1st Ld: China to deepen reform in agricultural sector

China will deepen supply-side structural reform in agriculture to cultivate new development engines for the sector, according to a policy document released Sunday.

The major problems facing China's agricultural sector are structural ones, mainly on the supply side, according to the document by the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the State Council.

The document calls for improving structure in the industry, promoting "green" production, extending the sector's industrial and value chain, boosting innovation, consolidating shared rural development and enhancing rural reforms.

This is the 14th year in a row that the "No. 1 central document" has been devoted to agriculture, farmers and rural areas.

The "No. 1 central document" is the name traditionally given to the first policy statement released by the central authorities in the year and is seen as an indicator of policy priorities.

When carrying forward supply-side structural reform for the sector, national grain security must be guaranteed, according to the document.

It said that supply-side structural reform in the agricultural sector would be a long and challenging process, demanding the relationship between government and market be well handled and in the interests of all stakeholders.

China started structural reforms in its agricultural sector a few years ago. Partly due to structural adjustment, China's grain output dropped slightly in 2016, ending a 12-year rising streak. The yield stood at about 616 million tonnes, down by about 5.2 million tonnes or 0.8 percent year on year. Endi