Building new-type rural communities should follow a path of livable and workable development

New-type rural communities reflect the major trend of urban-rural integration in the new era. Doing a good job in building new-type rural communities can raise the level of intensive use of rural land, thoroughly change the current situation of scattered village layout, disorderly construction, poor environment and weak functions, and will effectively improve farmers' production and living conditions. However, the author has found quite a few problems in already-built rural communities:

First, community planning is unscientific. There is a tendency to emphasize community construction while neglecting industrial development, and the characteristics of a one-size-fits-all model are very obvious. Second, a small number of grassroots cadres have mistaken understandings of new-type rural community construction. They often ignore local realities, simply interpret construction as demolishing the old and building the new, neglect farmers' main wishes, and impose a one-size-fits-all approach. Third, the original rural ecological environment has been damaged. After a new-type rural community is launched or completed, the trees in the original village are cut down almost completely, and some things that carry rural cultural memories disappear. Fourth, farmers' production and life are inconvenient. Some new communities are farther from cultivated land than before, making farming inconvenient. Fifth, within old villages, some farmers' houses were built only a few years ago but are demolished and rebuilt on planned sites in new communities, causing a waste of resources and increasing farmers' burdens. For these reasons, the author suggests:

First, adhere to scientific planning. In accordance with the requirements of promoting intensive and efficient production space, livable and moderate living space, and clear mountains and waters in ecological space, make the layout of production, ecological and living space in new communities scientifically reasonable. It is necessary to appropriately increase land for living, especially residential land, and define ecological red lines.

Second, clarify mistaken understandings. Building new-type rural communities must be adapted to local conditions: demolish where demolition is appropriate, renovate where renovation is appropriate, and relocate where relocation is appropriate. As far as possible, rely on the original site to do planning and construction well, avoid excessively increasing farmers' burdens, be cautious about cutting trees, and demolish fewer houses.

Third, respect farmers' wishes. It is necessary to consider farmers' real needs and carry out point withdrawal and area merging for natural villages where farm households are excessively scattered and production and living conditions are harsh. At the same time, in the construction of new areas, consideration should be given to leaving each village household a modestly sized farm courtyard, making it convenient for villagers to plant trees to beautify the environment and to breed and raise livestock to increase income, creating a distinctive pastoral life.

Fourth, do a good job in industrial support. The construction of new-type rural communities must have industry as support, provide farmers with skills training, and achieve nearby transfer and employment. It is necessary to improve supporting infrastructure, ensure that they are built well and farmers become rich, and make new-type rural communities truly become farmers' beautiful homeland.