Take the road of modern agriculture with China characteristics

The report of the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China put forward the strategy of rural revitalization and "accelerating the modernization of agriculture and rural areas". The modernization of agriculture is related to the overall situation of building a well-off society in an all-round way and building a socialist modern power. General Secretary of the Supreme Leader pointed out that without agricultural modernization, rural prosperity and prosperity, and farmers living and working in peace and contentment, national modernization is incomplete, incomplete and unstable. He also stressed that the fundamental solution to the problems concerning agriculture, countryside and farmers lies in deepening reform and taking the road of modern agriculture with China characteristics.

The road to modern agriculture with China characteristics must conform to the reality of agricultural development, maintain the true nature of socialist agriculture and have China characteristics. This "characteristic" is mainly reflected in the following aspects.

First, it should conform to the situation and conditions of China’s agricultural and rural development. Since the reform and opening up, great changes have taken place in China’s agricultural base, production conditions and production methods, but at present, problems such as a large proportion of agricultural population and a low overall level of agricultural productivity still exist. China has a large agricultural population and lacks rich agricultural resources, so it is impossible to copy the large-scale and large-scale farming model in Europe and America. Modern agriculture with China characteristics is not "Europeanization", but on the basis of household contract management, under the comprehensive effect of market mechanism and government regulation, with the goal of ensuring the supply of agricultural products, increasing farmers’ income and promoting sustainable development; With the support of modern technology and equipment, we will improve agricultural labor productivity, resource output rate and commodity rate, and build a diversified industrial form and multi-functional industrial system that closely connects agriculture, industry and commerce, and integrates production and marketing.

Second, we must adhere to collective ownership and keep the socialist nature of rural agriculture unchanged. China is a socialist country. The development of modern agriculture with China characteristics must obey the general direction and general layout of Socialism with Chinese characteristics, not only follow the general law of agricultural modernization, but also base itself on the reality of China, and adhere to the socialist nature and embody the characteristics of China. In terms of rural land system, we should adhere to the nature of collective ownership of rural land unchanged; In terms of agricultural management system, it is necessary to adhere to and improve the "separation of three powers" of land ownership, contracting rights and management rights.

Third, we must adhere to the socialist distribution system of common prosperity. The process of agricultural modernization is a process of material wealth production and a process of interest distribution. In this process, China’s distribution system with distribution according to work as the main body and multiple modes of distribution coexisting, giving overall consideration to getting rich first and sharing wealth, efficiency and fairness, should be reflected in the distribution process of agriculture and rural areas. Agricultural modernization should embody the unity of efficiency and fairness, and realize farmers’ modernization and all-round modernization. As General Secretary of the Supreme Leader has repeatedly emphasized, "The key to a well-off society is to look at fellow villagers" and "no one can fall behind on the road to a well-off society".

General Secretary of the Supreme Leader pointed out that it is necessary to accelerate the construction of modern agriculture, take the lead in realizing agricultural modernization in some areas, focus on three key points of accelerating the construction of modern agricultural industrial system, modern agricultural production system and modern agricultural management system, accelerate the adjustment of agricultural structure, strengthen the construction of agricultural infrastructure and technical equipment, and accelerate the cultivation of new agricultural management entities. "Several Opinions on Deepening Rural Reform in an All-round Way and Accelerating Agricultural Modernization" requires that we should strive to embark on a new road of agricultural modernization with China characteristics with advanced production technology, moderate scale of operation, strong market competitiveness and sustainable ecological environment. To accelerate the construction of modern agriculture, we can focus on the following six aspects.

First, we should promote the marketization of agriculture. Modern agriculture is a highly commercialized market-oriented industry. Compared with traditional agriculture, modern agriculture is mainly produced for the market, with high commodity rate, perfect market system and modern circulation system of agricultural products. To promote agricultural marketization, it is necessary to organize farmers, enter domestic and foreign markets, and improve the market competitiveness and market share of agricultural products. At present, in view of the problem that China’s agriculture has changed from insufficient aggregate to structural contradiction, we should take the structural reform of agricultural supply side as the main line of agricultural and rural work, focus on optimizing agricultural products, cultivate new kinetic energy for agricultural and rural development, and take the green development of agriculture as the main direction of structural reform of agricultural supply side.

The second is to operate on a moderate scale. Due to the characteristics of high technology content, high production efficiency and strong production capacity, the development of modern agriculture must take the road of moderate scale operation to meet the requirements of fierce competition in the agricultural market. "Opinions of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the State Council on Implementing the Strategy of Rural Revitalization" proposes to implement the cultivation project of new agricultural business entities, cultivate and develop family farms, cooperatives, leading enterprises, socialized service organizations and agricultural industrialization consortia, and develop various forms of moderate scale operations.

The third is to develop ecological agriculture. Modern agriculture is also ecological agriculture. It is a modern agricultural development model that uses modern science and technology and management means to intensively manage and obtain higher economic, ecological and social benefits. Faced with the serious problems such as the tight restriction of agricultural resources in China and the pollution of rural agricultural ecological environment, it is very important to develop the idea of "efficient ecological agriculture" and the development concept of "Lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets". Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, with the promotion of socialist ecological civilization and the construction of beautiful China and beautiful countryside, the development of ecological agriculture has ushered in a period of strategic opportunities.

The fourth is to implement science and technology to promote agriculture. Agricultural modernization and the development of modern agriculture need the support of modern agricultural science and technology. Science and technology are productive forces, and modern agriculture is supported by advanced agricultural technologies such as water, electricity, agricultural film, fertilizer, pesticides, improved varieties and agricultural machinery. The development of modern agriculture cannot be separated from agricultural science and technology. In November, 2013, General Secretary of the Supreme Leader stressed that it is necessary to insert the wings of science and technology into agriculture, promote the integration of agricultural technology, mechanization of labor process, informationization of production and operation, legalization of safety and environmental protection, and accelerate the construction of a technical system that meets the requirements of high-yield, high-quality, efficient, ecological and safe agricultural development in accordance with the principles of paying equal attention to increasing production and increasing efficiency, supporting improved varieties and good methods, and coordinating production ecology. In December 2014, General Secretary of the Supreme Leader said in Jiangsu that modern and efficient agriculture is a good way for farmers to get rich. We should follow this path, make agricultural management profitable and make agriculture a promising industry.

The fifth is to build a modern agricultural management system. Modern agriculture should be guaranteed by modern management system. The extensive adoption of advanced management methods, the application of advanced management techniques and means, the organically connected industrial chain, the efficient channels of agricultural product sales and processing transformation, the efficient farmers’ production organization system and the efficient modern agricultural management system have all become the support and guarantee for the development of modern agriculture. To promote agricultural modernization, we should focus on accelerating the construction of modern agricultural industrial system, modern agricultural production system and modern agricultural management system, establish a government macro-control mechanism that is suitable for modern agriculture, and establish a sound agricultural support and protection system, including a legal system and a policy system.

Sixth, it is necessary to cultivate a new team of professional farmers. Modern agriculture should have high-quality farmers, high-quality agricultural breeding talents and management talents, which is the premise and foundation of modern agriculture and the key and requirement for its development. General Secretary of the Supreme Leader pointed out that the way out for agriculture lies in modernization, and the key is to strengthen the construction of agricultural scientific and technological talents and cultivate new professional farmers. In November 2013, General Secretary of the Supreme Leader stressed during his inspection tour in Hunan that it is necessary to effectively run rural compulsory education so that the next generation in rural areas can acquire more knowledge and skills. In the report of the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, the General Secretary of the Supreme Leader once again clearly proposed to cultivate a "three rural" work team that understands agriculture, loves the countryside and loves farmers. Only by doing a good job in the work of agricultural talent team can we develop and strengthen the new agricultural management subject and continuously enhance the vitality of agricultural and rural development.

(Author: Yan Zhanding, executive director and professor of Central South University for Nationalities, theoretical system research center of Socialism with Chinese characteristics, Hubei Province)