On February 1, 2009, the CPC Central Committee and the State Council jointly issued the No.1 document entitled "Opinions on Policies for Promoting Steady Agricultural Development and Facilitating Farmers' Incomes."

Although this year will witness the hardest challenges since the beginning of the present century, the country will plow ahead with tough measures for developing agriculture and the countryside, it said.

The document also said decreasing resource product prices on the global market, increasing public concerns about food security and fast-diminishing employment opportunities for rural migrant workers are among the most critical issues facing the countryside.

"The biggest potential for boosting domestic demand lies in rural areas; the foundation for securing steady and relatively fast economic growth is based upon agriculture; and the toughest work of securing and improving people's livelihoods remains with farmers," the document said.