Rural vitalization requires coordinated efforts

Editor's note: China released its "No 1 central document" for 2026 on Tuesday, outlining plans to advance agricultural and rural modernization and to promote all-round rural vitalization. China Central Television spoke to Hu Xiangdong, head of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences' Institute of Agricultural Economics and Development, on the country's agricultural development. Below are excerpts of the interview. The views don't necessarily represent those of China Daily.

The promotion and transformation of agricultural science and technology still face challenges when it comes to real-world application. In the past, technological planning was often carried out in a segmented way. This year, however, a more systematic approach has been emphasized, integrating high-standard farmland, improved seed varieties, advanced farming practices and modern agricultural machinery. Such coordination makes it easier for technologies to be applied directly in the fields and generate productivity gains.

At the same time, China's agricultural landscape is characterized by a large number of smallholder farmers and small-scale production. This affects the adoption and application of new technologies. To address this, efforts are being made to promote agricultural socialized services and ensure appropriate land circulation. This way, technologies can reach the fields more quickly, allowing scientific innovation and integrated technologies to be translated into improved productivity.

In recent years, climate change and frequent extreme weather events have not only had a sustained and wide-ranging impact on agriculture but also affected logistics facilities. Building a robust system for disaster prevention and mitigation therefore requires a comprehensive approach.

First, efforts should be made to improve monitoring and early warning systems. Timely forecasting and preparedness are essential to reduce potential losses. Second, infrastructure development needs to be strengthened. In the past, more attention was paid to irrigation, but due to climate change, drainage is equally important. Third, there should be deeper scientific research on stress-resistant crop varieties, particularly those that can withstand drought, flooding and other extreme conditions. Finally, policy support plays a crucial role, including disaster relief mechanisms and agricultural insurance schemes, which can help reduce farmers' losses.

The implementation of routine assistance measures sends a clear signal that support for people who have come out of poverty will continue. This is especially significant for formerly impoverished regions and populations. The development of such regions is constrained by structural factors, including weaker infrastructure, limited human capital and weak industrial foundations. Assistance should therefore focus more on strengthening endogenous growth drivers.

By enhancing industrial support, these regions can build stronger and more resilient industrial bases, which in turn would create local employment opportunities. This would not only help raise incomes for local residents and formerly impoverished groups, but also reinforce their capacity for sustainable development.

Lower expenses and higher earnings amount to growth in farmers' incomes.
Rural e-commerce plays a particularly important role in addressing the challenge of connecting production with markets, especially for local specialty products. In many regions, such products are produced on a small scale and struggle to enter mainstream distribution channels. E-commerce is an effective complement, helping specialty and high-quality agricultural products reach consumers more smoothly. This not only boosts farmers' incomes but also alleviates the problem of unsold produce. Without such channels, even high-quality products may fail to secure good prices.

When it comes to ensuring migrant workers' employment, development and quality of life in cities, the focus should be on improving their skills and qualifications because that would enable them to access better job opportunities. Equally important is guaranteeing their access to urban public services so they can fully integrate into city life and find their place in the urban environment.

Most crucially, migrant workers need opportunities for continuous skill upgrading, which would form a virtuous cycle of development and sustained improvement. For migrant workers in cities, advancing on both fronts simultaneously can significantly enhance their overall welfare.