Strengthening the management of agriculture-related funds is the only way to safeguard farmers' legitimate rights and interests

In recent years, the central government's fiscal investment in agriculture, rural areas and farmers has been continuously increasing. In 2014 alone, the central government allocated direct grain subsidies and comprehensive agricultural input subsidies to all regions of the country, amounting to 15.1 billion yuan and 107.1 billion yuan respectively. The purpose of agriculture-related subsidies is to promote grain production and increase farmers' incomes, but in some places there are still loopholes and shortcomings in the process of fund circulation, distribution and disbursement. According to reports, the results of the first round of inspections in 2014 and the scorecard on the fight against the "four forms of decadence" released by the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection show that agriculture-related funds have become a high-incidence area for corruption. Over the past year, more than 6,000 cases involving various agriculture-related subsidies have been investigated and handled nationwide, involving more than 2 billion yuan.

Agriculture-related funds are closely tied to the interests of the people, to national food security, and to the image of the Party and the government. It is necessary to further improve mechanisms and strengthen oversight and management.

First, institutions must be improved and management strengthened so that agriculture-related funds truly benefit farmers. The management system for agriculture-related funds should be improved, with unified management and accounting and earmarked funds for earmarked purposes, so as to increase the efficiency of fund use. Management of agriculture-related funds should be strengthened: applications for agriculture-related projects must be strictly reviewed, and project construction must be verified on the ground by going into villages and households, ensuring that funds are truly used where they are needed. Second, the "sunshine operation" of agriculture-related funds should be promoted, increasing the transparency of fund disbursement and accepting public oversight. The informatization of agriculture-related fund disbursement should be accelerated, and an agriculture-related fund information database should be established to ensure the compliant use of agriculture-related funds. Third, a sound oversight mechanism should be established and improved. Financial, auditing, supervisory and other departments at all levels must track and supervise funds throughout the entire process to prevent funds from being intercepted, misappropriated or embezzled. Fourth, publicity for preferential agricultural policies should be increased to safeguard the people's right to know, right to participate and right to supervise, ensuring that farmers' vital interests are not infringed upon. Fifth, investigation and punishment should be intensified, with serious punishment for the seizure, misappropriation or interception of special funds, and rigorous investigation of violations of law and discipline, so as to protect the fundamental interests of the people.