Continuing to broaden channels for farmers to increase their incomes and become prosperous (Authoritative Release: Pioneering a New Stage of High-Quality Development)

Grain output surpassed 1.4 trillion jin for the first time, and the contribution of agricultural scientific and technological progress exceeded 63%.

　　In 2024, China achieved stable production and increased output of grain and other key agricultural products. On January 20, the State Council Information Office held a series of press conferences on “The Achievements of High-Quality Economic Development in China,” during which it provided an update on efforts to consolidate the foundation of agriculture, rural areas, and farmers and to advance all-round rural revitalization.

　　 Continue to regard increasing the per-unit yield of grain and oil crops across large areas as a key task.

　　Despite the adverse impacts of extreme heat and drought, severe flooding, and powerful typhoons, grain production has surpassed 1.4 trillion jin for the first time, reaching 1.413 trillion jin—an increase of 22.18 billion jin over the previous year—ensuring that China’s food supply is increasingly secure.

　　The gains in expanding the cultivation of soybeans and oilseed crops have been effectively consolidated, with soybean production reaching 20.65 million tons and the self-sufficiency rate of edible vegetable oils further improved.

　　Cotton candy gum has achieved stable development, with the output of pork, beef, mutton, and poultry reaching 96.63 million tons, up 0.2% year on year. Supplies of meat, eggs, milk, fruits, vegetables, tea, and aquatic products remain ample, and the availability of green, high-quality agricultural products has increased.

　　“Over the past two years, China has been able to maintain and increase grain production largely thanks to higher yields per unit area,” said Pan Wenbo, Chief Agronomist of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs and Director-General of the Department of Crop Production (also responsible for pesticide management). This year, boosting large‑scale yields of grain and oilseed crops will remain a key priority in “agriculture, rural areas, and farmers” work. Efforts will continue to enhance the adoption rate of advanced technologies and the compatibility of equipment, providing solid support for stable and increased grain output. Greater emphasis will be placed on “large‑scale” operations, the integrated application of “four excellences”—high‑quality farmland, superior varieties, optimal timing, and sound practices—along with targeted interventions at critical stages and leadership by key stakeholders. Localities will be guided to refine their plans and clarify implementation pathways, leveraging various projects to advance systematic yield improvements across entire regions.

　　At present, most wheat and rapeseed crops are in the overwintering stage. According to agricultural situation reports, before winter, first- and second-class seedlings account for 83.6% of wheat—1.6 percentage points higher than the long-term average—and 85.5% of rapeseed—6.8 percentage points above the norm. Following the Spring Festival, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs will launch a grassroots outreach campaign during critical farming periods, assigning agricultural technicians to provide targeted support at the provincial and regional levels, and sending them deep into major production areas, key counties, and fields to ensure that measures aimed at boosting yields across large acreages are implemented on the ground and delivered directly to farmers.

　　In 2024, both the area under vegetable cultivation and vegetable production nationwide have increased. Currently, the area of vegetables in the field stands at 80.2 million mu, up by roughly 800,000 mu compared with the same period last year. Pan Wenbo stated that the foundation for ensuring stable production and supply of “vegetable basket” products is solid. The next priority is to firmly implement the mayors’ responsibility system for the “vegetable basket,” guide localities in adopting targeted measures, strengthen agricultural situation monitoring and market‑dynamic surveillance, reinforce quality‑and‑safety oversight, promote the implementation of the “green channel” policy for transporting fresh and live agricultural products, and improve emergency response mechanisms for the purchase and sale of agricultural goods—so that farmers can sell their produce without worry, urban residents can shop with confidence, and everyone can celebrate the Lunar New Year in peace and security.

　　 Firmly safeguard the bottom line of preventing large-scale relapse into or onset of poverty.

　　“Since the transition period began, thanks to the concerted efforts of all sectors, the achievements in poverty alleviation have been continuously consolidated and expanded, with no large-scale relapse into or onset of poverty,” said Zhang Xingwang, Vice Minister of Agriculture and Rural Affairs. He outlined four key outcomes: First, the poverty‑alleviation safety net has been further strengthened. As of the end of November 2024, a total of 5.34 million people under monitoring for potential relapse into or onset of poverty had their risks stably eliminated. Second, industrial development has grown more robust. All 832 formerly impoverished counties have cultivated two to three pillar industries, with combined gross output value exceeding RMB 1.7 trillion, and nearly three-quarters of the formerly impoverished population now benefit from mechanisms that link their interests with new types of agricultural business entities. Third, employment has become more stable. By the end of 2024, the number of formerly impoverished laborers employed outside their hometowns reached 33.05 million, remaining above 30 million for the fourth consecutive year. Fourth, incomes have risen. According to data from the National Bureau of Statistics, in the first three quarters of 2024, the per capita disposable income of farmers in formerly impoverished counties stood at RMB 12,384, up 6.5% in real terms compared with the same period last year.

　　This year marks the final year of the transition period during which efforts to consolidate and expand the achievements of poverty alleviation are seamlessly linked with rural revitalization. Zhang Xingwang stated that the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs will earnestly carry out all tasks related to this linkage, formulate and plan long-term support policies and measures for the post-transition phase, firmly safeguard the bottom line of preventing large-scale relapse into or onset of poverty, and prioritize the implementation of the “two increases and one promotion” initiative.

　　Enhance efficiency. Optimize monitoring and assistance efforts by accelerating the development of a big-data information system for monitoring and supporting rural populations to prevent relapse into or falling into poverty. Rely more on a combined approach that integrates self‑reporting by households, departmental screening and early warning, and routine field visits by grassroots officials to identify and monitor those in need, thereby providing targeted assistance tailored to individual circumstances and household needs.

　　Enhance quality. Strengthen industry‑based employment assistance, guiding localities to advance the high‑quality development of supported industries in a manner tailored to local conditions, in accordance with the principles of consolidating some, upgrading others, revitalizing still others, and adjusting yet others. At the same time, refine mechanisms for linking and driving rural incomes, ensuring that these industries become sustainable sources of income growth for farmers. Deepen efforts to prevent relapse into poverty through employment, intensify east–west labor cooperation, improve the quality of employment training, and maintain the number of formerly impoverished workers in formal employment at no less than 30 million.

　　Promote development. Deepen assistance to key regions, focusing on nationally designated counties receiving priority support for rural revitalization and resettlement areas for poverty‑alleviation relocation. Strengthen east–west collaboration and targeted assistance from central government agencies, and advance the “Ten Thousand Enterprises Revitalize Ten Thousand Villages” initiative, ensuring that formerly impoverished areas and people do not fall behind and can catch up as rural areas embark on a comprehensive path of revitalization.

　　Increasing farmers’ incomes is the central task of “agriculture, rural areas, and farmers” work. In 2024, rural industries that boost rural prosperity flourished. The agro-processing sector saw improved profitability, with the total operating revenue of large-scale agricultural processing enterprises nationwide expected to exceed RMB 18 trillion. Rural leisure and tourism also gained momentum, with “rural tourism” and village‑branded initiatives driving rural development and enhancing farmers’ incomes. According to data from the National Bureau of Statistics, in 2024, per capita disposable income of rural residents reached RMB 23,119, up 6.3% in real terms compared with the previous year.

　　Chen Bangxun, Director-General of the Department of Development Planning at the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, stated that, going forward, efforts will continue to broaden channels for farmers to increase their incomes and become better off, focusing on enhancing overall agricultural productivity, developing new rural industries and business models, improving the quality of employment and entrepreneurship among farmers, and boosting property‑related income. Meanwhile, the agriculture and rural affairs authorities are working in coordination with relevant departments to intensify their efforts and ensure that migrant workers receive their wages in full and on time.

　　 Accelerate the large-scale promotion and application of agricultural scientific and technological achievements.

　　In 2024, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs has placed agricultural science and technology in a more prominent position, accelerating efforts to achieve high-level self-reliance and self-strengthening in this field.

　　Technological innovation and industrial innovation have achieved a solid start through deep integration. A new organizational and implementation mechanism has been developed for major agricultural science and technology projects, which solicits needs from the industry, conducts innovative research tailored to specific application scenarios, and incorporates user feedback into evaluation and acceptance. This approach ensures that research tasks originate in production and the market, while research outcomes are fed back into both production and end-users, thereby accelerating efforts to address the longstanding disconnect between science and technology and the economy in the agricultural sector.

　　The advantages of the new national system have been effectively leveraged. Comprehensive efforts have been made to strengthen inter‑departmental coordination, central–local collaboration, and partnerships between enterprises and research institutions, while strategically mobilizing the strengths of national laboratories, national research institutes, top‑tier research universities, and leading technology firms, thereby energizing all stakeholders across the innovation chain.

　　Strengthen the role of enterprises as the main actors in scientific and technological innovation. Three symposiums on agricultural technology enterprises have been held, establishing a regular mechanism for coordinated support and providing tailored, closed-loop solutions to the practical challenges faced by leading agricultural technology firms. Two high-level dialogues on agricultural‑technology finance have also been convened, bridging the links among industry, science and technology, and finance. In major agricultural science and technology projects, enterprises either lead or participate in more than 50 percent of the initiatives.

　　Zhang Xingwang stated that, thanks to concerted efforts across multiple fronts, China’s agricultural science and technology innovation has risen to the forefront globally, with the contribution of scientific and technological progress to agricultural development exceeding 63 percent. Moving forward, in collaboration with relevant stakeholders, the focus will be on enhancing the overall effectiveness of the agricultural science and technology innovation system, refining its institutional framework, and fostering a cohort of leading, fast-growing agri‑tech enterprises as well as promising start-ups. Continued efforts will be made to promote coordinated, collaborative research and development, accelerate the large-scale application and dissemination of agricultural scientific and technological advances, and provide robust, high‑impact scientific and technological support for building a strong agricultural nation.

　　(Editor: Wei Jia, Bai Yu)

Source: People’s Daily Online – People’s Daily