Han Changfu: Deepen Rural Reform, Innovate Institutional Mechanisms, and Enhance Agricultural and Rural Vitality

Recently, during an inspection tour in Guangdong, Minister of Agriculture Han Changfu emphasized the need to earnestly implement the various decisions and arrangements of the central government, comprehensively deepen rural reform, continuously innovate institutional mechanisms, accelerate the development of agricultural product processing and distribution industries, innovate rural financial services, actively explore reform of the rural collective asset property rights system, advance agricultural scientific research breakthroughs such as in the seed industry, make every effort to promote the reform and development of state farms, and enhance the vitality of agricultural and rural economic development.

From November 20 to 22, Han Changfu visited Guangzhou, Dongguan, and Shenzhen, conducting in-depth inspections of villages, enterprises, markets, and research institutes. Han Changfu fully affirmed the achievements Guangdong had made in rural reform and modern agricultural development, and stated that the Ministry of Agriculture would, as always, support Guangdong's agricultural and rural economic development.

At present, the agricultural product processing industry is in an important period of historical opportunity. To learn about the processing and distribution of agricultural products in Guangdong, Han Changfu first visited the Jiaxian Farm Experience Store under Guangdong State Farms. Famous, high-quality agricultural products from state farms across the country were gathered together and filled the store. He stopped to look and from time to time asked the store manager about the details of online ordering and delivery. At Dongguan Yongyi Food Co., Ltd., Han Changfu talked with the company's person in charge to learn about the processing and distribution of edible oil, chicken essence powder, and tomato paste. At the Shenzhen Haijixing Agricultural Products Market, Han Changfu inspected the grading and packaging of agricultural products and other preliminary processing, and learned about quality inspection and supervision, information-based trading, and timely price changes of agricultural products. He pointed out that modern agriculture is agriculture featuring the integrated development of the primary, secondary, and tertiary industries. It is necessary to vigorously develop the processing, storage, preservation, and transportation and marketing of agricultural products, support new distribution formats such as e-commerce, extend the industrial chain, build the supply chain, and form a whole-industry chain, so that farmers can share in the returns from processing and distribution, and achieve improved quality and efficiency in agriculture and increased farmers' incomes.

Rural finance is an important support for the development of modern agriculture, and Guangdong has made considerable explorations in rural financial services. Han Changfu came to the Fuxiang Mutual Fund Cooperative in Zengcheng, Guangzhou, to learn about the operation and management of the cooperative's funds. The cooperative was initiated and established by a leading agricultural enterprise, with funds managed by a third-party bank and operated under a "closed membership, closed funds" model. While providing members with timely and convenient mutual aid fund services, it also prevented and controlled financial risks. At the Agricultural Bank of China financial service station in Anliang Village, Zhongxin Town, Zengcheng, self-service terminals can provide services such as deposits and withdrawals, registration, bill payments, and the purchase of bus and plane tickets, meeting farmers' financial needs. Han Changfu expressed appreciation for this. He pointed out that the shortage of rural financial services is a bottleneck for modern agriculture and also a worry for new types of business entities. It is necessary to use fiscal leverage to promote innovation in financial institutions, services, and mechanisms, and explore effective ways for finance to support agriculture. Reform of the rural collective asset property rights system is one of the priorities of rural reform. Han Changfu came to the Collective Asset Management and Trading Center in Humen Town, Dongguan, to listen to customers' feelings and opinions on using the trading platform, and to ask village officials about the quantification of collective asset equity and the methods of villagers' dividends. He pointed out that it is necessary to deepen reform of the rural property rights system, explore various business methods such as joint-stock cooperation, protect farmers' lawful rights and interests, activate the potential of various production factors such as rural assets, resources, and funds, and give farmers more property rights.

The Shenzhen Agricultural Genomics Institute of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences is currently in the construction stage, conducting scientific research while being built, and has developed rapidly. Han Changfu affirmed this. He walked into the construction site and laboratories, inspected and guided the institute's construction and scientific research work, and held discussions with researchers. He pointed out that it is necessary, in accordance with the national science and technology development strategy and the central government's innovation-driven requirements, to focus on prominent issues in the development of modern agriculture, base itself in Shenzhen, face the whole country, and look to the world, plan and build from a high starting point, conduct research from the "root," carry out high-level grafting, strengthen basic research, and build the institute into an institute of foundations, platforms, talent, innovation, and frontier research, realize the sharing of talent, facilities, and projects, and strive to build the institute into a first-class new-type research institute with internationally advanced standards.

Han Changfu was very concerned about the reform and development of state farms. He conducted an on-site inspection of Guangdong Guangken Rubber Group Co., Ltd. and presided over a symposium on the reform and development of state farms. He pointed out that Guangdong State Farms should seize opportunities and continue to serve as a pacesetter in institutional reform, modern agriculture, and agricultural foreign cooperation and exchanges, taking the lead in reform and development. In the next step, efforts should be intensified in areas such as agricultural product quality and safety, agricultural product processing and distribution, agricultural science and technology innovation, and agricultural foreign cooperation and exchanges, innovate institutional mechanisms, continue to grow stronger and larger, continue to stay at the forefront in the process of national agricultural modernization, and play a demonstration and driving role.

Li Jiayang, Vice Minister of Agriculture and President of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, participated in part of the inspection.