In response, the central government earlier this month, pledged to develop agriculture with a balanced emphasis on quality and quantity rather than high output, which comes at the cost of resource depletion.

It also promised to boost policies that would benefit farmers, deepen rural reforms and strengthen the rule of law in rural issues.

The Communist Party of China's (CPC) flagship magazine "Qiushi" last Monday published an article by Premier Li Keqiang that advocated agricultural modernization.

Li wrote that agricultural modernization could stabilize economic growth and promote structural transformation.

Tian Guangping, a sweet potato farmer in Ganguyi Town, Yan'an City, could benefit from the push.

With techniques passed through generations and soil particularly suited to sweet potatoes, Tian made 90,000 yuan last year from a half hectare plot of rented land.

However, Tian has big dreams. The government in his town plans to launch a 24-hectare organic sweet potato farm. He hopes to be involved in the project so his sweet potatoes can be labeled "green products", as the domestic market is preoccupied with food safety concerns.