Farmers are being placed at the center of China's drive to modernize agriculture and rural areas during the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-30), with a new national plan outlining measures to raise rural incomes, improve living conditions and give rural residents greater access to public services.
The State Council, China's Cabinet, issued the 15th Five-Year Plan for accelerating agricultural and rural modernization in June, setting a goal of sustained and relatively rapid growth in farmers' incomes by 2030, alongside progress in building livable, business-friendly and harmonious rural communities, and achieving breakthroughs in integrated urban-rural development.
The plan highlights farmers' role not only as beneficiaries of modernization, but as its central participants, with policies aimed at expanding employment and entrepreneurship opportunities, developing distinctive rural industries and improving the quality of life in rural areas.
"Compared with previous plans, this one places greater emphasis on farmers' principal role in rural development, making clear who modernization is intended to serve and benefit," said Hu Xiangdong, director of the Institute of Agricultural Economics and Development at the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences.
Infrastructure development, including improvements to water supplies, electricity and roads, as well as better access to education and healthcare, should help narrow the gap between urban and rural areas, Hu said.
The plan calls for both expanding infrastructure and making better use of existing facilities. It encourages the improvement and maintenance of rural infrastructure while promoting the reuse of idle facilities to avoid unnecessary duplication.
On public services, it proposes gradually increasing the proportion of medical insurance funds used at rural healthcare institutions, as well as raising basic pension benefits for urban and rural residents.
The measures are intended to improve access to education, healthcare and elderly care, addressing concerns among rural residents as the population structure and needs of villages continue to change.
Apart from infrastructure and public services, the plan emphasizes creating rural communities that are not only comfortable places to live but also offer viable economic opportunities.
Tu Shengwei, a researcher at the Academy of Macroeconomic Research of the National Development and Reform Commission, said the latest plan expands the concept of rural development beyond improvements to living environments.
"Previous plans placed considerable emphasis on making rural areas more livable, particularly through infrastructure, public services and improvements to the rural environment. This time, the goal of building livable, business-friendly and harmonious rural communities further broadens that vision," Tu said.
"Rural areas should not only have good living environments, sound infrastructure and quality public services, but also have industries that can support development," Tu said.
The plan identifies county-level development as a key entry point for advancing urban-rural integration. Measures include developing industries that generate income and employment in counties, coordinating infrastructure and basic public services, and improving social security coverage for migrant workers.
It also calls for improving investment mechanisms for agriculture and rural areas, advancing rural reforms and expanding the pool of rural talent.
