To tap the incentives of farmers, Hubei Province has begun improving the economic ambience in the rural areas and mitigating the incubus on the back of the farmers.

The province has tried to reduce the debts of the administrative bodies in villages that too much investment was put into public welfare undertakings and started up enterprises in a blind way. In some localities, the way of revitalizing the economy in cities have been introduced, idle assets have been put into use, and enterprises have been sold for the purpose of clearing up debts and lessening burdens on farmers. For instance, over 100 million yuan have been turned to good use in villages in Songzi municipality; Qianjiang municipality has sent working teams to help over 300 village administrations to put financial matters and debts to order. Up to now, this work has been completed in 150 villages.

A segment of administrative personnel in villages and townships are overzealous in launching unrealistic projects, thus causing debt and burdens on the farmers. So the provincial administration demands that these personnel change their work style, carry out construction based on practical financial strength, call a halt to their arbitrary levy on the farmers for mounting the so-called "projects of administrative exploits".

Meanwhile the province has taken steps to reinforce control on burdens on the farmers. "A Clear Card" has been issued to every farmer household bearing the amount of money the farmer household should contribute and has contributed. And this card has been issued to 95% households in the province.

At the same time, the administrative offices in the villages have been retrenched. 40000 village administrative personnel were cut down last year and a further cutback will be made this year.

The province has introduced measures to serve the farmers and farming production for the purpose of beefing up income for the farmers. More roads have been built and a "green channel" was opened to facilitate the transport and marketing of farming and sideline products in Yichang and Tianmen. In addition, the industrial, commercial and supply and marketing departments took a united action to wipe out fake chemical fertilizer, pesticides and seeds in the market.

To make the farmers understand the government's rural policy, a system of making public the administrative affairs in villages has been universally implemented in the province in a bid to effect by degrees democratic administration and decision-making. Democratic management is being put into effect in the province and financial groups have been set up in over 80% villages in the province.