China's new law on rural land contracts, which for the first time grants farmers long-term, guaranteed rights to use their contracted land, took effect in March 2003.

The law has great significance for the protection of farmers' fundamental interests, the promotion of agricultural development and the maintenance of social stability in rural areas.

The land is the basic productive material of farmers. Only a long-term and guaranteed right to use the land can give farmers the security they deserve so that they can increase the investment in their land.

According to the law, rural farmers' rights to use land under contract are guaranteed for at least 30 years, and women, whether married or unmarried, enjoy equal rights with respect to land distribution.

The new law stipulates that ownership of land usage rights cannot be revised before the expiration of the contract, and that, within the valid term of the contract. Contractors may not reclaim their land. Farmers will also be able to legally transfer, re-contract, enter into share-holding ventures and exchange the rights of land use.

The new law, which grants farmers long-term guaranteed rights to use land, is beneficial to social stability in rural areas, where the per-capita area of land distribution is relatively small. This law gives farmers more freedom to use their land.

China began adopting the contract responsibility system based on household management in rural areas more than 20 years ago. Under the system, farming households concluded contracts with rural authorities to use and manage land for their own benefit.□

(Information source: Xinhuanet)
2003/10/9