Latest  News

China eyes more rural development in 2013
China will look to improve farmers' income growth and reduce obstacles in agricultural development next year, in a bid to boost vitality in rural areas, according to an annual conference.

Central rural work conference convenes in Beijing
China's annual central conference on rural work, which will map out policies for next year's agricultural and rural development, began on December 21 in Beijing.

Conference  Focus

●The growth of farmers' income should be maintained at the same pace, or even faster than that of urban residents.
while ensuring the nation's grain security and effective supply of major agricultural products, more work should be done on pricing and ensuring that farmers get a fair profit during times of rising production costs.

●The government will further balance urban and rural development.
The government will make sure migrant workers from rural areas get equal treatment if they become urban residents.

●Farmers' rights will be fully protected.
Land transfers should not be compulsory or restricted.

●China will focus on fostering new types of agricultural businesses.
This will require maintaining stable land contract relationships on the basis of household contract management while guiding the orderly transfer of farmers' land contract management rights

Media  Comments

Rural incomes to grow as China encourages new business models

●People's Daily pointed out in an editorial that China's rural areas face a slew of challenges amid urbanization, including migration to urban areas, rising agricultural production costs and environmental challenges such as weather and water shortages.

●The Xinhua News Agency pointed out that China needs to clarify farmland contract rights and the compensation system for land use to make full use of the land's asset value.

●Financial news website ce.cn reported that with population increases and environmental issues, water shortages could have an increasing negative effect on rural development, according to Wang Aiguo, director of the Department of Rural Water Resources under the Ministry of Water Resources.

Background

China's urban and rural population (million)

Income of China's urban and rural residents (Source: Xinhua)
Year	Urban residents		Rural residents
	Income(Yuan)	Growth rate(%)	Income(Yuan)	Growth rate(%)
2008	15780.8	8.4	4760.6	8.0
2009	17174.7	9.8	5153.2	8.5
2010	19109.4	7.8	5919.0	10.9
2011	21809.8	8.4	6977.3	11.4

Central Rural Work Conference Review:

●2011: Agriculture still vital to China
China must avoid mishaps in supply of major farm produce because agriculture is vital to ensure stable price levels, fast economic growth and social stability.

Apart from expenditures on construction of agricultural infrastructure, more subsidies will be given to help impoverished farmers in 2012.

●2010: Grain output expected to rise despite floods, drought
Despite floods and drought, the country's grain production will increase for the seventh consecutive year.

people's living conditions and public services in rural areas have improved.

The government will step up research and development into water conservation projects while keeping grain supplies stable, increasing farmers' incomes and deepening rural reforms in 2011.

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