Closing the gap: China's rural development

The long-term development of rural areas has consistently been listed as a top priority by the Chinese government since 2004. So, after nearly a decade, how are rural policies actually benefiting farmers? Liu Yang went to meet two farmers in southwestern China's Sichuan province.

Get ready for this year's Spring plowing season. Just two years ago today, Su Guiji's dream moved closer to reality. He signed a 9-hectares land contract with the local agricultural company. And this year, he contracted another 13 hectares. Su says the government's favourable policies altered his life and ignited many ordinary farmers' dream.

"We have good water conditions and infrastructure in the village," said family farm owner Su Guiji. "I am planning to contract another 25 plus hecters of land, and hope the income could reach 200,000 yuan."

The government's latest set of policies encourage running the family farm, which are aimed at tackling China's growing urban-rural wealth gap, and intended to double rural incomes.

Experts say there are still challenges that are waiting for more effective proposals from the government. "I think confirmation of land rights is a prerequisite for helping farmers achieve their dream. Also, the state should further increase investment in agricultural science and technology, and promote such technology," said Zhang Linxiu, Deputy Director of the Center for Chinese Agriculture Policy.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture, at the end of 2012, some 180,000 hectares of land were transferred from small-scale farmers to those who run the land on a large-scale operation. These large-scale family farms are now numbering more than 2.7 million.

From traditional agriculture to modern large-scale agricultural management, the process has created untold benefits. On the one hand, it has increased farmers' income, but also promoted the development of urbanization and gradually reduced the rural surplus labor force. Eventually, it will reduce the gap between the standard of living in urban and rural areas. Ultimately, it will allow Chinese farmers to achieve their Chinese dream.