Study Times reported on April 27, 2009, that allowing farmers to keep some land would help prevent farmers from migrating to major cities, a situation that could result in social unrest. According to Study Times, the International fianancial crisis is harming Chinese agriculture in four areas. It is pushing down agricultural product prices; there are fewer jobs for migrant workers; agricultural exports are decllining; and the tough times make it difficult to develop small town businesses and processing shops for agricultural products. The article concludes, “Allowing farmers to retain some land rights and to migrate between urban and rural areas would help prevent a concentration of farmers without land in major cities, which would result in serious social problems.”
Source: Study Times, April 27, 2009
http://www.studytimes.com.cn/WebPage/ny1.aspx?act=0&id=2597&bid=1