Han Changfu interprets the “National Strategy for Revitalizing Agriculture through Quality (2018–2022)”

Release Date:

2019-03-20

Recently, seven departments, including the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs and the National Development and Reform Commission, jointly issued the “National Strategy Plan for Revitalizing Agriculture through Quality (2018–2022)” (hereinafter referred to as the “Plan”), which sets out clear arrangements for the overarching principles, development goals, and key tasks of implementing the quality‑driven agricultural strategy in the new era. The formulation and implementation of this Plan represent a major step toward meeting the requirements of high‑quality development in the agriculture and rural sectors, as well as a concrete measure to boost industrial prosperity and promote all‑round rural revitalization; it serves as an action guide for regions across the country in carrying out the quality‑driven agricultural strategy. Recently, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Affairs Han Changfu addressed the background behind the release of the Plan, its objectives and tasks, and how to ensure its effective implementation…

Recently, seven departments, including the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs and the National Development and Reform Commission, jointly issued the “National Strategy Plan for Revitalizing Agriculture through Quality (2018–2022)” (hereinafter referred to as the “Plan”), which sets out clear guidelines on the overarching vision, development objectives, and priority tasks for implementing the quality‑driven agricultural strategy in the new era. The formulation and implementation of the Plan represent a major step toward meeting the requirements of high‑quality development in the agriculture and rural sectors, as well as a concrete measure to boost industrial prosperity and promote all‑round rural revitalization; it serves as an action guide for regions across the country in carrying out the quality‑oriented agricultural strategy. Recently, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Affairs Han Changfu granted an exclusive interview to reporters, addressing the background of the Plan’s release, its goals and tasks, and how it will be effectively implemented.

Reporter: How does the Plan assess the current trajectory of agricultural development in China? What is the significant importance of promoting quality‑driven agriculture in the new era?

Han Changfu: General Secretary Xi Jinping has pointed out that China’s economy is transitioning from high-speed growth to high-quality development—a critical threshold that must be crossed, requiring every industry and every enterprise to move forward steadfastly in this direction. After years of development, Chinese agriculture has entered a crucial phase of transforming its development model, optimizing its industrial structure, and shifting its growth drivers, standing at a historic juncture as it embarks on the path of high-quality development. Implementing the strategy of invigorating agriculture through quality and steering the sector from an output‑oriented approach to one focused on improving quality rests on a solid material foundation, while also confronting new demands and challenges arising from changes in both the domestic and international environments.

The Plan notes that since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has consistently placed the resolution of “agriculture, rural areas, and farmers” issues at the top of the Party’s agenda. It has continuously advanced theoretical, practical, and institutional innovations in this field, achieving remarkable progress in agricultural development and ushering agriculture into a stage of high-quality growth. Grain output has remained stable above 600 million tons for seven consecutive years, and overall agricultural productivity has risen substantially. The pass rate of quality and safety monitoring for major agricultural products has stayed above 97%, with steady improvements in quality and safety. Fertilizer and pesticide use has turned negative, the effective utilization coefficient of irrigation water has increased to 0.548, and the comprehensive utilization rate of livestock and poultry manure has reached 70%, significantly enhancing the efficient use of agricultural resources. A total of 42.7 million hectares of high-standard farmland have been developed; the comprehensive mechanization rate for the cultivation, planting, and harvesting of major crops has reached 67%; the contribution of scientific and technological progress to agricultural development stands at 58.3%; and facilities, equipment, and technical support have been greatly strengthened. The number of new types of business entities has grown to 8.5 million, with over 40% of land under moderately scaled operations, marking the initial formation of a pattern of moderate-scale farming. The ratio of the added value of agricultural processing industries to the total agricultural output value has reached 2.3:1, while the total output value of leisure agriculture and rural tourism has expanded at an average annual rate exceeding 9%, leading to steadily improving industrial returns. Today, we are fully equipped and capable of advancing high-quality agricultural development.

At the same time, it is important to recognize that advancing high-quality agricultural development is both a necessity for growth and of great practical significance. As the consumption patterns of urban and rural residents continue to upgrade, demand for high‑quality agricultural products and services is expanding rapidly. The question of “whether we have them” is no longer the main issue; instead, “are they good?” and “are they truly superior?” are increasingly becoming the central challenges. With China’s economy entering a stage of high‑quality development, the need to address agriculture’s shortcomings and promote its high‑quality growth has become even more pressing. Accelerating the implementation of the strategy of invigorating agriculture through quality is not only a major step toward meeting the multi‑tiered, personalized consumption needs of urban and rural residents and enhancing their sense of happiness and fulfillment, but also an essential requirement for improving the quality and efficiency of agricultural development, advancing all‑round rural revitalization, and speeding up the modernization of agriculture and rural areas. We must seize the significant strategic opportunities presented by the implementation of the rural revitalization strategy, follow the laws governing agricultural development and the demands of the times, act in harmony with prevailing trends, and build on existing momentum. By focusing on overcoming key constraints—such as short agricultural value chains, weak links between production and marketing, and low quality and profitability—we will comprehensively advance transformations in the quality, efficiency, and driving forces of agricultural development, striving to usher in a new era of quality‑driven agricultural growth.

Reporter: What development goals does the Plan set for revitalizing agriculture through quality, and in what key areas are these goals reflected?

Han Changfu: Promoting high-quality agricultural development is a profound transformation. Only by conducting in-depth research to grasp the fundamental essence and overarching requirements of this endeavor, and by formulating forward-looking, targeted, and highly instructive objectives, can we fully leverage the strategic guidance of planning and ensure that all efforts to advance quality‑driven agriculture proceed in an orderly manner. The Plan adopts a goal‑oriented approach, focusing squarely on high‑quality agricultural development and adhering to the core pathways of green practices, premium quality, distinctive features, and brand building. It sets out, in phased stages, comprehensive goals for advancing quality‑driven agriculture. By 2022, the institutional framework for quality‑driven agriculture should be essentially in place, with initial progress made toward achieving “four highs and one strength,” thereby yielding significant results in promoting high‑quality agricultural development.

“Four Highs.” First, high product quality: the supply of green, high-quality agricultural products has increased substantially, with improved taste, superior quality, more balanced nutrition, and distinct regional characteristics. Routine monitoring of agricultural product safety maintains an overall pass rate above 98%, while the number of green, organic, and geographically‑indicated agricultural products certified or registered grows at an average annual rate of 6%. Second, high industrial efficiency: the primary, secondary, and tertiary sectors are deeply integrated, continuously expanding the value‑added potential of agriculture. The ratio of the output value of large‑scale agricultural processing industries to the total agricultural output value has reached 2.5:1, and the scale‑up rate of livestock and poultry farming has risen to 66%. Third, high production efficiency: agricultural labor productivity, land productivity, and resource utilization rates have all improved significantly, with agricultural labor productivity, land productivity, the comprehensive mechanization rate for crop cultivation and harvesting, and the effective utilization coefficient of irrigation water in farmland reaching RMB 55,000 per person, RMB 4,000 per mu, 71%, and 0.56, respectively. Fourth, high operator competence: the proportion of professional, younger‑generation new‑type farmers has increased markedly, and new types of business entities and socialized service organizations have become more standardized. Among professional farmers, those with a high school education or above account for 35%, while the number of demonstration family farms at the county level and above and national demonstration farmer cooperatives have reached 100,000 and 10,000, respectively.

“Strong in one respect”: namely, strong international competitiveness. The quality of domestic agricultural products and the comparative advantages of agricultural production services have improved markedly, while the capacity to coordinate and leverage both domestic and international resources and markets has been further strengthened. A number of large grain traders and transnational agribusiness groups with robust international competitiveness have been cultivated and established, accelerating the “going global” strategy for agriculture, with annual average growth in agricultural exports reaching 3%.

The Plan also adopts a long-term vision, outlining a two‑step roadmap and setting forth the goal of advancing agriculture through quality at the stage of basically achieving modernization. By 2035, the institutional framework for quality‑driven agricultural development will be further refined; a comprehensive modern agricultural industrial, production, and management system will be fully established; agricultural quality, efficiency, and competitiveness will see substantial improvement; decisive progress will have been made in high‑quality agricultural development; and the modernization of agriculture and rural areas will be essentially realized.

Reporter: What key tasks does the Plan outline to advance and implement the strategy of revitalizing agriculture through quality?

Han Changfu: Promoting agricultural development through quality is a broad‑based, multifaceted endeavor with strong policy implications, encompassing the entire agricultural value chain—from pre‑production to in‑production and post‑production—and spanning sectors such as crop cultivation, animal husbandry, and fisheries. It is impractical to address all issues indiscriminately without prioritizing key areas. Instead, we must focus on the critical domains and weak links in quality‑driven agricultural development, identify clear strategic directions and priorities, intensify our efforts, and ensure sustained implementation. The Plan adopts a problem‑oriented approach, addressing the most salient challenges and key constraints in this field by formulating a series of robust measures and designing a comprehensive package of policies. Its core tasks are organized around seven priority areas.

First, we will accelerate the green development of agriculture. Based on the matching of water and soil resources, we will adjust and refine the spatial layout of agricultural production, promoting the integrated achievement of food security and ecological sustainability. We will firmly safeguard the red line for arable land, strengthen the construction of water-saving irrigation projects and carry out water‑saving upgrades, and foster the economical and efficient use of water and soil resources. We will deepen efforts to reduce fertilizer use while enhancing its efficiency, expedite the implementation of plans to cut chemical pesticide use and promote their substitution, vigorously advance green pest‑control measures, tighten the management of veterinary drugs and feed additives, and gradually raise the level of scientifically sound application of agricultural inputs. We will intensify efforts to prevent and control soil pollution, continue to promote the comprehensive utilization of crop residues and the recycling of agricultural plastic mulch, ensure the effective resource‑based utilization of livestock and poultry manure, and comprehensively strengthen environmental protection and remediation at the source of production.

Second, we will advance full‑process standardization in agriculture. We will accelerate the development of agricultural standards and technical specifications that align with high‑quality agricultural development, and further refine and improve the comprehensive, industry‑wide standards system. We will introduce and adapt internationally advanced agricultural standards, promote mutual recognition and coordinated alignment of agricultural standards under the Belt and Road Initiative, and expedite full convergence with cutting‑edge international standards. We will establish a production record‑keeping system, launch a program to build production bases implementing end‑to‑end quality control for agricultural products, and comprehensively roll out full‑process standardized production in major “vegetable basket” counties, large livestock‑raising counties, and modern agricultural industrial parks.

Third, we will promote the integration of the entire agricultural value chain. We will launch initiatives to advance the integrated development of primary, secondary, and tertiary industries in rural areas, establish a number of modern agricultural industrial parks and pilot zones for rural industrial integration, and facilitate the local and nearby processing of agricultural products to enhance their added value. We will strengthen the construction of origin‑based market systems, accelerating the development of a three‑tiered national, regional, and on‑farm market network that is rationally laid out, clearly divided in functions, and mutually complementary. We will also expedite the improvement of rural logistics infrastructure, innovate agricultural product distribution channels, advance comprehensive e‑commerce demonstration projects in rural areas, and vigorously develop e‑commerce for agricultural products. In addition, we will build a series of high‑quality rural tourism routes—such as beautiful leisure villages and rural guesthouses—and foster rural innovation and entrepreneurship parks, thereby nurturing new rural industries and business models.

Fourth, we will cultivate and enhance agricultural brands. We will launch an initiative to elevate agricultural branding, fostering a cohort of well‑known, high‑quality, and influential regional public brands, enterprise brands, and product brands. We will accelerate the establishment of an agricultural brand registry, comprehensively strengthen brand oversight, and build a robust system for protecting agricultural brands. We will innovate brand‑marketing approaches, tell compelling stories about our agricultural brands, and intensify promotional efforts. Moreover, we will bolster the development of agricultural brands with strong market potential and export‑competitive advantages, aiming to create internationally recognized agricultural brands.

Fifth, we will raise the level of agricultural product quality and safety. Ensuring the quality and safety of agricultural products is the bottom line for revitalizing agriculture through quality. We will further strengthen monitoring of agricultural product quality and safety, refine monitoring methods, expand the scope of monitoring, and deepen routine surveillance and targeted spot checks. We will improve the five-tiered regulatory system—provincial, municipal, county, township, and village—enhance the capacity and resources of grassroots regulatory agencies, and effectively bolster law enforcement and oversight capabilities. We will establish a national information platform for traceability management of agricultural product quality and safety, promote the implementation of a certificate-of-compliance system for food‑grade agricultural products, and continue to designate counties as model areas for agricultural product quality and safety. We will also deepen risk assessments of agricultural product quality and safety and put in place an early‑warning mechanism for such risks.

Sixth, we will strengthen agricultural scientific and technological innovation. We will launch quality‑oriented research initiatives to bolster innovation‑driven development in agriculture. We will organize joint efforts to develop superior crop varieties, breeding and promoting new cultivars that boast excellent taste, high quality, rich nutritional value, and broad resistance and adaptability, while reinforcing the conservation of distinctive livestock, poultry, and aquaculture germplasm resources. We will focus on elevating the quality of agricultural machinery and equipment, vigorously advance full‑process mechanization in the production of major crops, and actively promote the integrated and coordinated application of improved crop varieties, advanced cultivation techniques, and modern machinery, thereby fostering innovative convergence between agricultural machinery and agronomic practices. We will accelerate the development of information technology, deepen the implementation of the “Information to Villages and Households” program, launch the “Internet Plus” initiative to facilitate the outbound flow of agricultural products into urban markets, carry out digital agriculture projects, refine databases and records of key agricultural resources, and advance the construction of big data platforms covering the entire industrial chain of important agricultural products.

Seventh, we will build a high‑quality agricultural workforce. We will implement a program to foster new types of agricultural business entities, supporting family farms, farmer cooperatives, and leading agribusiness enterprises in enhancing their quality‑control capabilities. We will strengthen the training of new‑type professional farmers, providing annual training to more than one million such farmers, and work toward the full establishment of a professional farmer system. We will support the development of regional comprehensive platforms for socialized agricultural services, advancing the provision of end-to‑end socialized services throughout the agricultural production process. Furthermore, we will encourage state‑owned agricultural reclamation areas to take the lead in establishing a standardized system for grading agricultural product quality and a comprehensive quality‑management platform, thereby forging a national team of reclamation enterprises that drives agriculture through quality.

Reporter: One part planning, nine parts execution. What steps will we take next to ensure the effective implementation of the Plan?

Han Changfu: The Plan dedicates four chapters to laying out specific arrangements for establishing an implementation‑guarantee system for the strategy of revitalizing agriculture through quality, which represents a major innovation. We will accelerate the development of four systems—policy, evaluation, performance assessment, and operational management—to strengthen policy support, clarify responsibilities, enhance inspection and oversight, and reinforce organizational leadership, thereby ensuring that all targets and tasks set forth in the Plan are fully implemented. We will refine the policy framework for quality‑driven agricultural development, increase support for green and efficient agricultural production, and bolster complementary policies on land use and other related areas. We will establish an evaluation system for quality‑oriented agriculture, scientifically design evaluation indicators, strengthen data collection, conduct third‑party assessments, and accurately gauge the level of quality‑driven agricultural development. A performance‑assessment system will be put in place to intensify monitoring and evaluation of Plan implementation, establish sound mechanisms for incentives and constraints, and recognize and reward those who achieve outstanding results in advancing quality‑focused agricultural development. Finally, we will improve the working system for quality‑oriented agriculture by setting up an inter‑ministerial coordination mechanism, reinforcing local governments’ responsibility for territorial management, strengthening legal safeguards for quality‑driven agricultural development, and actively engaging all sectors of society to forge a collaborative synergy that drives this initiative forward.

Overall, the Plan outlines a grand vision for revitalizing agriculture through quality and sets forth the pathways and directions for high-quality agricultural development. Guided by Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, we will earnestly implement the decisions and arrangements of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council, fully leverage the strategic guiding role of national planning, ensure rigorous execution, and work diligently and pragmatically to see all targets and tasks of the Plan successfully accomplished. This will comprehensively enhance the quality, efficiency, and competitiveness of agriculture, providing strong support for better meeting the people’s aspirations for a better life and advancing the all-round revitalization of rural areas.

Source: People’s Daily (Agriculture Edition)

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