Chinese govt presses modern agricultural reforms

The State Council, or China's cabinet, on Wednesday rolled out pilot schemes to accelerate large-scale farming in the development of modern agriculture for the world's most populous nation.

The government considered the development of modern agriculture "an important strategic mission" that will sustain economic growth, increase income for farmers and improve people's well-being, according to a statement issued by the State Council after an executive meeting presided over by Premier Li Keqiang.

Regions where conditions permit will be picked to carry out the pilot programs to boost modern agriculture through comprehensive and coordinated agricultural reforms.

Heilongjiang Province, one of the country's top grain production regions in northeast China, was approved by the State Council to spearhead such agricultural reforms.

Large-scale farming in different forms will be supported by the government, as farmers are encouraged to grow their joint partnership, family farms or cooperatives.

The government has pledged deeper reforms in rural land management system to speed up the transfer of rural land to improve efficiency and promote large-scale commercial farming.

The seizure of collectively owned rural land will be subject to strict management, according to the statement. Most rural land in China is owned collectively by a village, and farmers get contractual rights over some plots.

As part of the pilot comprehensive agricultural reforms, the government also vowed to improve financial services in rural areas, increase compensation for major grain-producing regions, boost agriculture-related technological innovation, enhance the supervision over food safety and push forward the integration of rural and urban areas.