Chinese farmers battling to preserve land

A housing complex goes up near a farm in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province in 2008. Photo: CFP and Xue Zijin
Wang Yongchao, 40, felt he was duped into leasing his farm to the local government four years ago, which in turn handed it over to a private company that built chemical factories where rice, wheat and corn used to grow.

The farmer, like thousands of others in the country, is angry that land set aside for farming has been used illegally to help local officials boost revenue through profitable development projects.

However, Wang has decided to set an example by going after the local authorities in Tangdian township, Jiangsu Province, and the factory owner in court, and wherever he can get help to recover his 4 mu (0.26 hectare) of land.

"I will do whatever I can to fight for the land because they are mine and no one else can invade them," Wang told the Global Times Thursday.

His four mu was just part of 3,000 mu local authorities took over to make way for the factories. Like many of his farming colleagues, Wang is a traditional subsistence farmer who relied on the land to grow food for his three children.

Local authorities did not inform Wang when they "leased" the land exactly how it would be used.

The township is reaping millions in revenue. Wang was offered 2,800 yuan ($413) a year for the land which, he said, is less than half of what he earned by growing vegetables on his farm.

Source:Global Times
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