Stabilizing Grass-Roots-Level Agricultural Technology Popularization System ����The General Office of the State Council recently transmitted the document titled "Opinions on Stabilizing the Grass-Roots-Level Agricultural Technology Popularization System" submitted by the Ministry of Agriculture and several other departments, which calls on various local governments and relevant departments under the State Council to conscientiously implement the document. The notice of the General Office of the State Council stresses that people's governments at all levels should pay attention and give necessary support to the work of popularization of agricultural technology, and encourages agricultural technical personnel to go to the frontline of agricultural production to provide direct services for the farmers. With regard to the erroneous practices recently emerged in some localities, such as illegal auction, sublease, occupation and unpaid-for appropriation of the property of township agricultural technology popularization institutions and willful placement of non-professionals in grass-roots agricultural technology popularization institutions, the notice calls for immediate correction of these malpractices, so as to maintain the stability of the grass-roots' agricultural technology popularization system. ����In the document, the Agricultural Ministry and several other departments say that the agricultural technology popularization system is an important component of the agricultural socialized service system and the system whereby the State supports and protects agriculture, as well as an important carrier for the implementation of the strategy of developing agriculture through science and education. In an effort to carry out the essence of the Decision of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) on Some Major Issues Concerning Agriculture and Rural Work adopted at the Third Plenary Session of the 15th CPC Central Committee, strengthen construction of the grass-roots agricultural technology popularization system, encourage agricultural technical personnel to go to the frontline of agricultural production to provide direct services for the farmers and guarantee the steady development of agriculture and the rural economy, the Agricultural Ministry puts forward the following opinions: ����Firstly, fully understanding the important significance of stabilizing the grass-roots agricultural technology popularization system. ����Secondly, further implementing policies and measures for stabilizing grass-roots agricultural technology popularization institutions. ����Thirdly, striving to explore new ways for agricultural technology popularization suited to the requirements of a socialist market economy. Construction of the agricultural technology popularization system should continue to keep to the road of integrating State support with self-development. ����Fourthly, actively creating conditions for the reform and development of the agricultural technology popularization undertaking. People's governments at all levels should actively create conditions for boosting the reform and development of the agricultural technology popularization undertaking. And ����Fifthly, encouraging agricultural technical personnel to go to the forefront of agricultural production. Governments at all levels should formulate preferential policies and adopt effective measures, earnestly keep existing key technical personnel at grass-roots units and attract competent technical personnel to work at grass-roots units. ����B106 ����Grass-Roots Agricultural Technology Popularization Contingent Must Not Be Dissolved ����Our Commentator expresses his views on the issue discussed in the Opinion submitted by the Ministry of Agriculture and several other departments. His commentary reads in part as follows: ����This important document is strongly purposeful. The Opinion emphasizes the special position and important role of the agricultural technology popularization system at the new stage of agricultural development, and calls on governments at various levels to adopt effective measures to guarantee the stability of the grass-roots agricultural technology popularization system. Proper implementation of this document is of important significance in intensifying efforts for developing agriculture through science and education and promoting the steady and long-term development of agriculture and the rural economy. ����Science and technology are the fundamental guarantee for agricultural development, and the agricultural technology popularization system serves as a bridge and link for converting agricultural science and technology into actual productive forces. Through many years of efforts, China has initially formed a fairly sound agricultural technology popularization system. The excellent situation existing today in agricultural development is attributable to the strenuous efforts of the agricultural technology popularization army. ����In the meantime, however, outstanding problems have emerged in some localities, these include instability of the grass-roots agricultural technical force and ineffective guarantee measures. So stabilizing the grass-roots agricultural technology popularization system has become an extremely urgent task, which should be given a high degree of attention by governments at all levels. ����In a bid to stabilize grass-root agricultural technology popularization institutions, the State has formulated a series of policies and measures. ����In the construction of the agricultural technology popularization system, it is essential to continue to follow the road of integrating State support with self-development. It is imperative to encourage and support agricultural technical personnel to go to the frontline of agricultural production to render direct services for the farmers, so as to make new contributions to the development of agriculture and the rural economy. Economicnews 1999-10-21 Page2 Full Story in Chinese