More encouragement for small-household farmers

China will step up support of small-household farmers and encourage their involvement in modern agriculture, according to a guideline published on Thursday.

The guideline, jointly released by the general offices of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the State Council, also aims to speed up development of modern agriculture and facilitate the revitalization of rural areas.

It called for accelerated efforts to establish a policy system to support small-household farmers and to enhance social services for the agricultural sector.

More will be done to enhance the production capacities of small household-farmers and to open up more channels for them to increase their incomes, the guideline said. It also vowed to better protect farmers’ legitimate interests and enable them to share the outcomes of reform and development.

The government will offer policy incentives to encourage small-household farmers to expand production, provide training, step up research and the application of equipment and technologies that cater to their demands and improve rural infrastructure, the guideline said.

The country will also launch plans to cultivate family farms and guide such farms to adopt leading technologies and means of production, it said.

Small-household farmers will also receive support to develop new industries and business patterns in areas such as leisure tourism, catering, accommodation and nursing services, the guide added.