Five departments issue opinions to support the innovative development of farmer water user cooperative organizations
Xinhua News Agency, Beijing, October 5 (Reporter Yu Wenjing) The Ministry of Water Resources, the National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Civil Affairs, the Ministry of Agriculture, and the State Administration for Industry and Commerce recently jointly issued guiding opinions, specifying that through methods such as policy preference, property rights reform, increased funding input, and comprehensive water price reform, they will support the innovative development and capacity building of farmer water user cooperative organizations.
It is understood that in order to deepen the reform of the management system and mechanisms for farmland water conservancy, adapt to the development changes of new types of agricultural business entities, further innovate the development of farmer water user cooperative organizations, and promote the sound operation of farmland water conservancy projects, the Ministry of Water Resources and four other departments recently jointly issued the Guiding Opinions on Encouraging and Supporting the Innovative Development of Farmer Water User Cooperative Organizations.
The opinions clarify the principles for establishing farmer water user cooperative organizations, their main responsibilities, and development methods. They encourage the use of the form of farmer professional cooperatives to carry out agricultural water-related cooperation, guide new types of agricultural business entities to join or establish farmer water user cooperative organizations, and at the same time actively expand the scope of services, using institutional constraints, interest incentives, and market-based mechanisms to carry out professional irrigation and drainage, water supply, aquaculture, agricultural production and operation, and water conservancy technology and information services.
The opinions emphasize that vigorous support should be given to the development of farmer water user cooperative organizations. Through methods such as policy preference, property rights reform, increased funding input, and comprehensive water price reform, farmer water user cooperative organizations are encouraged to undertake project construction, organize and operate small water conservancy projects, and be responsible for the calculation, collection, and management of water fees, support the innovative development and capacity building of farmer water user cooperative organizations, and increase business guidance and training for farmer water user cooperative organizations.