How to strictly abide by the red line of 1.8 billion mu of arable land? Three questions will help you understand the main points. 25th | Farmland | Red Line

From a space perspective, China is colorful, and the farmland within it not only looks colorful, but is also the core essence of firmly holding China's rice bowl. The 25th is the 33rd National Land Day, with the theme of "Saving and Intensive Land Use, Strictly Observing the Red Line of Farmland". How to strictly abide by the red line of 1.8 billion mu of arable land? How to implement it?

China is a country with a large population but limited land, a large country with small farmers, and food security has always been regarded as the "greatest of the country". Cultivated land is the foundation of grain, and to firmly stabilize China's rice bowl, protecting cultivated land is the core principle. We look for answers to three questions on how to "conserve and intensively use land, and strictly adhere to the red line of cultivated land.".

01

How to achieve conservation and intensification of agricultural land?

We need to go to different places to see how different regions achieve conservation and intensive agricultural land. In recent years, Jiangxi, Jiangsu and other regions have improved their farmland infrastructure and idle land consolidation to enhance the level of efficient and intensive land use, and promote high-quality development.

Improving land use level: improving infrastructure and organizing idle land parcels

At the demonstration site of the land improvement project of "converting dry land into paddy fields" in Xiaping Village, Yaotou Town, Wan'an County, Jiangxi Province, pilots operate drones to fly rice for defense. Through a series of engineering measures such as land leveling and irrigation and drainage system installation, the village has added 263.72 acres of paddy fields this year.

Peng Jun, a major grain grower: After the rectification of this land and seeing that the infrastructure here is also doing well, I contracted the land here. Now I have planted medium rice, and the soil is still quite fertile. There should be a good harvest this year.

In Xiaoyang Village, Zhouxi Town, Duchang County, Jiujiang City, the original 1590 acres of rotten fish ponds and wastewater ditches have been transformed into 1469 acres of high-quality paddy fields suitable for agricultural mechanization cultivation.

Xu Huaizhong, Director of the Natural Resources Bureau of Duchang County: The annual increase in grain production capacity is 1.2325 million kilograms, and it also brings local villagers an annual economic income of 600 yuan per acre.

In recent years, Jiangxi Province has built a total of 26.227 million mu of high standard farmland. In 2022, Jiangxi's net increase in arable land area was 19400 mu, and the province's arable land area reached 40.6877 million mu. The province's grain production reached 43.04 billion kilograms.

Promoting Land Conservation and Intensive Utilization to Enhance Farmers' Happiness

In Du Village, Chenlou Town, Pizhou City, Jiangsu Province, the 240 acres of wasteland and riverbank land previously occupied by villagers are recycled and reused. At the same time, through land transfer and scale management, the cultivated area is increased by more than 160 acres, which can increase the collective income of the village by 400000 yuan per year. At present, Pizhou City has cleared 134000 mu of usable land, recovered 97000 mu, and added a collective self operated income of 10.02 million yuan. The average income increase of 462 villages in the city is 126000 yuan.

02

How to provide special protection for permanent basic farmland?

First, let's understand what permanent basic farmland is. The so-called permanent basic farmland refers to high-quality farmland designated by law, with a focus on developing food production, especially ensuring the planting area of the three major grains of rice, wheat, and corn. As of now, 1.546 billion acres of permanent basic farmland have been designated nationwide. So, how do we go about special protection of permanent basic farmland? Let's listen to the interpretation of Chen Xiuxin, Director of the Comprehensive Department of the Farmland Protection Supervision Department of the Ministry of Natural Resources.

Chen Xiuxin, Director of the Comprehensive Division of the Cultivated Land Protection and Supervision Department of the Ministry of Natural Resources: Permanent basic farmland is the essence of cultivated land and an important material guarantee for food production, which needs special protection. According to the relevant provisions of the Land Management Law, once permanent basic farmland is designated, no organization or individual may occupy or change its use without authorization. If it is necessary to occupy major construction projects, it must be approved by the State Council; Prohibition of occupying permanent basic farmland for the development of forestry and fruit industry, as well as digging ponds for fish farming. To resolutely curb the non agriculturalization of arable land and effectively prevent the non grainification of permanent basic farmland. We will take hard measures to "grow teeth" and promptly detect, verify, and organize investigations into major illegal and irregular issues. Continuously strengthen regular supervision and law enforcement, improve coordination mechanisms with disciplinary inspection and supervision, organizational departments, courts and procuratorates, public security, auditing, etc., timely transfer problem clues, and strictly hold accountable in accordance with discipline and law; At the same time, we will strengthen the connection between administrative law enforcement and criminal justice, promptly transfer cases involving crimes to judicial organs, pursue criminal responsibility, and effectively form a joint supervision force among multiple departments for illegal and irregular land use. In 2021, the Ministry of Natural Resources, together with relevant departments, issued a document further clarifying that permanent basic farmland shall not be converted into other agricultural land such as forests, grasslands, and gardens. Next, we will continue to strictly manage and protect the permanent basic farmland.

03

How should we implement the policy of strictly guarding the red line of cultivated land?

Ensuring national food security and strictly guarding the red line of cultivated land is fundamental. How to implement the policy of strictly guarding the red line of cultivated land? Chen Xiuxin, Director of the Comprehensive Department of the Farmland Protection Supervision Department of the Ministry of Natural Resources, introduced that in the next step, the Ministry of Natural Resources will focus on the "three major tasks", grasp the "three links", and effectively guard the red line of farmland.

Chen Xiuxin, Director of the Comprehensive Department of the Farmland Protection Supervision Department of the Ministry of Natural Resources, focuses on the "three major tasks". One is to stabilize the total amount. By formulating land spatial plans at all levels of provinces, cities, and counties, implementing the protection goals and tasks of cultivated land and permanent basic farmland at each level, clarifying protection responsibilities, and using this as the basis for long-term supervision of cultivated land protection. The second is to optimize the layout. Through economic reward and punishment measures, we will urge southern provinces to promote the orderly recovery of some high-quality arable land in a planned, rhythmic, classified, and regional manner, and curb the further intensification of grain transportation from the north to the south. The third is the responsibility for compaction. Sign responsibility agreements for farmland protection with party committees, governments, and relevant departments at all levels, and conduct strict assessments. Grasp the "three links" well. One is to strictly control new additions. Strictly control the occupation of arable land for construction activities and agricultural structural adjustments. If it is necessary to occupy it, it is necessary to implement a balance between the occupation and compensation of arable land and a balance between imports and exports. The second is to revitalize the stock. Promote the exchange of "stock" for "increment", "underground" for "above ground", and the exchange of funds and technology for space to improve the level of efficient and intensive land use. The third is strict law enforcement. Serious investigation and punishment of various illegal behaviors.