- China’s 15th Five-Year Plan places farmer livelihoods and rural modernisation at the centre of the national development strategy.
- The plan sets a target of increasing comprehensive grain production capacity to about 725 million tonnes by 2030.
- Farmers are expected to transition from traditional roles to participants in modern, technology-driven agriculture, emphasising human as well as technological modernisation.
China has published its 15th Five-Year Plan for the 2026-2030 period, which sets out plans to accelerate agricultural and rural development.
As part of the plan, it has set a target to increase the country’s comprehensive grain production capacity to about 725 million tonnes by 2030.
To do so, China aims to transform farmers from traditional producers into participants in modern, technology-driven agriculture.
“Rural modernisation includes not only the modernisation of things but also the modernisation of people,” said an official from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (MARA).
The previous five-year plan achieved significant progress, with China’s grain production reaching about 714.9 million tonnes in 2025, marking the second straight year that grain output had exceeded 700 million tonnes.
Despite these achievements, MARA described agricultural and rural modernisation as “lagging behind” and as its “most arduous and challenging task” moving forward.
“Without agricultural and rural modernisation, there can be no modernisation of the entire country… It is essential to address the shortcomings and weaknesses in agriculture, rural areas and farmers, and resolve the difficulties constraining their development.”
Improving farmer livelihoods
The plan outlines several key tasks for the next five years, including helping farmers increase their profits through more diversified revenue streams.
The plan aims to help farmers move beyond reliance on primary agricultural production by encouraging rural industry development and expanding employment and entrepreneurship opportunities.
China also aims to improve overall living conditions in rural areas by accelerating the development of “livable, workable and beautiful villages”.
This combines environmental improvements with upgraded infrastructure, better public services and stronger governance.
The plan prioritises cleaner living environments, improved housing and village layouts, expanded healthcare and education access, and more efficient infrastructure.
“We propose tasks such as optimising the layout of villages and towns, strengthening the construction and maintenance of rural infrastructure, continuously improving the rural living environment, enhancing the supply of basic public services in rural areas, and strengthening the construction of rural governance systems and capabilities.”
The goal is to deliver basic modern living conditions and narrow the rural–urban quality-of-life gap.
This shift reflects China’s belief that narrowing the urban–rural income gap is required for continued economic growth.
Its plans also include poverty prevention by systematically monitoring gains and providing support to prevent any large-scale return to poverty.
This includes targeted assistance for vulnerable and underdeveloped regions.
The plan has a strong emphasis on the adoption of smart agriculture, advanced machinery, improved seed systems and digital tools such as artificial intelligence.
These developments offer the potential to help farmers improve productivity, reduce labour constraints and access higher-value markets.
Lastly, the plan calls for effective policies that strengthen agriculture, benefit farmers and improve rural areas.
