Farmland policy reforms requested

Waste of fields threaten nation's agricultural output, experts say

Changes are being urged in China's farmland policies, including reforms in subsidies to farmers, as wasted or deserted land is challenging food security in a country with more than 1.3 billion people, lawmakers and advisers said during the annual session of National People's Congress, China's top legislature.

"The rising waste of farmland across the country is absolutely a big concern amid China's economic development and is worth great attention and effort," Jin Daoming, deputy Party chief of Shanxi province and a deputy of the National People's Congress, told China Daily in an exclusive interview on Sunday.

The waste of land is common in different farming regions as farmers migrate to cities for higher wages, and as subsidies to farmers have reduced their willingness to contract out farmland.

China has been following the household contract responsibility system since the late 1970s, which enables farmers to use land through long-term contracts and keep the produce after paying taxes. It raised productivity and increased agricultural output, both of which were preconditions for nurturing the nation's economic growth, as well as its comprehensive industrialization and urbanization.

"The system, though, has shown not to be very adaptable. It's necessary to review and adjust the policy and further improve the productivity of farmers as well as enhance the efficiency of farmland, which is the key for resolving farmland challenges," Jin said.

He added that the improvement in farmland policy as well as ensuring farmers' interests will be "decisive in building up a well-off society", just as the household contract responsibility system boosted economic expansion in past decades.

"The central government must now put forward specific policies to encourage the circulation of farmland," said Wang Qingxian, acting mayor of Yuncheng in Shanxi and an NPC deputy.

Farmers can contract out their land or can become shareholders of bigger operating companies, earning annual dividends while working as employees at the same time, Wang said on Sunday on the sidelines of the session. 

"These moves will significantly enhance farming productivity and agricultural mechanization," he added.

The subsidies are given to farmers according to the area of farmland under production in the previous year, with deserted farmland receiving no subsidies. In reality, however, village heads present the area of farmland for subsidies and there is no abandoned land in government statistics, Jin said.

"I suggest a review of all the subsidies as well as subsidy items and allocation mechanisms to enhance the enthusiasm for grain farming. Farmers may receive more subsidies when selling their harvested grain, and less money when keeping the produce for their own use," he said.

China increased subsidies and expanded coverage to grain farmers in the past five years. The amount of annual subsidies rose from 63.9 billion yuan to 192.3 billion yuan ($10.27 billion to $30.93 billion) in the past five years, according to the Government Work Report delivered by Premier Wen Jiabao on March 5.