A key Chinese policy document released over the weekend has revealed that the country has stepped up reforms and innovation to hasten agricultural modernisation in the year 2015.
Dubbed, the "No.1 Central Document," it highlights five aspects and 32 points for detailed government work on reforms related to the three rural issues of agriculture, rural areas and farmers, reports Global Times.
Being the first major policy document of each year released by the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the State Council, the document emphasises on the new shifts seen in the country's agricultural scenario - from high-speed growth to medium-to-high-speed growth.
Talking to the publication, research fellow Li Guoxiang at the Rural Development Institute under the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences said: "This year's document is a continuation of previous rural policies targeting the 'three rural issues,' and focuses on developing modern agriculture and increasing farmers' income through reforms and innovation.
"Chinese authorities' focus on deepening rural reforms aims to activate the land and financial markets in the countryside. As the reforms gain steam, the rural judicial system should be also improved to protect all interest groups."
Reforms of supply and marketing cooperatives and land reclamation were cited for the first time in the document, with enhanced focus on taking the transformation of grass-roots cooperatives to a new level.
The document also stressed on the overall agricultural development of villages through integrated development of primary, secondary and tertiary industries to boost farmers' income; development of a unique planting and breeding industry as well as a services industry to create more jobs for farmers, and policies for land use as well as fiscal and financial policies to enhance tourism and leisure activities.
The need for innovation in the means of circulation and distribution of agricultural products was urged as well as encouraging companies engaged in the e-commerce, logistics, trade and financial sectors to build e-commerce platforms focused on the agriculture sector.
