The Ministry of Natural Resources, the National Development and Reform Commission, and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs recently issued a joint circular defining the scope of land for the integrated development of primary, secondary and tertiary industries in rural areas.

According to the circular, land earmarked for the integrated development of rural industries should not be used for commercial housing, villas, hotels, apartments and other real estate development. Neither should it be divided, transferred or sublet without authorization.

One of the most critical purposes of rural land is grain production. If large tracts of rural land are occupied, China's red line of 1.8 billion mu (120 million hectares) of arable land will be breached and its food security greatly hit. That is to say, no matter how we develop rural industries, we must not cross the redline with regard to arable land and whoever does so must be severely punished.

This also means that the integration of primary, secondary and tertiary industries in rural areas can only be accomplished through spatial planning, and by limiting the use of land and planning for the most efficient industrial integration, rather than using industrial integration as an excuse to occupy excess rural land.

In recent years, rapid urbanization has led to large tracts of arable land being occupied, and there is an urgent need to supplement cultivable land by reclaiming wasteland, clearing up construction projects that are not in line with approved planning, and rectifying enclosed land. If new farmland is occupied and wasted, there is a real risk of the country's red line being compromised, seriously affecting food security.

The integrated development of the three industries in rural areas does not necessarily mean the occupation of large tracts of arable land. The country must not relax its management of land use, or allow capital to excessively buy rural land or harm the interests of farmers. The countryside needs development, but rural land resources need more protection, something that cannot be breached.