What agricultural, rural, and farmer issues are today's Two Sessions focusing on?

On the afternoon of the 22nd, Xi Jinping, General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee, President of China, and Chairman of the Central Military Commission, joined the deliberations of the Inner Mongolia delegation at the third session of the 13th National People's Congress, where he is a member.

After carefully listening to everyone's remarks, Xi Jinping delivered a speech. He said: "The Communist Party of China draws its strength and vitality from the people. No matter how great the challenges or pressures we face, no matter how significant the sacrifices or costs we must bear, our commitment to a people-centered development philosophy will remain steadfast and unwavering. Putting the people first and prioritizing life above all else, we are determined to protect the lives, safety, and health of our people—no matter what it takes."

In addition, the two sessions today also focused on the following "agriculture, rural areas, and farmers" issues.

On the 22nd, during the first "Ministerial Channel" session of this year's Two Sessions, China's Minister of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Han Changfu, offered a reassuring message on food security. He also addressed pressing public concerns—including the outlook for grain production, the supply of live pigs, and the development of poverty-alleviation industries—by answering questions from reporters.

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Affairs Han Changfu stated:

It's safe to say that China will not face a food crisis—here are four reassuring words to put your mind at ease: Grain harvests have been abundant year after year, leading to relatively ample stockpiles, ensuring food security at all times—and keeping our "rice bowl" firmly in our own hands.

Currently, hog production is showing strong recovery momentum, making it reasonable to expect that this year's hog production targets will be met. Since October of last year, the number of breeding sows has stopped declining and begun to rebound, marking seven consecutive months of growth. Similarly, the overall hog inventory has also increased for three straight months. As a result, pork prices are unlikely to rise sharply in the near future.

Nowadays, there’s nothing that can’t be grown—only what can’t be sold. To help agricultural products from impoverished regions reach both rural areas and urban markets, we need to ensure not only that they find buyers but also that they fetch competitive prices. By connecting wholesale markets, e-commerce platforms, and these struggling areas, we can encourage thoughtful consumption and inspire people from all sectors of society to purchase more produce from poverty-stricken regions.

On May 21, a provincial video conference was held to discuss the battle against poverty through ensuring safe drinking water in rural areas. The meeting emphasized the need to accelerate the construction of annual projects aimed at consolidating and improving rural drinking water safety. This year, an investment of 670 million yuan will be allocated, with a primary focus on addressing the drinking water safety challenges faced by the remaining 720,000 rural residents across the province.

Recently, the Henan Provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs reported that wheat production in Henan Province is maintaining a strong momentum this year, with summer grain harvests expected to be another bumper crop. Li Jun, Director of the Grain Crops Division at the department, noted that Henan’s wheat acreage has remained steady at over 85.5 million mu—unchanged from last year—and the quality of wheat continues to improve. Specifically, the area planted with high-quality, specialized wheat varieties has reached 13.5 million mu, while the order-based planting rate has climbed to 86.4%. Currently, wheat crops are thriving, with first- and second-class seedlings accounting for 91.5% of the province’s total—a 2-percentage-point increase compared to the same period last year, and 4.3 percentage points higher than the national average.

Abuloha Village is nestled deep in the heart of Sichuan's Greater Liangshan Mountains, cut off from the outside world by rugged terrain. The village is home to 65 households and 253 people. As the last village in China without a road connection, all supplies must be carried in—either by human porters or on the backs of horses. To finally bring a road to the village, after extensive coordination among various parties, local authorities used helicopters to airlift construction equipment directly into Abuloha. Now, work is underway simultaneously from both ends! Keep it up—we’ve got this!

We’re now officially entering the rice-transplanting season for Xiaozhan rice, and all 10 agricultural districts in Tianjin are bustling with efforts to expand its cultivation. This year, Tianjin’s total area planted with Xiaozhan rice has been expanded to 800,000 mu. Many villages have even converted dry fields into paddy fields, ensuring national food security while boosting farmers’ incomes.

Once-unassuming little vegetable gardens in front of and behind homes have now become a new avenue for farmers to boost their incomes. In recent years, rural areas of Heilongjiang Province have accelerated the development of courtyard economies, turning these small gardens into sources of significant economic benefits—some generating annual revenues exceeding 10,000 yuan, while others have even helped impoverished households escape poverty through this very initiative.