China will step up efforts to promote development of agricultural high-tech industrial demonstration zones, according to a guideline issued by the State Council on Jan 29.

Although China’s agricultural high-tech industrial demonstration zones have seen prominent growth since the State Council approved the Yangling zone in Shaanxi in 1997 and the Yellow River delta zone in 2015, problems still exist in balancing development and enhancing competitiveness, the circular stated.

The circular put forward a goal of establishing a batch of national agricultural high-tech industrial demonstration zones as hubs of innovation, talent and industries for modern agriculture by 2025.

The circular stressed promoting innovation by cultivating innovation-based agricultural enterprises that pay great attention to R&D and bring good benefits.

Also, the circular encouraged new-type professional farmers, graduates, returning migrant workers, returning overseas talent and sci-tech commissioners to take part in the agricultural innovation and entrepreneurship movement, and supported family farms and cooperatives to carry out innovation.

To establish agricultural high-tech industrial clusters, efforts should be made to enhance R&D and application of new technologies, and promote technological innovation of the leading industries in each zone, the circular stated.

The circular also called for efforts to attract technological resources and talent from universities and research institutions, set up training bases for new-type professional farmers, promote integrated development among rural industries, develop ecological agriculture, enhance information services, and carry out international cooperation.

The government should increase financial support, innovate financing assistance approaches, put land use policies in place, and optimize technological management, to help development of the zones, the circular stated.