China Targets Ukraine to Meet Rising Food Demand, Buys 3M Hectares of Farmland – Report

China is set to purchase some three million hectares of farmland in Ukraine, according to a report by the South China Morning Post, to sustain its rising food demand.

Farmlands in Hebei province, China

China's population, despite its one-child policy, continues to grow each year. As of 2012, based on figures released by the World Bank - U.S. Census Bureau, China's population stood at 1.351 billion, compared to the U.S. which was only 313.9 million. China's population equates to 20 per cent of the world's total population.

Government sign in Tang Shan: "For a prosperous, powerful nation and a happy family, please practice family planning."

Because of this ever present demining reality, China has to consistently be on the lookout for overseas agricultural partnerships to ensure the country's food supplies.

On Sunday, state Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps (XPCC) signed an agreement with Ukrainian agricultural firm KSG Agro, buying some three million hectares of farmland from the latter.

Contained in a 50-year plan, the farmland will be primarily used to grow crops and raise pigs, South China Morning Post reported, citing a statement from XPCC.

Ukraine expects the partnership to become its its biggest overseas agricultural project.

China has been zealously acquiring overseas farmland as it aims to be 95 per cent self-sufficient in food.