Central government increases funding for high-standard farmland construction

According to the National Agricultural Comprehensive Development Office, as of now, the central government has allocated 23.565 billion yuan in agricultural comprehensive development funds for high-standard farmland projects, which can build 27.7745 million mu of high-standard farmland, with an average increase in grain production capacity of more than 100 kg per mu.

According to reports, in order to raise project construction standards, the National Agricultural Comprehensive Development Office has raised the upper limit of the average per-mu fiscal investment standard for high-standard farmland construction projects from 1,300 yuan to 1,500 yuan, achieving alignment with the investment standards of the National Overall Plan for High-Standard Farmland Construction. At the same time, it has jointly carried out pilot projects with 3 financial institutions: China Development Bank, Agricultural Development Bank of China, and Agricultural Bank of China, exploring support for high-standard farmland construction projects implemented by new types of business entities such as state-owned farms, leading enterprises, farmers' cooperatives, and specialized large-scale farmers, using two support methods, interest subsidies and grants, to leverage financial capital investment into high-standard farmland construction.

In addition, in 2015 the central government allocated 1.483 billion yuan in agricultural comprehensive development funds, and approved a total of 154 key medium-sized irrigation district water-saving supporting renovation projects. After the projects are completed, it is expected to increase and improve the irrigated area by 7.0887 million mu, save 1.057 billion cubic meters of water annually, and add 576 million kg of comprehensive agricultural production capacity.