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BEIJING, Dec. 20 (Xinhua) -- China wrapped up a two-day central rural work conference Tuesday, reviewing progress in 2016 and mapping out plans for 2017 and beyond.
The meeting focused on supply-side structural reform, including efforts to accelerate agricultural modernization and enhance the competitiveness of farm produce.
Policymakers have pinned high hopes on the reform to solve structural problems in the sector, as some agricultural products are over-supplied and others rely heavily on imports, while homegrown produce struggles to compete with foreign rivals.
Partly due to structural adjustment, China's grain output dropped slightly to about 616 million tonnes this year, ending a rising streak for 12 consecutive years.
Here is a review of rural work conferences over the last five years.
Dec. 24-25, 2015
Chinese leaders agreed to push forward agricultural supply-side structural reform to ensure abundant and quality farm produce to satisfy market demand.
Priority was given to reduction of inventories and production costs, and overcoming weaknesses in the sector.
China promised to step up grain processing to cut stock, promote large-scale production, curb overuse of pesticides and fertilizers, reinforce rural infrastructure, and increase farm produce in short supply.
Dec. 22-23, 2014
Chinese authorities vowed to press ahead with agricultural modernization, and transform patterns of agricultural development to attain intensive and sustainable growth.
It was agreed the sector was facing unprecedented challenges from rising agricultural costs, impaired cultivation, and limited arable land and fresh water.
Dec. 23-24, 2013
The meeting pledged to deepen rural reforms and step up agricultural modernization as rural development lagged behind the country's rapid growth.
Chinese leaders called for the increasing of grain output, improving farmers' incomes, strengthening rural land management, and guaranteeing agricultural produce quality and food safety.
Dec. 21-22, 2012
China vowed to improve farmers' income and foster new agricultural businesses, such as family farms and specialized cooperatives, to boost vitality in rural areas.
The meeting highlighted grain security, orderly transfer of farmers' land rights, balanced urban and rural development, and the equal treatment of migrant workers becoming urban residents.
Dec. 27-28, 2011
Focused on agricultural modernization to develop rural areas, and protecting farmers' rights in areas such as farmland use, income distribution and social security.
Other fields to be enhanced included supply of major farm produce, scientific and technological innovation, fiscal spending on rural infrastructure and farmers' livelihoods.
