China's "National Sustainable Agricultural Development Plan (2015- 2030)" was officially released on May 27, 2015.

The plan was jointly compiled by the Ministry of Agriculture, National Development and Reform Commission, Ministry of Science and Technology, Ministry of Finance and others. The plan is an important guide for sustainable agricultural development in the future. It divides China into three zones named optimized development areas, moderate development areas, and protected development areas. The categories take into account factors such as agricultural resources, environmental capacity, and ecological types.

Optimized development areas include the Northeast region, the Huanghuaihai region, the Yangtze River area and South China, which are the main areas for agricultural production. They benefit from good production conditions and excellent potential. Moderate development areas include the northwest region, southwest region and regions along the Great Wall, which have distinctive features of agricultural production but limited resources and environmental capacity. Protected development areas include the Qinghai Tibet region, Tibet, and marine fishery areas. These are placed in a special strategic position addressing aspects of ecological protection and construction.

The plan puts forward five key tasks from 2015 to 2030 in promoting sustainable agricultural development.

--Optimize development and enhance agricultural productivity. By 2020, the contribution of agricultural science and technologyis to reach more than 60 percent, and resource recycling is to be established in the national modern agriculture demonstration zones and major grain-producing counties.

--Protect arable land resources and promote the sustainable utilization of farmland. Prevent heavy metal pollution of arable land and establish a soil classification management system for agricultural areas.

--Use water efficiently and ensure the safety of agricultural water. The national agricultural irrigation water reserve is to be maintained at 372 billion cubic meters in 2020.

--Curb environmental pollution and improve the agricultural and rural environment. In 2020 the volume of chemical fertilizers and pesticides used is to remain fixed, and there should be comprehensive reprocessing of livestock and poultry wastes.

--Restore the agricultural ecology, enhance ecological functions, protect the grassland ecosystem and biological diversity and restore the aquatic ecosystem. The forest coverage rate is to exceed 23 percent and the national comprehensive grassland vegetation coverage is to reach 56 percent in 2020.

The article is edited and translated from《农业可持续发展规划发布,全国划分为三大区域梯次推进》, source: People's Daily