Analysis of unit yield and output value of food planting in China

2.1 In 2018, per unit area yield of staple food crops in the main producing areas in China stood at 6740kg/hectare, the lowest level in the last five years, decreasing by 4.14% over the previous year; the output value reached 15123yuan/hectare, the decreasing by 5.69% over the previous year; cash income was 7255yuan/hectare, the lowest level since 2010, decreasing by 13.76% over the previous year. The decrease in the cash income of staple food grains after 2014 led to the reduction of farmers’ income from non-farming job, bringing about the continuous decline of demand in rural areas and the whole country.
In 2018, total farming costs reached 16407yuan/hectare, including cash costs of 7897yuan/hectare, and the loss for planting grain was 1284yuan/hectare, which is the heaviest loss since the reform and opening up in 1978 with the cost-profit ratio registering at -7.83%. From the perspective of cost structure, material and service costs, labor costs, and land costs  were 6743yuan/hectare, 6290yuan/hectare, and 3373yuan/hectare respectively. Hired labor costs accounted for 8.5% of total labor costs, and land transfer rents were 15.51% of total land costs, which is the highest proportion in history.
 
2.2 Staple food grain production in the Chinese mainland in 2019. Per unit area yield increased by 1.01% from the previous year to 6777kg/hectare; farmers’ selling prices averaged 2167yuan/ton; the output value per unit area was 15078yuan/hectare, decreasing by 0.30%; cash income stood at 7170yuan/hectare, down 0.77% over the previous year. Total  costs of farming were 16467yuan/hectare, including cash costs of 7908yuan/hectare, the loss for planting staple food grains reached 1389yuan/hectare, and the cost-profit ratio dropped to a record low level of -8.54%. From the perspective of cost structure, material and service costs, labor costs, and land costs were 6842yuan/hectare, 6459yuan/hectare, and 3076yuan/hectare respectively. Hired labor costs accounted for 8.48% of total labor costs, and land transfer rents were 14.22% of total land costs. The proportions both dropped to some extent.