In 2011, against-the background of highly complicated market situation and severe natural disasters, agriculture and rural economy maintained the momentum of stable development, contributing to efforts to maintain growth, contain inflation and improve livelihood.
1. Growth contribution In 2011, in face of complicated and changeable international situation and new problems in China's economy, the CPC Central Committee and the State Council took as theme Scientific Outlook on Development and focused on shift in development model, continued proactive fiscal policies and prudent monetary polices, and strengthened and improved macro-regulation and control. As a result, the national economy headed toward the desired course and socioeconomic development achieved a good start for the 12th Five-year Plan period. China's GDP reached 47,156.4 billion yuan in 2011, an increase of 9.2% in real terms compared to the previous year.
In 2011, crop farming, forestry, livestock raising and fisheries all maintained good momentum of development. Total grain output was 571.21 million tons, an increase of 24.73 million tons, or 4.5%, over the previous year. Grain output exceeded 500 million tons for the fifth consecutive year in 2011. Agriculture gained added value of 4,771.2 billion yuan, up 4.5%. The growth rate was 0.2 percentage points higher than the previous year. Added value in agriculture accounted for 10.1% of the country's GDP, 0.1 percentage points lower than the previous year. Agricultural growth made a contribution of 10.2% to the growth of the national economy, 2.6 percentage points higher than the previous year (Figure 24).
2. Contribution in products In 2011, the supply and demand of bulk agricultural products were roughly in balance. Retail prices of major foodstuffs rose by 4.7% in urban areas across the country. Grain retail prices grew 12.2%. Urban residents spent on average 5,506 yuan per capita on food in the year, accounting for 36.3% of their total living expenses, 0.6 percentage points higher than the previous year.
3. Market contribution Farmers' average per capita net income grew 11.4% in real terms in 2011, representing rapid growth for the eighth consecutive year. Retail sales of consumer goods in rural areas totaled 2,436.7 billion yuan, up 16.7% from the previous year. Rural retail sales accounted for 13.2% of the country's total retail sales of consumer goods, 0.1 percentage points lower than the previous year (Figure 25).
Prices for means of agricultural production continued to grow in 2011. The aggregate price level rose 11.3% year-on-year. Fertilizer prices increased 13.3% and prices for engine oil used in agriculture rose 10.8%. Feed prices went up by 7.6%; prices for pesticides and pesticide dispensers up 2.6%; farm machine prices up by 4.6%. Farmers' per capita expenditure on household production averaged 2,431 yuan in the year, up 26.9%. Of the total expenditure, average per capita spending on the purchase of fixed assets for production purposes stood at 265.80 yuan, up 32.9% from the previous year.
4. Foreign exchange contribution The country's total value of imports and exports in 2011 amounted to US$3,642.1 billion, up 22.5% from the pervious year. Of the total, exports were valued at US$1,898.6 billion, up 20.3% from the previous year. Imports amounted to US$1,743.5 billion, up 24.9%. Foreign trade produced a surplus of US$155.1 billion, a drop of US$26.4 billion from the previous year.
China's farm product imports and exports were valued at US$155.62 billion, up 27.6% from the pervious year. Exports of farm products were US$60.75 billion, up 23%. Imports amounted to US$94.87 billion, up 30.8%. The deficit in agricultural trade was US$34.12 billion, an expansion of 47.4%.
Agricultural exports and imports accounted for 4.3% of the country's total foreign trade, 0.2 percentage points higher than the pervious year. Total value of agricultural exports took up 3.2% of the country's total exports, up 0.1 percentage points, while agricultural imports accounted for 5.4% of the country's total imports, up 0.2 percentage points.
