China’s all-round efforts to drive agricultural development – China Daily

China’s Commitment to Rural Revitalization

Introduction

China has reaffirmed its commitment to prioritizing and strengthening the agricultural sector with the release of its “No 1 Central Document” for 2025. The document outlines a series of enhanced measures aimed at advancing all-around rural revitalization.

Boosting Agricultural Efficiency

China aims to significantly boost agricultural efficiency, invigorate rural areas, and raise farmers’ incomes. This will be achieved through targeted measures that address key priorities and pressing challenges.

Enhancing Food Supply Capacity

China recognizes the importance of ensuring food security and will focus on improving the supply capacity of grain and other essential agricultural products. This includes increasing per-unit yields of grain and promoting high-yield and efficient production models. The country will also leverage cutting-edge technologies to improve the efficiency and diversity of its food supply.

Protecting Arable Land

China acknowledges that arable land is the foundation of ensuring food security. With less than 10 percent of the planet’s arable land, China feeds one-fifth of the world’s population. To consolidate this foundation, China will strengthen its protection efforts for arable land and improve its quality through measures such as maintaining the quantity of land and regulating land use.

Support for Low-Income Groups and Underdeveloped Regions

China will refine its support policies for low-income residents and underdeveloped areas. It aims to prevent a large-scale lapse or relapse into poverty by persistently upholding the bottom line. The country will strengthen support for low-income rural populations through enhanced social assistance and stimulating the internal driving force within this population group. Additionally, targeted policy support will be provided to underdeveloped rural regions, enabling them to catch up in the modernization process.

Encouraging Entrepreneurship in Rural Regions

The key to rural revitalization lies in developing the talent pool needed to address prominent issues in China’s modernization process. China has seen an increase in college graduates and white-collar talent returning to or relocating to rural areas to start businesses. The country plans to improve the mechanisms for cultivating and developing rural talent, combining local training and external recruitment. This includes strengthening technical and skill training for farmers, cultivating rural artisans, creating a favorable entrepreneurship environment, and improving services at grassroots levels.

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

SDG 2: Zero Hunger

• Target 2.1: By 2030, end hunger and ensure access by all people, in particular, the poor and people in vulnerable situations, including infants, to safe, nutritious, and sufficient food all year round.
• Indicator 2.1.1: Prevalence of undernourishment.
• Indicator 2.1.2: Prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity in the population, based on the Food Insecurity Experience Scale (FIES).

SDG 1: No Poverty

• Target 1.1: By 2030, eradicate extreme poverty for all people everywhere, currently measured as people living on less than $1.25 a day.
• Indicator 1.1.1: Proportion of the population living below the international poverty line, by sex, age, employment status, and geographical location (urban/rural).

SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

• Target 8.3: Promote development-oriented policies that support productive activities, decent job creation, entrepreneurship, creativity, and innovation, and encourage the formalization and growth of micro-, small-, and medium-sized enterprises, including through access to financial services.
• Indicator 8.3.1: Proportion of informal employment in non-agriculture employment, by sex.

SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

• Target 11.3: By 2030, enhance inclusive and sustainable urbanization and capacity for participatory, integrated, and sustainable human settlement planning and management in all countries.
• Indicator 11.3.1: Ratio of land consumption rate to population growth rate.

SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

• Target 12.3: By 2030, halve per capita global food waste at the retail and consumer levels and reduce food losses along production and supply chains, including post-harvest losses.
• Indicator 12.3.1: Food loss index.

Analysis

1. The SDGs addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article are SDG 2: Zero Hunger, SDG 1: No Poverty, SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth, SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities, and SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production.

2. Specific targets under those SDGs identified based on the article’s content are:
– Target 2.1: Ending hunger and ensuring access to safe, nutritious, and sufficient food all year round.
– Target 1.1: Eradicating extreme poverty for all people everywhere.
– Target 8.3: Promoting decent job creation, entrepreneurship, and the growth of micro-, small-, and medium-sized enterprises.
– Target 11.3: Enhancing inclusive and sustainable urbanization and human settlement planning.
– Target 12.3: Halving per capita global food waste and reducing food losses.

3. Indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets are:
– Indicator 2.1.1: Prevalence of undernourishment.
– Indicator 2.1.2: Prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity.
– Indicator 1.1.1: Proportion of the population living below the international poverty line.
– Indicator 8.3.1: Proportion of informal employment in non-agriculture employment.
– Indicator 11.3.1: Ratio of land consumption rate to population growth rate.
– Indicator 12.3.1: Food loss index.

4. Table presenting the findings:

Source: chinadaily.com.cn