Boosting Farmland Quantity and Quality

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In recent years, China has made significant strides in enhancing its arable land protection system, ensuring strict accountability at various levels and laying a solid foundation for food security. As 2024 approaches, several provinces have begun to implement concrete measures to protect and efficiently use farmland, experiencing notable successes in increasing arable acreage. This progress is vital for the stability of the nation’s food supply, showcasing a renewed commitment to the vital agricultural sector.

Statistics reveal that the total arable land area in Anhui Province has reached approximately 83.93 million acres, an increase of 480,000 acres compared to 2023. This marks the fourth consecutive year of net growth in arable land, with Anhui Province managing to balance the occupation and compensation of farmland for an impressive 25 years. In Hunan, it is projected that the arable land will see a net increase of 15,000 acres, also reflecting a four-year streak of growth in its farmland quantity.

The importance of arable land protection in China's national food security strategy cannot be overstated. Since 2021, the nation has recorded commendable achievements in safeguarding farmland, with the overall area witnessing a notable increase of 17.58 million acres—an accomplishment that effectively curbs the alarming trend of declining arable land that had persisted for years. This progress is not merely statistical, but rather a cornerstone for bolstering food security across the country.

Historically, the loss of farmland has posed numerous challenges to China, jeopardizing food production and ecological balance. However, the steady rebound in arable land availability has been facilitated by a series of scientifically-driven policies and relentless efforts by local authorities.

During a news conference held by the State Council Information Office in September last year, a senior official from the Ministry of Natural Resources elaborated on the country's policies and their effectiveness in the realm of farmland protection. Recognizing arable land as the lifeblood of grain production, China has prioritized its preservation. To enhance this, the government has actively reformed the land occupation compensation system, shifting focus from simple quantitative measures to a stronger emphasis on quality enhancement. Rigorous land reclamation and the establishment of high-standard agricultural land have been key in ensuring that the new arable land matches or even surpasses the quality of the land it replaces. For example, certain regions have successfully rehabilitated abandoned wasteland and upgraded low-yield fields, thereby increasing not only the quantity but also the fertility and irrigation conditions of cultivable land.

The accountability system for farmland protection and food security is another cornerstone of China's efforts in this domain. By integrating arable land preservation and food security into the performance assessment system for local governments, each level of administration has been tasked with clear responsibilities in this critical sphere. This system has amplified local governments' dedication to protecting farmland, prompting proactive measures for its management and conservation. Localities and individuals exhibiting outstanding contributions to farmland preservation have been recognized and rewarded, whereas those found negligent or violating land-use regulations face stringent accountability measures.

Moreover, the establishment of an economic reward and punishment mechanism has further strengthened the effectiveness of farmland protection initiatives. On one hand, units and individuals committed to improving and preserving farmland are offered financial incentives, motivating continued investment in arable land protection. For instance, farmers engaging in ecologically sound agricultural practices that protect farmland ecosystems are provided with financial subsidies and preferential policies. On the other hand, individuals and organizations that illegally occupy or degrade arable land face severe economic penalties, raising the cost of non-compliance. This dynamic economic regulation promotes a collective awareness of proper farmland protection, fostering a societal atmosphere where collective engagement in safeguarding arable land becomes the norm.

The continuous net increase in China's total arable land for three consecutive years is a testament to the synergistic impact of scientific policies and effective actions. Looking ahead, the country commits to further enhancing its farmland protection measures and continuously refining relevant systems and mechanisms to prevent any decline in both quantity and quality of arable land. This dedication will ensure a robust foundation for the nation’s food security and sustainable socio-economic development.

According to the national land use change survey results for 2023, China boasts an arable land area of 1.929 billion acres. After years of "south reduction and north increase" in arable land, the trend has now shifted to a dual increase in both regions, with a net increase of 2.105 million acres of arable land south of the Qinling-Huaihe River.

Chen Feng, the director of the Arable Land Protection Supervision Office of Anhui Province's Natural Resources Department, shared with reporters that the province has comprehensively identified its back-up arable land resource bases. These include non-utilized land suitable for cultivation, inefficiently idle construction land, and other agricultural land types that can be restored as high-quality arable land. A comprehensive set of technical standards covering the approval process, quality assessment, and management of supplementary arable land has been put into place. For non-agricultural construction, this year's stable utilization of net increased arable land serves as the upper limit for next year's allowable arable land occupation, following an "occupation determined by compensation" principle. Additional compensations for arable land claimed outside of non-agricultural development will be implemented per the annual balanced occupation and compensation planning’s scales, layouts, and timelines.

This year, Anhui's natural resources system aims to build a highly productive “grain warehouse” across the Jianghuai region, firmly upholding its limits on arable land, thereby solidifying the region's agricultural foundation. The province is set to enforce strict accountability regarding farmland protection, optimize compensation and incentive measures for protection, and gradually reinforce the responsibilities of those charged with safeguarding farmland. A well-structured compensation and occupation balance mechanism will be implemented, with enhanced focus on "compensation as determined by occupation" principles, manifesting a series of measures to assure that all forms of arable land occupation are fully compensated and improved. The strategy promotes increasing arable land while optimally aligning layout with basic permanent farmland, ensuring steady and orderly restoration of farmland and realistically allowing for transitional periods without oversimplifying or adopting an one-size-fits-all policy.

Hunan, accounting for only 2.8% of China's total arable land, astonishingly produces 4.5% of the nation’s grains and 12.2% of its rice, thus earning the esteemed title of "National Granary." In recent years, Hunan has cultivated a holistic model for arable land protection through innovative reforms. A comprehensive approach, dubbed the "Hunan Model," emphasizes a thorough integration throughout the management cycle of farmland.

This model employs a singular framework that clearly defines the spatial planning for grains and other key agricultural products. It facilitates intelligent site selection for construction projects, managing the preemption of arable land usage from the start. Furthermore, it ensures planned site selection for supplementary arable land, guaranteeing high quality and orderly organization to recover previously lost valuable farmland. The province also actively engages in addressing historical land use violations, following a dual-zero action plan of clearing all old issues and maintaining a zero-tolerance stance towards new infractions. Each issue is rectified categorically, demanding compliance within set deadlines, while new violations incur strict scrutiny that examines both actions and accountability for individuals involved. This comprehensive, multi-tiered, and authoritative inspection and enforcement system transitions the agriculture sector from a reactive stance to a proactive orientation, ensuring that the policies mandated for farmland protection transforms into a tangible and robust priority.

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