China to focus on food safety and agriculture this year

China is prioritising food safety and agricultural sector in 2015, according to its 2015 rural policy outline.

The ‘No 1 Central Document’, the first major policy document released every year in January, emphasised that agriculture is a significant issue in the country, state news agency Xinhua reported.

Currently, China is facing several issues in the sector including low farmer income, pollution and a lack of competitive agricultural companies, among others.

According to the document, China will set-up modern farms and enhance the regulation of quality of food and other farm products to tackle the difficulties, Reuters reported.

In addition, the country will take measures to clean-up land that has been damaged by heavy metal mining and processing and also to locate and secure ‘permanent farmland’ that is completely disconnected from industrial and urban development.

China is facing difficulties to produce food from its contaminated lands to meet the higher demand from urban regions.

The policy outline indicated that China will encourage private investment in farms and also try to secure cheaper financing options for more farmers.

It also noted that China Development Bank will have to increase mid- and long-term infrastructure loans to rural areas as part of these developments.

Meanwhile, the document also stressed that the country will strengthen the technical study, safety management and better public awareness of GM technology, China Daily reported.

In 2014, Chinese President Xi Jinping had said that the country will accept GM technology and it should be allowed to develop.