The recent uprising in Wukan, Guangdong focused attention on the plight of farmers whose land is confiscated by developers without proper compensation. With China’s rapid economic growth and little oversight over developers, many of whom are in cahoots with local officials, similar land grabs occur regularly around China. A new survey found that 43% of farmers reported being victims of land grabs. From AFP:
According to the study, conducted in 17 provinces and regions by Beijing’s Renmin University and published in the 21st Century Business Herald, nearly a quarter of farmers did not receive any compensation for their land.
Almost two thirds of those surveyed who did receive compensation got a lump sum, which averaged 18,739 yuan ($3,000) per mu, a Chinese unit of land equivalent to 0.16 acres or 0.07 hectares, according to the study.
This compares to an average land sale price of 778,000 yuan per mu for local governments — or more than 40 times the average compensation sum given to farmers. The others received their money in installments.
On a visit to the southern manufacturing hub of Guangdong over the weekend, Wen reiterated his concern over land grabs.
Read more about land rights in China via CDT.
