Food security focus of agri law revision

Newly submitted draft revisions to China's Agriculture Law are aimed at further strengthening food security, boosting farmers' incomes and advancing rural modernization, according to an official.

The draft was presented during a session of the Standing Committee of the 14th National People's Congress, China's top legislature, in Beijing on Monday. The committee's 22nd session is scheduled until Thursday.

Originally enacted in 1993, the Agriculture Law is the cornerstone of China's legal framework governing the agricultural and rural economy. It underwent a comprehensive revision in 2002, with partial amendments in 2009 and 2012.

The latest update is needed to reflect current domestic and global conditions and the country's deepening agricultural reforms, said Du Jiahao, an official with the NPC Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee.

The draft revisions aim to reinforce the foundational role of agriculture in the national economy while promoting high-quality development and rural vitalization, providing legal support for the modernization of agriculture and rural areas, he said.

Food security is a central focus of the draft. It stipulates ensuring the national food security strategy, improving mechanisms to protect grain-producing regions and ensuring stable incomes for farmers.

New provisions include establishing monitoring and early warning systems for grain security, strengthening government grain reserves and improving emergency response mechanisms.

The draft also calls for the development of a diversified food system, expanding production of cotton, edible oils, sugar, vegetables and animal feed, in addition to staple crops. Forestry and grassland agriculture and related industries are also encouraged.

To improve resilience, it outlines measures to strengthen agricultural meteorological monitoring, disaster prevention and mitigation, as well as early warning systems for animal and plant diseases.

It also emphasizes farmland protection and quality improvement, including the development of high-standard farmland, conservation of black soil and management of saline-alkali land.

In addition, the draft calls for a multi-channel investment framework in which public finance plays a leading role, financial institutions provide targeted support and private and social capital participates more actively.

It also highlights raising farmers' incomes through measures including fostering rural industries at the county level, improving mechanisms that link farmers more closely to value chains and safeguarding labor rights.

According to the draft, green agricultural development and the adoption of new quality productive forces in agriculture should also be promoted.

zhaoyimeng@chinadaily.com.cn