Ministry of Finance Issues Opinions to Support the Development of Farmers' Cooperative Organizations
Ministry of Finance Issues Opinions on Supporting the Development of Farmers' Cooperative Organizations and Promoting Innovation in the Agricultural Production and Operation System
China Securities Journal Online (Reporter Guo Xiaoping) According to news on the Ministry of Finance website on the 5th, in order to implement the spirit of Central Document No. 1, "Several Opinions on Accelerating the Development of Modern Agriculture and Further Enhancing the Vitality of Rural Development," support a higher degree of organization in agricultural production, and accelerate innovation in the agricultural production and operation system, the Ministry of Finance recently issued the "Opinions on Supporting the Development of Farmers' Cooperative Organizations and Promoting Innovation in the Agricultural Production and Operation System."
The "Opinions" propose that, in accordance with the six principles of adhering to the foundation of household contract management, voluntariness and democracy, market regulation, adapting measures to local conditions, integration and overall planning, and performance orientation, the work of fiscal support for the development of cooperative organizations should be carried out well, striving by the end of the “Twelfth Five-Year” period to cultivate a group of cooperative organizations with large operating scale, new operating mechanisms, solid industrial foundations, strong driving capacity, excellent product quality, and good democratic management, and to achieve the goals of a marked increase in the proportion of farmers participating in cooperative organizations, a marked enhancement in the sustainable development capacity of cooperative organizations, a marked improvement in the mechanisms linking interests with farming households, and a marked rise in the income level of participating farming households.
The "Opinions" make clear that it is necessary to actively promote the alignment of agricultural support projects with cooperative organizations, with emphasis on giving priority to qualified cooperative organizations to participate in application and implementation for projects in fields and rural communities and for projects that require organized, large-scale, and contiguous advancement. The fiscal department will support cooperative organizations in six areas: agricultural subsidies, agricultural and rural infrastructure, agricultural industry development, agricultural socialized services, agricultural products circulation, and rural talent training. Leading enterprises are encouraged to carry out more contact and cooperation with cooperative organizations and to promote and improve various effective business methods such as “farmers + cooperative organizations + leading enterprises.” In addition, promote the transfer of agricultural support project assets to cooperative organizations, establish and improve project asset management and protection mechanisms, and strengthen interest linkages with members.