Plans laid out for farmland enhancement

China has introduced new measures to enhance the construction and management of high-standard farmland on permanent basic farmland, reinforcing its commitment to food security and sustainable agriculture.

The plan, jointly issued by the general offices of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the State Council, aims to gradually develop permanent basic farmland into high-standard farmland, with a target of completing the transformation of all suitable permanent basic farmland by 2035.

By 2030, China aims to have 90 million hectares of high-standard farmland, up from more than 66 million hectares at the end of 2023, according to the plan. The Ministry of Natural Resources reported that China's national arable land area stood at 128.7 million hectares by the end of 2023, meaning roughly 70 percent of the country's arable land will be designated as high-standard farmland by 2030.

High-standard farmland must have level fields, accessible water and roads, and improved soil fertility, yield and efficiency at its very basic level. Standards and investments will be tailored to different regions and farmland types, according to the plan.

Priority construction areas include the fertile black soil regions of Northeast China, plains, regions with irrigation capacity, and areas with high grain production and potential for yield increases. Construction will be strictly limited in ecologically fragile areas and prohibited in regions designated for reforestation, grassland restoration, lake restoration and pasture restoration.

High-standard farmland construction will be divided into seven regions based on resource endowments, farming systems and administrative divisions. In the northeast, efforts will focus on improving irrigation and black soil protection. The North China Plain will enhance irrigation reliability, while the middle and lower Yangtze regions will modernize infield facilities and strengthen drought, flood and waterlogging management.

In the southeast, efforts will address field fragmentation and enhance farmland resilience to heavy rainfall, while considering farmers' preferences. The southwest will advance terrace fields and infield roads to mitigate water shortages. The northwest will improve agricultural water use efficiency to combat drought, while the Qinghai-Xizang region will strengthen farmland protection facilities and improve conditions for mechanized farming.

The plan underscores strict protection measures for high-standard farmland, prohibiting unauthorized occupation. Organizations and individuals are barred from damaging farmland facilities.