Food security in China will continue to occupy a top position on the international food security agenda in the coming century. Sustainable production of staples such as wheat, rice and maize depend on the systematic mixing of crop varieties of various origins and genetic makeup. The feminisation of agriculture is an important phenomenon in China. Women constitute more than 80% of the agricultural work force because of the volume of male out-migration. As a result, women are overburdened with agricultural activities that give little or no profit. There are fewer opportunities for women-headed households to adopt modern varieties owing to their limited access to resources and services.
