Governmant tests major agriculture reform

The State Council, or China's cabinet, on Wednesday rolled out its first major reform in agriculture since inauguration, experimenting schemes to accelerate modern agriculture.The new government considered the development of modern agriculture "an important strategic mission" that will sustain economic growth, increase income for farmers and improve people's well-being, according to a statement issued by the State Council after an executive meeting presided over by Premier Li Keqiang.Regions where conditions permit will be picked to carry out the pilot program involving nine major tasks to boost modern agriculture through comprehensive and coordinated agricultural reforms.The experiments in agriculture are restricted only in Heilongjiang Province, one of the country's top grain production regions in northeast China, according to the statement.Large-scale farming in different forms will be supported by the government, as farmers are encouraged to grow their joint partnership, family farms or cooperatives at a time when most rural young and middle-aged labor force are leaving the countryside and seek job opportunities in cities.The government has pledged deeper reforms in rural land management system to speed up the transfer of rural land to improve efficiency and promote large-scale commercial farming.The seizure of collectively owned rural land will be subject to strict management, according to the statement. Most rural land in China is owned collectively by a village, and farmers get contractual rights over some plots.