Recently, the Chinese Ministry of Agriculture passed a new round of legislation that discourages the use of agricultural land for certain types of production. This is part of a larger government scheme for the revitalization and construction of rural areas in China. In August, the state put forward a series of specific requirements for crop planting.
The order prohibits three kinds of crop planting: growing illegal crops (like poppies); illegally using land for other non-agriculture purposes; and the planting of crops not approved by the state. The policy prioritizes food security with a focus on agricultural crops such as rice, wheat and grains.
It is this last prohibition that is affecting China's fruit production. There are stories that growers in provinces like Yunnan were not given permits to acquire land for berry or other fruit production.
A blueberry grower and investor from Yunnan, who does not want to be named, commented: "It is difficult at the moment to get land. In the last year it has become really complicated to receive approval and permits for the development of nurseries in the province. The government is focusing on basic farm land for the production of rice, corn and wheat. Floral companies, fruit growers and young plant companies face difficulties acquiring land."
Apple and pear productions in China's Northern regions have also been affected by this new policy. A large pear grower and export company reports that: "The excess growth in fruit production in recent years in Shandong and Hebei province and the large demand for agriculture products like rice and wheat have made the local government encourage a 'return orchard to farming'. As a result the number of fruit trees has decreased. This is one of the reasons why this year the pear harvest has decreased by 25%."