Implement Document No 1
(China Daily)
Updated: 2004-04-03 10:46

Two major issues concerning rural China require immediate attention. One is to ensure food safety and the other is to increase the income of rural labourers.

A steady decline in grain production in the past few years has put the spotlight on the food security issue.

For six consecutive years, the annual growth of rural people's average income has been below 5 per cent. The widening gap between urban and rural areas is also a continuing problem.

From the No 1 Document of the year issued by the State Council in January to the six detailed measures brought about at the annual session of the National People's Congress in March, the State authorities have attached great importance to problems concerning rural areas, agriculture and farmers.

The central government has set the goal of grain production at 455 billion kilograms this year, but achieving it will not be easy.

The rural labourers' initiative should be aroused in order to guarantee farming acreage for grain crops. But now farmers hardly see much return in investing more on grain production as price hikes on grain products only benefits the merchants.

The implementation of the government's high-profile policies has not yet reached a satisfactory level. Farmers suffer from price hikes on seeds and fertilizer. Illegal land development has forced many farmers off their land. The paradox of growing trees or industrial crops instead of grain crops has not been solved.

The central government has made quick responses and issued urgent circulars. An inspection team has been sent to the provinces looking for solutions to these problems. But local government input is vital in putting these policies and circulars into effect and helping find solutions.

They should stop rampant illegal land development and guide farmers to increase investment in grain production. Science and technology should be promoted for achieving higher productivity. And the market should be supervised to avoid radical price hikes on production goods and to check illegal activities that harm farmers' interests.

The spring ploughing is a serious test of local governments' ability to implement the policies outlined in Document No 1.

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