"New land management approaches and the development of agricultural science and technology will significantly facilitate agricultural modernization," said Yang Jianbo, Director of China Agro-Technological Extension Association.

In addition, the No.1 Document also pays attention to the integration of the agricultural, manufacturing and service industries. It means expanding the agricultural industry from simple grain production to include the processing and circulation of agricultural products and leisure farming, prolonging the industry chain in an effort to boost value-added of agriculture and farmers' incomes.

"Take eco-agricultural tourism for example. A total of 1.2 billion tourists traveled to rural areas last year, bringing about 320 billion yuan ($51 billion) in revenue to farmers and make 33 million rural residents live a better-off life," Chen revealed.

A better countryside

"Agricultural development should not blindly pursue high yields and heavily rely on resource consumption," the No.1 Document states, suggesting protecting and improving the quality of arable land, pushing forward structural adjustment and highlighting the role of scientific and technological innovation.

The old development model that has severely overdrawn soil fertility and capacity has come to an end, said Zhu Lizhi, a research fellow with the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences. He added that the transformation of the development model will help China foster its agricultural competitiveness.

In addition, the No.1 Document proposes to quicken infrastructure construction and expand the coverage of basic public services in the countryside, make access to electricity available to rural residents in areas which are not covered by power grids, improve rural residents' living environment and promote ethical progress in rural areas.

Different from the past, while attaching importance to the construction of water-, power- and road-related projects, this year's No.1 Document also stresses the importance of building cultural facilities in rural areas.

"For the first time, the government proposes to encourage more private investment in rural construction, which will make the construction of new countryside more sustainable and deliver more tangible benefits to farmers," said Li Guoxiang, a research fellow with the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.

Beyond that, the government has decided to accelerate the improvement of legal systems concerning agricultural and rural development. Zheng Fengtian, a professor at the School of Agricultural Economic and Rural Development of Beijing-based Renmin University of China, noted that the rule of law plays an irreplaceable role in tackling issues concerning agriculture, rural areas and farmers.

"Rural reform will inevitably involve interest adjustment, and putting a sound legal system in place can guarantee its smooth implementation and safeguard farmers' rights and interests," Zheng said.

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Major Questions Facing China's Agriculture

- China's economic development has entered a "new normal." Amidst the current growth slowdown, how can it continue strengthening the position of agriculture as the foundation of the national economy and boosting farmers' income?

- Given that the agricultural production costs are shooting up and domestic bulk farm products are generally priced higher than those from the international market, how can China adjust policies to enhance the agricultural sector's competitiveness?

- While dealing with problems such as agricultural resource shortage, overexploitation and pollution, how can China ensure the effective supply and safety of agricultural products and promote sustainable agricultural development?

- In the context of more dynamic urban-rural resource factor flow and more active urban-rural interaction, how can China speed up the construction of new countryside and realize common prosperity over the course of urbanization?

(Compiled by Beijing Review)