Editor’s note: During the golden autumn season, the bustling scene of autumn harvest can be seen in the vast countryside of Bazhong, Sichuan province.

According to statistics, this year, Bazhong has cultivated 1.42 million mu (94,600 hectare) of small spring crops, an increase of 0.5% compared to last year, with a total output of 408,000 tons, an increase of 3.9% compared to last year.

According to industry dispatch, the city has cultivated 3.82 million mu of large spring crops, an increase of 0.6% compared to last year, with an expected output of 1.59 million tons, an increase of 4.1% compared to last year, presenting a promising harvest.

Perfecting the governance system and strictly adhering to the red line of arable land

Rice harvesting in Shuangping village, Yuntai town, Pingchang county. [Photo/spotlightbazhong.com]

In recent days, a special inspection has been carried out on the Natural Resources and Planning Bureau, the Agriculture and Rural Affairs Bureau, and the 36 towns (sub-districts) responsible for arable land protection in Pingchang county. It has promoted the reclamation of 30,580 mu (2038.67 hectare) of fallow land and the construction of over 150 mu of high-standard farmland.

"We not only understand the situation through visits, but also discover problems through reviewing relevant materials and interviewing the masses," said Xiang Haiyan, the leader of the second special inspection team on arable land protection in Pingchang county. "If corruption and disciplinary issues are found, the inspection team will transfer them to the discipline inspection commission and supervisory commission in accordance with procedures for handling."

Not only in Pingchang county, but also throughout the city, Bazhong strictly implements control rules, fully implements the target of farmland protection with adequate land area, strictly assesses and vetoes activities that may harm the environment, and holds lifelong accountability. It strictly implements the control of farmland use, prioritizes utilization, and strictly controls the conversion of general farmland into other agricultural land.

It is estimated that by 2025, the "non-agricultural" and "non-grain" transformation of farmland will be effectively curbed and controlled, and the city's grain planting area will be maintained at more than 5.1 million mu.

According to the relevant person in charge of the Agricultural and Rural Bureau of Bazhong, the high standard farmland construction project has been implemented since 2011. Currently, 2.85 million mu of high standard farmland has been established, accounting for more than half of the city's cultivated land area.

Currently, Bazhong has concentrated on building 5 autumn grain demonstration areas spanning a total of 200,000 mu, and 120 demonstration plots with a total of 130,000 mu.

According to calculations, this year's average yield of spring corn in the whole city has increased by more than 20 kilograms per mu compared to the previous year.