Agricultural science and technology innovation and the cultivation of new types of business entities are being accelerated

Vice Premier Wang Yang of the State Council held a discussion on the 9th with the “ten most distinguished figures in China's seed industry” and the “top ten farmers nationwide”, expressing respect and gratitude for their outstanding contributions. He stressed that China's agriculture has reached a critical stage where it must accelerate the transformation of its development mode and take the path of agricultural modernization with Chinese characteristics, and that it is necessary to persist in relying on innovation-driven development, vigorously cultivate new types of business entities, develop appropriately scaled operations according to local conditions, and strive to achieve sustained, healthy and stable development.

Wang Yang pointed out that the fundamental way out for agricultural development lies in scientific and technological progress and innovation. It is necessary to deepen the reform of the agricultural scientific research system, give play to the role of enterprises as the main body of innovation, unleash the innovation and creativity potential of scientific and technological personnel, and strive to seize the commanding heights and gain the upper hand in the new round of the world agricultural science and technology revolution, continuously raising the contribution rate of agricultural scientific and technological progress. Agricultural science and technology innovation must be oriented by market demand and industrial development, with solving practical problems at its core, and strive to improve its pertinence and effectiveness. It is necessary to persist in taking the seed industry as the breakthrough point for innovation-driven agricultural development, and resolve to raise the national seed industry to a higher level.

Wang Yang stressed that appropriately scaled operations are the basic direction and an important hallmark of modern agricultural development. It is necessary to respect the pioneering spirit of the grassroots and the farming masses, develop various forms of appropriately scaled agricultural operations, and actively cultivate large planting and breeding households, family farms, farmers' cooperatives, leading enterprises and other various new types of business entities. It is necessary to organize and implement the new-type professional farmer cultivation project well, increase efforts to train rural practical talents, give full play to the exemplary and leading role of advanced models, and attract more outstanding talents to devote themselves to the building of modern agriculture.