context: With the ‘National Rural Revitalisation Strategic Plan (2018–22)’ yet to be published, this editorial provides a sharp criticism of current state approaches to rural and agricultural development, such that has not been seen in print in recent memory.
In an editorial in Beijing Daily News, Ye Jingzhong 叶敬忠 China Agriculture University College of Humanities and Development Studies dean and professor warns policymakers to avoid a series of issues likely to challenge the implementation of the rural revitalisation strategy. Expressing concerns that top-down efforts to modernise and capitalise on agricultural production may intensify rural socioeconomic gaps, Ye argues
- smallholder farming should not be eliminated
- administrative and capital-intensive efforts to adjust the rural economy have regarded small-scale farming as a 'remnant of backwards production methods'
- it should be made clear that the key is to revitalise farming rather than corporate structures and assets that facilitate capital generation
- alongside the promotion of modern agriculture, sufficient space must be maintained for the survival of small farming methods
- industrialisation in the name of poverty alleviation and ag development should be re-examined
- local demonstrations of development modes like 'company+farming household' benefit enterprises first, with farmers often bearing losses
- focus on enterprise development may neglect critical tasks including infrastructure and cultural development, and environmental governance
- land transfers should not be promoted blindly
- despite policy and academic arguments, scaled-up farming is not always efficient
- transferred land is often taken out of food production for higher profits
- new operations may not absorb labour
- use of economic power or other means of compelling farmers off their land must be avoided
- despite policy and academic arguments, scaled-up farming is not always efficient
- rural lifestyles should not be eliminated
- policymakers should not expect to remove traditional aspects of rural livelihood or otherwise 'urbanise, modernise and commercialise' the lifestyles of rural people
- grassroots 'three rural' work is critical
- reform of the agricultural technology extension system is needed
- efforts to reposition public understanding and the value of agriculture and rural areas should be at the heart of rural revitalisation