Agriculture Law update aims to boost rural vitalization

Draft revisions to China's Agriculture Law were submitted for initial review on Monday at the 22nd session of the Standing Committee of the 14th National People's Congress.

The draft is designed to reinforce agriculture's foundational role in the national economy, promote high-quality agricultural development and accelerate rural vitalization, providing legal support for modernizing agriculture and rural areas.

Originally enacted in 1993, the Agriculture Law is a cornerstone of legislation governing the agricultural and rural economy. It underwent comprehensive amendments in 2002 and further revisions to specific articles in 2009 and 2012.

The NPC Standing Committee session, running from Monday to Thursday in Beijing, will review the draft as part of its agenda.

Du Jiahao, an official with the NPC Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee, underscored the need for revisions in light of ongoing agricultural reforms, the consolidation of poverty alleviation gains and steady progress toward agricultural and rural modernization.

He said changing domestic and international conditions have brought new challenges and tasks for agricultural and rural economic development.

The draft revisions focus on ensuring food security and the supply of key agricultural products, strengthening agricultural support and protection systems, raising farmers' incomes, promoting green agricultural development and boosting rural economic growth.