BEIJING — The State Council's executive meeting chaired by Premier Li Keqiang on Nov 2 adopted the 14th Five-Year Plan for Agricultural and Rural Modernization, to advance rural revitalization and fairly fast income growth of rural residents.
During the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025), the country will advance agricultural and rural modernization in a science-based, region-specific manner, in line with the national realities and agricultural conditions, the meeting noted.
Efforts will be made to enhance the capacity of agriculture in supporting and underpinning economic and social development, and raise farmers' living standards on a sustained basis.
"We must give top priority to the development of agriculture, rural areas and farmers in our endeavour to comprehensively build a modern socialist country. Stability on these three fronts is essential to the country's overall safety and security," Premier Li said.
Stable agricultural production must be guaranteed. Cultivated land will be better protected and its quality enhanced, grain acreage will be maintained at a stable level, and annual grain output will be kept at no less than 650 billion kilograms.
Efforts will be made to ensure the supply of grains and other major agricultural products, and enhance reserves and market regulation, the meeting noted.
The quality and profitability of agriculture will be boosted. Basic research on agro-technologies will be supported. The research and development, and innovation need to be expedited, with particular focuses on seeds and agricultural machinery and equipment.
Efforts will be made to nurture and strengthen new types of agricultural business entities, and improve the system of specialized and commercial services.
The integrated development of the primary, secondary, and tertiary industries in rural areas will be accelerated. The rural industrial system will be improved to leave more job opportunities and a greater share of profits to farmers. Integration of agriculture with tourism, education and other sectors will be promoted.
Graduates from junior colleges and secondary vocational schools, scientists, technical personnel, and industrial and commercial business owners will be encouraged to start businesses back in their rural hometowns and wider rural areas.
Rural infrastructure will be strengthened, and basic public services in rural areas including education, medical care and elderly care improved.
Rural reforms in priority areas and key links will be bolstered. Private capital will be encouraged to invest in agriculture and rural areas.
Efforts to consolidate and expand the achievements in poverty alleviation will be effectively aligned with efforts to promote rural revitalization. Steps will be taken to create better conditions for the development of areas that are no longer in poverty.
"The anticipatory targets in the plan should be informed by the reality on the ground, and set in a science-based and well-calibrated manner. We need to take this work forward in a solid and steady way," Premier Li said.
