China’s 2024 Rural Revamp: Record Harvests 🌾 & Green Deserts 🌍 - 🌍NewspaperAmigo

China Media Group (CMG) just dropped its top 10 rural revitalization stories of 2024—and it’s packed with breakthroughs that are reshaping the countryside! From desert-busting green belts to record-breaking grain harvests, here’s what you need to know:

1. Policy Power-Up

The CPC’s 20th Central Committee rolled out bold plans for integrated urban-rural development in July, focusing on reforms to boost agriculture and rural communities. General Secretary Xi Jinping doubled down at December’s Central Rural Work Conference, urging deeper reforms to empower farmers.

2. Grain Gains

China smashed its grain production record with 1.413 trillion jin (706.5 million tonnes)! This marks the first time output crossed the 1.4-trillion-jin threshold after nine years above 1.3 trillion.

3. Desert to Oasis →

Xinjiang’s Taklimakan Desert—the world’s second-largest shifting sand desert—is now fully encircled by a 3,046 km green belt, a mega win for eco-restoration!

4. Farmland Boom

Farmland expanded to 1.918 billion mu (128 million hectares) thanks to strict protection policies, marking a third straight year of growth.

5. Rural Innovations

Other highlights include China’s first national elderly care plan for rural areas, a historic agricultural survey of crop/livestock resources, and 337,800+ village logistics hubs boosting delivery speeds in central/western regions.

With sustainability and tech at the core, China’s rural game is leveling up—one harvest (and tree) at a time.