Coffee and Change: How Crop Booms Are Reshaping Rural China

Rural China is undergoing major changes as modernization and globalization take hold. One key driver of this transformation is the rise of “crop booms”—a term used to describe rapid growth in commercial crop production, often linked to increased capitalist investment. These booms have become common in tropical and subtropical regions of the Global South, but they come with a mixed track record.

Globally, crop booms have sparked concern. They have been linked to land grabs, growing inequality, and environmental harm. Yet, many studies overlook two important elements: the voices of smallholder farmers and the role governments play in shaping these agricultural shifts.

A new study shines a fresh light on this issue by focusing on coffee plantations in Southwest China. Using both interviews and data analysis, researchers found that—notably different from other parts of the world—this coffee boom brought some positive outcomes. There were fewer cases of large-scale land transfers, and profits were more equitably shared among local communities.

The big takeaway? When crop booms are shaped by inclusive policies and local engagement, they can create opportunities rather than problems. For policymakers across the Global South, the message is clear: invest in land tenure security and strong market infrastructure, and take local realities into account when planning agricultural development.

Professor Jun He and Dr Siyun Xiong from Yunnan University's School of Ethnology and Sociology, along with The Cairns Institute Fellow Dr Zoe Wang published their paper in the Journal of Rural Studies. Read more here. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0743016725001123

Issued May 2025