THE RELATION BETWEEN PROPER HOUSEHOLD FARM SIZE AND THE LEVEL OF MECHANIZATION UNDER CONTRACT IN THE SUBURBAN PLAIN AREAS AROUND BEIJING

Through survey and analysis, the optimum farm size to fully utilize the limited cultivated land was determined. In the near future, if only hand labour can be used, about one acre for each labour specialized in planitng will be enough. If wheat could be harvested by machinery, the farm size should be increased to around two and half acres. If both planting and harvesting work could be done by machines, this size should be increased to five acres. In so doing, the land contracted to the expert farmer will be utilized to the maximum, and extra hand then can be shifted to other business.