A draft revision to the Agriculture Law was submitted on Monday to a standing committee session of China’s top legislature for initial review.
The revision is designed to further consolidate and strengthen the fundamental role of agriculture in the national economy, uphold a holistic approach to agriculture and food, promote high-quality agricultural development, advance comprehensive rural revitalization, accelerate building up strength in agriculture, and provide strong legal safeguards for the modernization of agriculture and rural areas.
The Agriculture Law, a fundamental piece of legislation governing the agricultural and rural economy, was first enacted in 1993, and comprehensively revised in 2002. Individual provisions of the law were amended in 2009 and 2012, respectively, as minor modifications.
The draft revision specifies that the country shall keep rural land contracting stable and unchanged on a long-term basis, adhere to the national food security strategy, develop new quality productive forces in agriculture in light of local conditions, and advance the deep integration of sci-tech and industrial innovation.
It proposes that the country promote an investment model in agriculture and rural areas, which incorporates fiscal guarantees, financial support and the participation of diverse social sectors. It also adds a dedicated chapter on green agricultural development, and includes provisions to support the development of underdeveloped areas and to improve mechanisms for preventing rural residents from falling back into poverty.
During the session, a draft revision to the Water Law was also submitted for initial review, which emphasizes strengthening the development, utilization and management of water resources, enhancing the economical and intensive use of water resources, reinforcing the management and protection of rivers and lakes, and regulating the construction and operation of water projects, among other relevant revisions.
Lawmakers attending the National People’s Congress Standing Committee session also continued deliberations on a draft law on farmland protection and quality improvement. It includes measures to fully mobilize the enthusiasm of agricultural producers and operators in the protection and quality improvement of cultivated land, and safeguard their legitimate rights and interests.
It also stipulates that China shall improve the survey and evaluation system for cultivated land quality, and improve the project approval mechanism for high-standard farmland.
Moreover, the country shall utilize modern information technologies and means, such as satellite remote sensing, the internet, big data, cloud computing, and artificial intelligence, to raise the level of work in the protection and quality improvement of cultivated land, according to the draft law.
Reference Link:- https://english.news.cn/20260427/4fcb1147cb9e482292f24cf0be3eb078/c.html