Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs: Highlight the dual-driven approach of technology and reform to accelerate the modernization of agriculture and rural areas.

The State Council Information Office held a press conference in its series on "Getting Off to a Good Start in the 15th Five-Year Plan." At the press conference, a relevant official from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs introduced that during the 15th Five-Year Plan period, the dual drive of science and technology and reform will be highlighted to accelerate the modernization of agriculture and rural areas. The relevant official from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs stated that in building an agricultural powerhouse, science and technology are the sharp weapon, and reform is the key. Scientific and technological innovation and institutional innovation will be advanced in a coordinated manner to create new momentum and new advantages for high-quality development of agriculture and rural areas. On the one hand, efforts will be made to vigorously promote high-level self-reliance and self-strengthening in agricultural science and technology, drive deep integration of scientific and technological innovation and industrial innovation, and promote the integrated and efficient use of good farmland, good seeds, good machinery, and good methods, so that new quality productive forces become a "new engine" for the development of modern agriculture. On the other hand, while adhering to the main line of properly handling the relationship between farmers and land, efforts will continue to deepen key rural reform tasks, including the pilot program for extending the second round of land contracts for another 30 years after expiration, consolidate the foundation of collective ownership, safeguard the rights of farmers as collective members, activate rural resource factors, and continuously improve the effectiveness of policies that strengthen agriculture, benefit farmers, and enrich farmers, so as to add impetus and vitality to the development of agriculture and rural areas.