Food security, poverty watch top priorities

China released its annual No 1 Central Document on Tuesday, outlining key tasks for agricultural and rural work this year, with a focus on strengthening food security, preventing a return to poverty and boosting farmers' incomes.

Han Wenxiu, director of the Office of the Central Rural Work Leading Group, said the major tasks for 2026 include improving overall agricultural productivity and quality, implementing routine and targeted assistance to prevent poverty, promoting steady income growth for farmers and promoting livable and industry-friendly rural communities.

The document seeks to achieve fresh progress in comprehensive rural vitalization and lift agricultural and rural modernization to a new level, as China moves steadily toward its goal of building a strong agricultural nation.

A key priority of the new policy blueprint is implementing routine assistance measures to prevent people from slipping back into poverty, Han said at a news conference on Wednesday.

"Poverty prevention monitoring and assistance will cover the entire rural population, allowing households facing risks to be promptly included in support programs," Han said. Authorities will strengthen village-level monitoring and ensure quick responses through early identification. Once risks are eliminated, households will exit assistance programs dynamically, avoiding permanent labeling, he added.

The document emphasizes precise and efficient assistance, highlighting development-oriented support that builds self-reliance, he said.

Industrial assistance will focus on long-term planning and coordinated development, while employment support will be strengthened through organized labor programs, job workshops and public service positions to stabilize rural employment.

Targeted support will be given to less developed regions, particularly the 160 counties selected for national rural revitalization. These areas will continue to receive backing in finance, land use, talent and public services to narrow development gaps and raise incomes, Han said.

"China will maintain overall stability in fiscal, financial and resource support, avoiding abrupt cutbacks," he said. Existing mechanisms such as cross-regional cooperation and the dispatch of village work teams will be retained as part of a long-term poverty prevention system, Han added.

Meanwhile, increasing farmers' incomes will continue to be the central measure of success in rural work, said Zhu Weidong, deputy director of the Office of the Central Rural Work Leading Group.

"While farmers' incomes have grown steadily in recent years and the urban-rural income gap has narrowed, low agricultural product prices and employment pressures on migrant workers have posed new challenges," Zhu added.

To stabilize farming income, China will strengthen pricing, subsidy and insurance policies for grain producers. Tools such as minimum purchase prices will be used to keep grain prices at reasonable levels, while subsidies for arable land protection and farm machinery purchases will continue.

Agricultural insurance coverage for major crops will be expanded and claims will be processed more efficiently to guard against natural and market risks, he said.

The document also calls for boosting county-level industries that benefit farmers, encouraging regions to develop unique products based on local resources. Rural industries will be integrated with processing, services and e-commerce, while improving regulation to ensure healthy development.

"Eventually, developing rural industries is about enriching farmers, ensuring they have jobs to do and income to earn," said Zhu, adding that farmers will be encouraged to participate more deeply in industrial chains and share development gains.

To support wage income, authorities will work to stabilize migrant worker employment through job support policies, skills training and stronger labor services.

Special attention will be given to preventing wage arrears, particularly around the Spring Festival holiday, with stricter enforcement against malicious nonpayment, Zhu said.

In addition, the document seeks to unlock property income by revitalizing idle rural assets. Farmers will be granted stronger property rights to diversify their income sources. Strict safeguards against illegal land use will continue in rural areas, according to the document.