Recently, Xi Jinping, General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee, President of the People’s Republic of China, Chairman of the Central Military Commission, and Director of the Central Financial and Economic Affairs Commission, presided over the first meeting of the Central Financial and Economic Affairs Commission to study approaches and measures for winning the three major tough battles. He also advocated for the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Production!

The CPC Central Committee and the State Council have issued important instructions on focusing on key tasks in the “agriculture, rural areas, and farmers” (San Nong) sector, promoting high-quality agricultural development, and ensuring green agricultural growth.

Xi Jinping pointed out that we must comprehensively promote green development. We need to adjust the structure of agricultural inputs, reduce the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, and increase the use of organic fertilizers.

Green development is an inevitable requirement for building a high-quality, modern economic system. We must fully implement the Action Plan for Soil Pollution Prevention and Control, focusing on key regions, industries, and pollutants, strengthening soil pollution control and remediation efforts, effectively guarding against risks, and ensuring that people can eat with confidence and live with peace of mind.
We must continue to carry out initiatives to improve rural living environments, create beautiful countryside areas, and preserve for the people the idyllic pastoral scenery filled with birdsong and fragrant flowers.

Xi Jinping pointed out that we must effectively guard against ecological and environmental risks.

Ecological and environmental security is an important component of national security and a crucial guarantee for the sustained, healthy development of the economy and society. We must integrate ecological and environmental risks into routine management and systematically establish a comprehensive, multi-level risk prevention system covering the entire process. We need to accelerate the reform of the ecological civilization system, ensure the effective implementation of already-issued reform measures, and promptly develop new reform plans.

Xi Jinping emphasized that all regions and departments should strengthen their "four consciousnesses," firmly uphold the authority and centralized, unified leadership of the Party Central Committee, and resolutely shoulder the political responsibility for ecological civilization development.

The principal leaders of Party committees and governments at all local levels are the first persons responsible for ecological and environmental protection within their respective administrative regions. All relevant departments must fulfill their responsibilities for ecological and environmental protection, ensuring that each department takes ownership of its assigned territory, fully assumes its duties, collaborates effectively, and works together with concerted efforts.

It is necessary to establish a scientific and rational assessment and evaluation system, with assessment results serving as an important basis for rewarding, punishing, and promoting leading teams and cadres at all levels.

For leading cadres who harm the ecological environment, we must truly hold them accountable, dare to hold them accountable, and enforce accountability rigorously—ensuring lifelong accountability.

To build an elite team dedicated to ecological and environmental protection—politically strong, highly competent, firmly committed, and ready to take responsibility—this team must be especially resilient, exceptionally capable in battle, and deeply devoted. Party committees and governments at all levels should care for and support the development of this ecological and environmental protection team, and proactively offer backing and encouragement to cadres who dare to act and are capable of getting things done.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs firmly implements the central government’s spirit of developing green agriculture.

In 2020, in accordance with the Central Rural Work Conference, Document No. 1 from the CPC Central Committee, and the Government Work Report of the State Council, the country will continue to increase investment in agriculture, strengthen integrated project planning and coordination, and accelerate the promotion of green agricultural development.

First, in 2020, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs and the Ministry of Finance gave priority support to the initiative of replacing chemical fertilizers with organic fertilizers.

With the goal of reducing chemical fertilizer inputs and increasing organic fertilizer inputs, we will support key counties in replacing chemical fertilizers with organic fertilizers for fruit, vegetable, and tea crops. The focus of implementation will be tilted toward the Yangtze River Economic Belt and the Yellow River Basin, and the pilot crops will be expanded to include other horticultural and field crops with significant potential for fertilizer reduction.

Integrate technical models such as composting and returning compost to fields, applying commercial organic fertilizers, and using biogas residue and liquid fertilizer to replenish soil nutrients. Complement these practices with well-equipped facilities and equipment to enhance the quality and efficiency of fruits, vegetables, and tea production and promote resource recycling.

The advancement of this work should be closely integrated with the resource utilization of livestock and poultry manure. By adopting approaches such as government procurement of services, technology subsidies, and material subsidies, we can support farmers and new types of agricultural operators in accumulating and applying organic fertilizers. We will also foster a group of productive service organizations, accelerate the application of organic fertilizers, and promote the integration of crop and livestock farming.

Second, in 2020, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs and the Ministry of Finance gave priority support to the resource-based treatment of livestock and poultry manure. Support large livestock counties in carrying out the resource utilization of livestock and poultry manure, and explore promoting such resource utilization in counties that are not major livestock-raising areas. Following the principles of government support, enterprise-led initiatives, and market-oriented operations, prioritize on-site and nearby utilization for rural energy and organic fertilizers for agricultural use. Newly build or expand facilities for the collection and treatment of livestock and poultry manure, as well as regional centralized manure treatment centers and large-scale biogas projects. Ensure that all large-scale farms achieve comprehensive manure treatment and resource utilization, thereby fostering an industrial model characterized by the integration of agriculture and animal husbandry and a circular development pattern of crop and livestock production.

Third, in 2020, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs and the Ministry of Finance will give priority support to the protection and enhancement of arable land quality. Select a group of key counties with great potential for reducing fertilizer use and carry out demonstration projects aimed at decreasing fertilizer application while enhancing its efficiency. Guide enterprises and social service organizations to provide scientific fertilization technology services, and support farmers and new types of agricultural business entities in adopting new technologies and products that reduce fertilizer use while improving its efficiency. Focus on addressing the prominent issues that restrict excessive fertilizer use and low utilization rates.

Select certain counties to launch a pilot program for the collection and treatment of fertilizer packaging waste. Continue to provide support for activities such as surveying and evaluating, and monitoring the quality grades of cultivated land; conducting soil sampling and analysis; carrying out field trials on fertilizer efficacy; formulating and releasing fertilizer formulas; and developing and applying data from soil testing and formulated fertilization programs. Initiate efforts to rehabilitate degraded farmland. In areas affected by soil acidification, integrate and demonstrate management practices including the application of calcareous materials and acidic soil conditioners, planting green manure crops to return to the field, optimizing water and fertilizer management, and employing biological remediation techniques. In regions experiencing soil salinization and alkalization, in conjunction with drainage and irrigation infrastructure measures, integrate and demonstrate management practices such as applying alkaline soil conditioners, using tillage to reduce salt levels, and increasing the application of composted organic fertilizers, thereby improving the quality of cultivated land soils.

Requirement: All localities shall, in accordance with the arrangements made at the Central Rural Work Conference and the National Conference of Directors of Agricultural and Rural Affairs Departments, continue to promote green development in agriculture and rural areas.