The first rural work conference held in December 2023 conveyed and learned the important instructions made by the general secretary of the first country on the "three rural" work, emphasizing that "it is necessary to strengthen the two-wheel drive of science and technology and reform, increase the intensity of core technology research, reform and improve the work system and mechanism of the "three rural" work, and add impetus and vitality to agricultural modernization", pointing out the way forward for accelerating the development of agricultural modernization. At the present stage, the imbalance between urban and rural development and the inadequate development of rural areas are still the concentrated embodiment of the main contradictions in society, and agriculture and rural areas are still conspicuous shortcomings in socialist modernization. The way out for agriculture lies in modernization, and the key to agricultural modernization lies in continuously promoting scientific and technological progress and deepening agricultural and rural reform.
Relying on the two-wheel drive of science and technology and reform is an intrinsic requirement for realizing agricultural modernization.
Since the founding of the People's Republic of China, based on the innovation of agricultural technology and the reform of the management system, China has made remarkable achievements in continuously ensuring the increase of grain production, the efficiency of agricultural socialized services, and the improvement of the quality of the agricultural industry, but the process of agricultural modernization is still relatively slow. Relying on the two-wheel drive of science and technology and reform is an inherent requirement for promoting agricultural modernization in the new era.
Relying on science and technology to drive the development of agricultural modernization is determined by the foundation of China's agricultural production and operation. China is a big agricultural country, but it is not an agricultural power, and the basic conditions for agricultural production are weak, which is mainly reflected in: First, the lack of cultivated land resources per capita. At present, China's cultivated land resources account for about 7% of the world's total, ranking third in the world, but the per capita cultivated land area is only 1 3 of the world average. Second, land conditions are limited. The average grade of the quality of the available cultivated land in the country is 476. The proportion of cultivated land with poor basic soil fertility, prominent production obstacles and difficulty in improving in a short period of time is as high as 2195%。Third, the efficiency of farmland use is low, and it is faced with problems such as farmland abandonment and abandonment caused by population outflow. To solve these problems, it is necessary to continuously improve agricultural productivity by speeding up agricultural scientific and technological innovation, so as to add impetus and vitality to agricultural modernization.
In the new era, China's agricultural modernization has a higher target positioning, and it is necessary to further stimulate the vitality of rural development and promote the integrated development of urban and rural areas through reform. This is mainly reflected in: First, agricultural modernization should ensure a higher standard of living, adapt to the upgrading of agricultural product consumption brought about by the increase in residents' income level, especially ensure the balance between supply and demand of high-quality agricultural products, provide more abundant, more diverse and safer agricultural and sideline products, and build a diversified food supply system. Second, agricultural modernization should provide more functional services, focus on the trend of transformation from product-based agriculture to functional agriculture, gradually strengthen the functional orientation of agriculture, give full play to the ecological, humanistic, health and social value functions of agriculture according to local conditions, and enhance the comprehensive competitiveness of agriculture. Third, agricultural modernization should completely, accurately and comprehensively implement the new development concept, accelerate the transformation of production and operation models, accelerate the structural reform of the agricultural supply side, and actively explore sustainable development methods. To achieve these goals, it is necessary to further deepen reforms, continuously improve the relevant systems and mechanisms of agricultural and rural development, and stimulate the vitality of rural development.
Science and technology drive agricultural modernization and accelerate the formation of "new quality productivity" in agriculture
**The general secretary emphasized: "The key to agricultural modernization is the modernization of agricultural science and technology. "Science and technology drive the development of agricultural modernization, focusing on continuously deepening the innovation and application of digital, ecological and biotechnology, and nurturing and developing "new quality productivity" in agriculture.
With the support of digital technology, the development of "digital agriculture". Vigorously develop digital agriculture, with the help of modern digital technology to analyze, design and control the whole process of agricultural production, ensure the rational and efficient use of agricultural resources, and enhance the added value and brand influence of agricultural products. Focusing on the construction of the agricultural digital standard system, the construction of digital infrastructure, the technical training of business entities and the improvement of digital governance capabilities, we will strive to promote the reengineering of agricultural production processes based on digital technology, continuously expand the form of agricultural production and operation, and innovate the consumption scenarios of agricultural products and services.
With the support of ecological technology, the development of "green agriculture". Promoting the green development of agriculture is a profound revolution in the concept of agricultural development, and it is necessary to change the extensive agricultural production mode, practice the concept of green and low-carbon agricultural production, and realize the harmonious coexistence of man and nature. To develop green agriculture, on the one hand, we should grasp the basic support of ecological technology, especially accelerate the development of modern ecological technology related to agricultural production, such as material circulation, cultivated land protection, soil restoration, and crop nutrition managementOn the other hand, based on technological innovation and application, we should further promote the recycling of land and other agricultural resources to ensure the dynamic evolution and long-term balance between efficient agricultural output and continuous ecological optimization.
With the support of biotechnology, the development of "biological agriculture". The combination of biotechnology and agricultural production can greatly improve agricultural productivity and consolidate the foundation of agricultural "new quality productivity". Accelerating the innovative research and development and practical application of biotechnology is an important means to break through the limitations of traditional natural productivity. Speeding up the application of biotechnology in crop breeding, genetic improvement, biological pest control and microbial utilization can open up new technology application scenarios, carry out targeted intervention in the internal functions of organisms, produce more agricultural products that are more in line with the needs of production and life, break through the biological limitations of grain production, and better ensure food and food safety.
Focus on key areas and drive agricultural modernization through reform.
The deep integration of agricultural supply-side structural reform and rural reform is an important way to drive the development of agricultural modernization through reform. It is necessary to thoroughly implement the important instructions of the general secretary on "strengthening rural reform and innovation, and encouraging practical exploration and institutional innovation in all localities under the premise of sticking to the bottom line", focusing on key areas and promoting agricultural and rural reform as a whole.
Deepen the reform of the rural collective property rights system. On the basis of continuing to consolidate the system of collective property rights in rural areas, we should innovate and improve the system of collective ownership in rural areas, adhere to the bottom line of "no change in the nature of public ownership of land, no breakthrough in the red line of cultivated land, and no damage to the interests of farmers", continue to implement collective ownership, stabilize the contracting rights of rural households, and invigorate land management rights, so as to promote the better development of various forms of moderate-scale operations, the better realization of farmers' property rights, and the better protection of cultivated land red lines and the ecological environment.
Accelerate the innovation of the agricultural management system. The agricultural management system is the basic guarantee for improving the quality and efficiency of agricultural production, and is also the key support for the development of rural economy. It is necessary to take the simultaneous improvement of land yield, resource utilization rate, and labor productivity as the goal, accelerate the cultivation of diversified new agricultural business entities, build a three-dimensional and compound modern agricultural management system based on the operation of peasant households, with cooperation and alliance as the link, and socialized services as the support, and improve the level of intensive, large-scale, organized, socialized and industrialized agricultural operations.
Improve the agricultural support and protection system. We will continue to adhere to the basic policy of giving more and giving less, and explore ways to increase agricultural support and protection, improve the efficiency of agricultural support and protection, and continuously stimulate the enthusiasm for agricultural production and operation through the priority guarantee of fiscal expenditure, the improvement of the formation mechanism of agricultural products, the implementation of continuous and stable agricultural subsidy policies, and the innovation of financial ways and means to support agriculture.
Improve the system and mechanism for the integration of urban and rural development. Urban-rural integration is an effective means to promote the modernization of agriculture and rural areas, and should be guided by the new development concept to accelerate the integration of urban and rural areas, focusing on the planning system, infrastructure investment and construction management mechanism, public service equalization mechanism, agricultural employment population salary system and social security system, etc., through reform to further resolve the dual structure of urban and rural areas, and better guide industry to feed agriculture, cities to support rural areas, and urban and rural areas to promote each other.
Ensure effective governance in rural areas. A more perfect rural social governance is the basic condition for the stability and orderliness of agricultural production and operation, and plays an important role in guaranteeing agricultural modernization. In the new era, rural social governance should adhere to the improvement of the rural governance system that combines autonomy, rule of law, and rule by virtue under the leadership of party organizations, strengthen grassroots party building, explore more effective forms of villager autonomy, and gradually standardize the standards and procedures for the management of grassroots party affairs, government affairs, and economic affairs, so as to do a good job in the construction of rural material civilization and spiritual civilization.
Continuously improve the "three rural" work system and mechanism.
Agricultural modernization is a systematic project, strengthen the two-wheel drive of science and technology and reform, and it is necessary to continuously improve the "three rural" work system and mechanism to ensure that the two are coordinated and jointly promote agricultural modernization.
Adhere to the party's centralized and unified leadership over the "three rural" work, and continue to improve the leadership system of the "three rural" work. Relying on science and technology and reform to drive agricultural modernization requires strong leadership, coordinating the forces of various industries and fields, and gathering the consensus and strength of the greatest number of people. Therefore, we must adhere to the party's overall leadership, comprehensively build a two-wheel drive system and mechanism for science and technology and reform, give full play to the core role of grassroots party organizations in developing agricultural production, prospering the rural economy, and safeguarding the interests of farmers, and guide the individual forces of farmers, rural collectives, and social pluralism to work together to promote the development of agricultural modernization.
Implement the basic requirements of tasks to posts and responsibilities to people, and continue to improve the promotion mechanism of the "three rural" work. Relying on science and technology and reform to drive agricultural modernization is a protracted battle, we must not only deal with all aspects of the problems and contradictions in every detail, but also must always be vigilant against the risks and challenges caused by the possible "black swan" and "gray rhinoceros" events. The first is to strengthen the main responsibility, adhere to the "five-level secretaries grasp together", and take the responsibility of promoting agricultural science and technology innovation and continuously deepening rural reform on their shoulders and hands. The second is to improve the working mechanism, improve the rural work mechanism under the unified leadership of the party committee, the first responsibility, and the overall coordination of the rural work department of the party committee, and refine the task deployment. The third is to pay attention to learning experience, such as learning and applying the experience of the "Ten Million Project" and the "Fengqiao experience" in the new era, to ensure that the people are always centered in the process of agricultural modernization.
Always focus on key areas and weak links, and continue to improve the supervision mechanism of the "three rural" work. Adhere to the correct assessment and supervision orientation, in accordance with the basic principle of political supervision and work assessment, establish a performance appraisal system for party and government leadership groups and leading cadres at all levels to promote the "three rural" work, and guide the focus of work to focus on the "three rural". Implement precise assessment and supervision, adhere to the unity of "key theory" and "two-point theory", pay close attention to key people and key things, always grasp the two things of promoting agricultural science and technology innovation and deepening rural reform, find the right combination point, focus on the point, and do deep, practical and detailed supervision. Guide multiple forces to jointly evaluate and supervise, unblock supervision channels, and innovate supervision methods and means.
Author: Jiang Yongmu, Dean and Professor, School of Economics, Sichuan University