Beijing aims to improve farmers' income growth and reduce agricultural barriers next year, in a bid to boost development in rural areas.

At the Central Rural Work Conference that closed on Saturday, Minister of Agriculture Han Changfu said while improving the country's basic rural system, China would focus on fostering new types of agricultural businesses.

This will require maintaining stable land contract relationships on the basis of household contract management while guiding the orderly transfer of farmers' land contract management rights, Han said.

Delegates at the conference agreed that farmers' rights will be fully protected, and land transfers should not be compulsory or restricted.

Participants at the meeting included scholars, experts and officials from the agricultural sector.

They said the government should work to create systems that are more organized when it comes to agricultural production and operation. The government will also help to increase support to new types of businesses like family farms and specialized cooperatives.

Delegates also agreed that while ensuring the nation's grain security and effective supply of major agricultural products, more work should be done on pricing and ensuring that farmers get a fair profit during times of rising production costs.

The growth of farmers' income should be maintained at the same pace, or even faster than urban residents, the meeting agreed.

In addition, the government will also further balance urban and rural development and make sure migrant workers from rural areas get equal treatment if they become urban residents.

(China Daily 12/23/2012 page2)