During a press conference held on January 22, Zhang Xingwang, Vice Minister of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, announced crucial priorities for the upcoming years aimed at bolstering China’s agricultural landscape.

Commitment to Stability and Security

“2026 marks the beginning of the 15th Five-Year Plan. It is imperative to excel in agriculture, rural areas, and farmers’ welfare,” Zhang emphasized. The ministry plans to focus on ensuring the stability of grain production and supply, enhancing both output capacity and product quality.

Key Focus Areas

Efforts will center around expanding eco-friendly agricultural products and safeguarding food security while fostering a diversified agricultural supply system.

A commitment to strengthening self-reliance in agricultural science and technology is also a primary goal. The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (MARA) intends to stimulate organized research and development, push for breakthroughs in seed breeding, agricultural machinery, and smart farming, and deepen the integration of research with industrial applications.

Poverty Alleviation and Rural Development

MARA aims to consolidate gains made in poverty alleviation, promote rural income growth, and create livable and business-friendly rural environments to advance rural reforms. To bolster income growth, the ministry will facilitate the development of rural industries and establish mechanisms that ensure farmers benefit equitably from industrial value chains.

Long-term Land Contracts and Skilled Workforce

They also plan to expand a pilot program extending rural land contracts by 30 years, strengthen land management, develop collective rural economies, and accelerate training for skilled rural talent.

Reflecting on Past Achievements

China’s agricultural and rural sectors observed steady growth in 2025, achieving all annual targets and fulfilling the objectives set out in the 14th Five-Year Plan. Zhang pointed out that agricultural development maintained stable momentum, adding a solid foundation for high-quality economic and social progress.

Despite challenges, including droughts and floods, grain production hit a record high with total output increasing by 8.4 million tonnes year-on-year, bringing it to 714.9 million tonnes. Additionally, growth in soybean and oil crops continued, with soybean output reaching 20.91 million tonnes.

According to data from the National Bureau of Statistics, combined livestock production including pork, beef, mutton, and poultry reached 100.72 million tonnes in 2025, marking a 4.2 percent year-on-year rise. Notably, the nation achieved a 98 percent pass rate for agricultural product quality and safety.

Technological Advancements and Reforms

Moreover, significant breakthroughs in agricultural technology were made, with over 95 percent of crop planting areas utilizing domestically bred varieties. In 2025, approximately 5.05 million hectares of high-standard farmland were either newly constructed or upgraded.

The mechanization of crop cultivation reached 76.7 percent, while the expansion of smart agriculture spanned the entire production chain. With over 300,000 agricultural drones operational, they covered more than 30.7 million hectares annually. Green agricultural practices, such as recycling livestock manure and straw, also saw improvements.

Support for Rural Residents

China’s rural reforms also yielded fruits, with real disposable income for rural residents rising by 6 percent. The expansion of the pilot program to extend rural land contracts by 30 years has now reached more than 25 million households across seven provinces.

Moreover, poverty alleviation measures have stabilized over seven million households, and employment and industrial support initiatives have secured jobs for over 32 million rural workers.