Introduction

Originally published in 1985, this study investigates the actual experience in mechanization during the Fourth Five Year Plan period, a period which represented, in many ways, a new stage in China’s rural development. It examines the historical perspective and the development approach under which mechanization efforts were exerted during this 5-year period and the mechanism, outcomes and problems these entailed. The book addresses the issues involved in agricultural development and mechanization through a more integral analysis of the way technological transformation has been linked to China’s quest for social and economic development.