 |
|
| Related Stories |
|
|
|
|
| Premier Highlights Rural Work （2） |
|
|
It is essential to conscientiously implement all the policies for returning farmland to forests and improve supporting measures. No time should be lost in breeding and supplying improved seedlings and the quality of the work of returning farmland to forests should be guaranteed.
In returning farmland to forests and protecting natural forests, attention should be paid to the development of replacement industries so as to guarantee long－term sources of income for the local people and the financial revenues of the relevant localities. Laws and regulations on returning farmland to forests should be formulated without delay.
Second, the reform of rural taxes and administrative charges and the reform of the grain and cotton distribution systems will be deepened. The reform of rural taxes and administrative charges is a fundamental way of reducing the burden on farmers.
This year the scope of reform experiments will be extended, mainly in the major grain producing and agricultural provinces in the central region. Reform experiments will also continue in some selected counties and cities in other provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the central government.
The central financial authorities will have a budget supporting these reforms, and the financial departments of the areas concerned should also set aside appropriate funds to support them. At the same time, related reforms of township and town institutions, rural education, and county and township financial systems will be carried out.
The reform of rural taxes and administrative charges is designed both to lighten the burden on farmers significantly and to ensure the funds needed by townships and villages to work and develop normally, especially the funds for compulsory education in rural areas.
Rural areas that have not yet begun reforming their taxes and administrative charges should strictly follow the relevant regulations of the central government in continuing to reduce the burden on farmers.
All localities should make more efforts to regulate unauthorized charges in education, electricity and housing construction in rural areas. Measures for deepening the reform of the grain distribution system have to be implemented in full. Great efforts need to be made to further the reform of state－owned grain trading enterprises. Management of the grain market needs to be improved and strengthened. Main grain producers and purchasers are encouraged to establish long－term stable cooperative relations.
The government will continue to do a good job in every aspect of the market－oriented reform of cotton marketing to keep cotton production and the cotton market stable, he said.
Third, efforts will be made to increase sources of income for farmers. The government will speed up the development of rural secondary and tertiary industries, especially farm produce processing and rural services.
The government will guide rural enterprises to accelerate their restructuring, technological progress and operational system renovation in order to reach a higher level of development. Expanded economic exchanges between towns and rural areas can significantly increase farmers' incomes.
Local governments should abolish unreasonable restrictions, cancel improper charges and improve their services in order to make it easier for farmers to migrate to cities for work or business and to guarantee their legitimate rights and interests.
At the same time, supervision and guidance of this work should be strengthened. Urbanization should proceed in a positive and sound manner.
Fourth, greater efforts will be made to support agriculture. The government will adopt measures that conform to the WTO rules and effectively safeguard the interests of Chinese farmers.
The government will increase investment in agriculture and rural infrastructure to improve production and living conditions in the countryside and the ecological environment there.
Emphasis should be placed on support for projects of water－conserving irrigation, drinking water, production and use of marsh gas, hydroelectric power generation, rural road building, and grazing land fencing.
Support for agriculture should be strengthened in the fields of agroscientific research, dissemination of agricultural techniques, prevention and control of plant diseases, pest control, information consulting and farmer training. Financial service for agriculture will be improved.
Further efforts will be made in poverty alleviation and development in rural areas, increasing funding from various sources to aid the poor, and expanding programs that provide jobs for people as an alternative to relief.
More efforts should be made to aid disaster－stricken and destitute areas through reduction and exemption of agricultural or stock breeding taxes, and this policy should be carried out to the letter. Positive efforts should be made to help families living below the poverty line and families designated for special assistance resolve their practical difficulties.
|
|
|
|
