New tech, govt support key for food security, well-being of farmers

Farmers for the No 290 Company of Beidahuang Agricultural Reclamation Group use a tractor and reaping machines to harvest rice in Heilongjiang province. XU LEI/FOR CHINA DAILY The development and application of new science and technology in agriculture are expected to play the leading role in consolidating China's food security while the government, with the help of social forces, will further promote and better boost rural social security network, said agricultural experts. "Innovation based on modern agricultural technologies and talents is the key solution to realize China's food security strategy," said Wang Xiudong, a researcher of Institute of Agricultural Economics and Development at the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, commenting on the rural and farmer-related work, a focus area of deepening reforms on the agenda of the CPC plenum currently underway. "China has established the world's largest social security system with more than 1.3 billion people covered by basic medical insurance, and more than 1 billion people covered by basic pension insurance," said Yang Sui, associate researcher with the Rural Development Institute of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. Yang also suggests that apart from the governments playing the leading role, the financial funds, collective groups, social donors and individuals are all encouraged to contribute to the enhancement of the rural social security system.