Comprehensively deepening reform in key rural areas

The Government Work Report proposed accelerating the transformation of the agricultural development model; supporting the development of new types of business entities; and prudently carrying out pilot reforms such as the collective property rights system.

Song Xibin, a deputy to the National People's Congress and mayor of Harbin, Heilongjiang Province, said in an interview with reporters that Harbin will closely focus on the goal of “increasing agricultural efficiency, raising farmers' incomes, and prospering rural areas,” firmly grasp the main thread of agricultural transformation and upgrading, and strive to achieve new breakthroughs in reform in key rural areas.

In recent years, Harbin has achieved tremendous successes in the development of its “three rural” undertakings. This year's overall goals are: county GDP and fiscal revenue to grow by 7.5% and 3.5% respectively; total grain output to remain stable at around 35 billion jin; per capita disposable income of rural permanent residents to grow by more than 10%, and rural livelihoods to be significantly improved. Song Xibin said that to achieve these goals, Harbin will follow the working approach of “activating factors, releasing vitality, and supporting services,” and focus on doing a good job in three areas of reform and innovation:

First, accelerate the reform of the rural property rights system. Continue to do a good job in the confirmation, registration, and certification of rural land rights, and fully complete the construction of the “three-level” rural property rights trading service platform at the city, district and county (city), and township (town) levels before the end of the year, achieve interconnection, and complete the separate establishment of land dispute arbitration and mediation institutions in the six urban districts. Do a good job in the reform of the rural collective property rights system. This year, focus on advancing the pilot reform of the collective property rights system in the entire Pingfang District, the entire Fangzheng County, and Shengli Village, Minzhu Town, Daowai District. At the same time, each district and county (city) must do a good job in at least one village pilot, completing work such as clearing and verifying assets, quantifying assets, defining member identities, and setting up equity. Explore and establish mechanisms for farmers' possession of collective asset shares, income, paid exit, as well as mortgage, guarantee, and inheritance.

Second, vigorously cultivate new types of agricultural business entities. Increase policy support, focus on supporting family farms, large households, cooperatives, and agricultural enterprises in developing various forms of appropriately scaled operations, with new types of agricultural business entities growing to 13,230, an increase of 868. Vigorously cultivate family farms and specialized large households, and encourage rural practical talent, college and secondary school graduates returning home to start businesses, and local skilled crop and livestock producers to establish family farms (pasture farms). Standardize the development of farmers' professional cooperatives, further clarify property rights relationships, clearly define the entities for investment, operation, risk, and benefits, and establish and improve management systems for capital contribution ratios, operational accounting, and benefit distribution.

At the same time, accelerate the construction of a new type of agricultural socialized service system, with a focus on doing a good job in building the agricultural socialized service system. Actively explore public-benefit service institutions joining with new types of agricultural business entities to create comprehensive agricultural service demonstration bases and carry out full-process services before, during, and after production. Support private scientific research institutions in undertaking public-benefit science and technology extension service projects. Encourage scientific and technological personnel from research institutes and colleges and universities to provide paid services to production bases through methods such as technical contracting and shareholding. Do a good job in reforming the agricultural finance and insurance systems and mechanisms. Continue to innovate the operating model of the city-level agriculture and animal husbandry investment and financing guarantee service platform, and encourage qualified districts and counties (cities) to raise funds to expand the total amount of reserve funds and improve service capacity. Accelerate the pace of deep cooperation between agriculture and banking, and carry out mortgage (pledge) guarantee loan business for large agricultural machinery and land contractual management rights.