The purpose of this study is to understand the processes and achievements of agricultural mechanization in China. In the early stage of agricultural mechanization, China did not have necessary general preconditions for agricultural mechanization, since the Chinese economy was characterized by a surplus of labor in the agricultural sector and an underdeveloped manufacturing sector. But Mao though that China should carry out socialist transformation first through the cooperative transformation of agriculture and only then through agricultural mechanization. Thus, agricultural mechanization in China was to be executed under politically myopic views rather than according to economic rules.
Since 1952, the property rights system of agricultural machines has varied with production units. Before 1979, agricultural machines were owned and managed by national tractor stations and the peoples’ communes. After 1979, most agricultural machines were owned and managed by individual farmers.
All agricultural machines were imported until 1959 when the first tractor factory was established. China developed machines for irrigation first, then machines for cultivating, harvesting and transportation. Now, China can produce all kinds of agricultural machines both to meet domestic demand and for export. But the agricultural machines are out of date as compared with those of the developed countries. From the Cobb-Douglas production function we find that before 1980 agricultural machines, as one of the inputs, make no contributions to grain production. Conversely, after 1980, agricultural machines were helpful for grain production. This is because the machine management system changed and farmers could make decisions by themselves. On the other hand, there were some developed regions in China with more off-farm employment opportunities which provided the preconditions for agricultural mechanization.
There are many problems still existing in agricultural mechanization such as small farm size, the regulated migration of rural workers and a scarcity of experts in agricultural mechanization. This is because agricultural mechanization faces the constraints of capital, techniques, the paradox of employment and the relief of the rural labor force. As for the policy of agricultural mechanization, China should take into consideration national finance, industrial equipment and the energy problem.
