The No.1 Document of 2007 �C the first and most important document the CPC issues at the start of every year �C focuses on the promotion of modern agriculture, said Chen Xiwen, deputy director of the General Office of the Central Leading Group on Financial and Economic Affairs and director of the Office of the Central Rural Work Leading Group at Tuesday's press conference held by the State Council Information Office.

According to Chen, the four No.1 Documents issued by the central government between 2004 and 2007 each have distinct themes. The focus of the first three was on different policies; this year's No.1 Document explicitly gives top priority to modernizing agriculture in the construction of the new socialist countryside, which will be important in maintaining the continuity of the party's rural policy, steadily expanding rural reform, clarifying rural policies, and guiding the development of China's agricultural and rural economy.

Time to promote modern agriculture

Under the leadership of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council, China's agricultural situation has continued to develop in a positive direction. Since the 16th CPC National Congress, the CPC Central Committee has particularly stressed the necessity of promoting modern agriculture.

Chen pointed out that it was mainly for the following reasons that the central government has prioritized modernizing agriculture:

Firstly, it is to ensure the healthy development of a new socialist countryside. Modernizing agriculture and promoting rural farmer's income is a top priority, which is conducive to accelerating the building of a healthy, new socialist countryside.

Secondly, to further the development of agriculture �C and considering the persistent decline in natural agricultural resources and the deteriorating ecological environment �C it is necessary to alter the growth mode of agriculture. China will use a scientific development concept to guide agricultural development and change the mode of growth, so as to ensure the healthy and rapid development of agriculture.

Thirdly, China now needs to promote the modernization of agriculture. Only by strengthening the weak links in agriculture can the country harmoniously develop the three major industries and ensure the healthy and sustained development of the national economy.

First time intellectual support has been proposed in rural areas

The lack of education and training for farmers has created a bottleneck in the modernization of agriculture and rural areas, said Tang Renjian, deputy director of the Office of the Central Leading Group on Financial and Economic Affairs and the General Office of the CPC Leading Group for Rural Work.

"As one of the five major "supports" outlined in the No. 1 Document, the central government clearly focuses on intellectual support in rural areas. It is also the first time intellectual support in rural areas has been prioritized in the No. 1 Document.

Tang said that this year's No.1 Document focuses on three ways in which to assist farmers:

Firstly, a clear request should be made of the central and provincial governments to increase funding to farmers and rural areas.

Secondly, a variety of measures should be adopted to increase the training farmers receive to improve farming techniques and the job-hunting skills of farm workers. The Document emphasizes in particular the need for senior technicians in rural areas which means farmers need access to more training.

Thirdly, farmers need to increase their competitiveness and develop specialized cooperative rural organizations. Efforts should be made to train people in modern farming techniques. "China needs to improve public services in rural areas, according to the Document," Tang added.

Due to historical factors, the overall quality of life of Chinese farmers is relatively low compared to urban residents, said Chen. "For a long time, we have not done enough to improve public services for farmers, especially in regards to education. We need to make an effort over the long-term to increase our input into rural compulsory education as well as professional education and training to gradually change the situation."

Agricultural input to exceed that of last year

Chen Xiwen noted that weak agricultural infrastructure and slow technical progress has been a fatal problem in agricultural development in China. Therefore, the government has worked to increase its input into these things in recent years.

According to Chen, the central government raised annual investment in agriculture from 30 billion to 40 billion yuan. The central government devoted 42.2 billion yuan more to agriculture in 2006 than it did in 2005.

The No.1 Document this year indicates that three things will be "greater" this year than in previous years: investment in agricultural infrastructure; financial support for agriculture from the central government; and direct input into agricultural production and improving living standards.

"These are clear requirements by the central government," Chen said. "The central and local governments will increase investment in agriculture this year. Related departments are working out the budget now. The specific amount of investment will be available after being approved by the People's Congress. But the number will increase for sure," he assured media.

By People's Daily Online