2015, P.471). In addition
to the threats of companies, population growth is also a
huge factor due to which, these lands are not being used
for their original purpose. The arable lands are being used
for the construction of houses because of the growing
population. Therefore, the government has imposed
restrictions to prohibit the usage of these lands because of
any other reason other than agriculture.
MATERIAL AND METHODS: OLS MODEL
The aim of the current study is to analyze the protection
policies of arable land. In this concern, we have chosen
three independent variables i.e. population growth, land
degradation and climate change to analyze their effect on
arable land. In order to conduct the analysis of the
collected data, the researcher has chosen the OLS model,
also called (Ordinary Least Square Method) (Certo,
Busenbark, Woo &Semadeni, 2016, P.2641). OLS is a
method that is used to estimate the unknown parameters
with the help of regression analysis (Siemsen, Roth &
Oliveira, 2010, P. 471). It is a noticeable fact that
regression analysis is the best approach for estimating the
variables and to understand the strength of dependency.
Indicators and Data Collection
In this study, we have chosen the primary quantitative
method to conduct the analysis. As per the research
Analysis of Arable Land Protection Policies of China
conducted by Cleary, Horsfall & Hayter (2014, P. 473)
primary method is used to collect raw data from the
participants. However, the method for collecting the data
also depends on the research design of the study
(Johnston, 2017, P.621). Hence, the research has used
quantitative design, which includes numeric data.
Therefore, in the primary quantitative method, the
information is gathered by conducting surveys (Palinkas et
al., 2015, P.537). In this concern, the researcher has
conducted a survey from 150 staff members from different
departments of census and agricultural department and
collected the data through a survey questionnaire. In
addition to the data collection and sample size, the
researcher has incorporated non-probability sampling
method and in non-probability method, convenience
sampling has been used. This sampling method was
chosen by keeping the feasibility of respondents and as
well as researcher in mind. Moreover, the collected data is
analyzed through statistical analysis by using OLS
(Ordinary Least Square Method) (Vable et al., 2019, P.8).
RESULTS
In this study, the data has been collected from concerned
agencies and “regression analysis” has been selected to
achieve the objectives of the study by examining the
dependence of arable land on land conversion policy,
contract law and land tickets. Regression analysis can also
be known as OLS “Ordinary Least Square Regression”
that is used in this study to analyze data. According to
Bolin and Hayes (2013, P. 335), OLS is used to estimate
the relationship between variables by adding useful details.
“Regression analysis” is the most effective assessment
method to help measure the reliability of multiple variables
(Montgomery, Peck and Vining, 2012, P.5). The results of
the current study depict that the protection and
preservation of arable land are depending on three policies
namely, land conversion policy, contract law and land
tickets. Therefore, arable land acts as dependent and
other variables are treated as the independent variables.
The results found from the “Regression Analysis” are
presented below. The output of the research is divided into
three sections, “model summary”, “ANOVA” and
“regression coefficients”.
As per the study conducted by Min et al (2011, P. 378), a
regression equation is considered significant only when
the corresponding coefficient is greater than 1. As per the
obtained coefficients, the following regression equation
has been found:
Y=1.482+0.854X_1+0.227X_2-0.360X_3+€
Where
Y Arable land
X1 Land Conversion Policy
X2 Land Tickets
X3 Contract Law
€ Error Term
 J. Agric. Econ. Rural Devel. 675

SUMMARY OUTPUT

Regression Statistics
Multiple R 0.920
R Square 0.846
Adjusted R Square 0.843
Standard Error 0.145
Observations 149

ANOVA
df SS MS F Significance F
Regression 3 16.817 5.606 266.143 1E-58
Residual 145 3.054 0.021
Total 148 19.871

Coefficients Standard Error t Stat P-value Lower 95% Upper 95%

Intercept 1.482 0.163 9.070 0.000 1.159 1.805
Land Conversion Policy 0.854 0.103 8.284 0.000 0.650 1.058
Land Tickets 0.227 0.178 1.272 0.205 -0.126 0.580
Contract Law -0.360 0.114 -3.168 0.002 -0.585 -0.135
DISCUSSION CONCLUSION

In accordance with the regression equation, it can be
interpreted that there exists a positive and direct
relationship between arable land protection and land
conversion policy and land tickets. It has also been found
from the literature that all three policies will promote the
growth of the agricultural land. In addition to this, the
policies can variate with respect to their advantage to the
land. Hence, the tests run by the researcher have
concluded that out of all the three policies, two of them
have a significant impact i.e. land tickets and land
conversation policy. The findings of the above analysis
highlighted that as the land conversion policy is observed,
the arable land gets impacted positively by 0.854 times, by
keeping other variables constant. This can be interpreted
in a way that allocating land tickets to farmers can affect
the arable land with an intensity of 0.227 or 22.7% by
keeping other variables constant. This means that
governmental implementation of the land conversion
policy and contract land tickets should be promoted in the
country. The concerned authorities should introduce more
similar policies as they will aid the farmers in earning more
and on the same hand, providing benefit to the economy
of the country. Moving towards contract law, a negative or
inverse relationship has been obtained, as contract law
increases, it will impact arable land negatively. However,
from the analysis of the literature and the findings, it has
been observed that although the contract law was
beneficial for the farmers and the country, but still, it should
not be promoted as it imposes a negative effect as per the
results.
Based on the above examination, the researcher has
discussed certain policies, which can be implemented to
protect the arable land. It was also found from the above
study that social development is closely associated with
the utilization and development of resources related to
land as they hold great significance for a country,
especially the arable lands. The agricultural land of China
is being used for commercial purposes and it is acting as
a threat to the global production of rice and other crops.
Hence, China has implemented certain policies, which can
protect its agricultural lands. The policies discussed in the
study are land conversion policy, contract law, redline
policy and land tickets. In these policies, the government
relocate the farmers to other locations and re-cultivate
their farmhouses into agricultural land. It was also
indicated by the report that these policies have resulted in
the increment of nearly 30.5% arable land from 2007 to
2017. The results illustrate land conversion policy and land
tickets are positively impacting on arable land. In addition
to this, the researcher has also suggested other policies
as well. The first policy should be of prohibition of housing
on agricultural land. Secondly, industries should not be
allowed to develop any industrial plant on or near the
arable land. The last policy is, farmers should be given a
certain percentage of the profit derived from the exports of
crops. All of the suggested policies should be considered
by the agricultural department of China.

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Humayun and Nsabimana 676
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Analysis of Arable Land Protection Policies of China