Huang Jian (Aba Daily): Agricultural experts from among the farming community can serve as good examples for fellow villagers-an effect that even agricultural professors cannot achieve. To grant farming experts professional titles and offer them advanced farming skills prove the government cares for and recognizes the importance of this vital section of the population. In this way, farmers are offered the hope of a bright future and will try to develop rural areas. Encouraged by their future prospects, they will work harder in the years ahead.

Meanwhile, professional titles for farmers are also an effective way to discover talent, tap their potential and encourage their creativity. Undoubtedly, this will greatly promote the rural economy and strengthen the competitiveness of China's agricultural sector in the international market.

Zhu Sibei (hlj.rednet.com): Every person is a kind of social resource. In a market economy, human resources are often distributed in accordance with market demand. Therefore, there must be a recognized standard to show the capabilities of a certain group of people, and this is one of the reasons for introducing professional titles for farmers. People's doubts focus on whether farmers themselves need the titles or not. In my opinion, as long as we do not observe the farmers through blinkers and support all the legitimate rights that they deserve, then there is no reason to reject the practice of giving farmers professional titles. No one can deny the inspiring and encouraging effect of these titles and that farmers need encouragement just like everyone else.

Lu Jun (China Youth Daily): To grant farmers professional titles is a milestone for the farming community, the country's agricultural sector and also for all the rural areas. In China, people tend to think that agriculture has nothing to do with science and technology. Some even go as far as believing farmers can only do simple manual work, with no relation to sci-tech. This misunderstanding is hampering the development of rural areas. Six years after China's WTO accession, science and technology are important for China's agricultural products to secure a foothold in the international market. The spread of farming science knowledge depends largely on expert farmers. Encouraging local farmers by granting them professional titles will greatly strengthen the competitiveness of China's agricultural sector.

All just window dressing

Ou Muhua (jcrb.com): Apart from being a respected indication of work competence, professional titles are also encouraging because they mean a higher income. However, generally speaking, to farmers, the title system is not appealing. The title of "Professor-level Agronomist" does not mean that the farmer's crops will grow better than those in another field. Neither will the title help him find a decent job in the employment market.

To farmers, a harvesting machine is more attractive than a title of "professor."

Rural talent deserves to be recognized, but not in the form of professional titles. Honor without tangible benefits will make farmers feel tricked and may even result in a distrust of government departments.

Gong Mingjun (Zhejiang Online): It's not easy to have a unified standard on how to assess professional titles for farmers, as there is a lack of such common assessment indexes as educational background, working history, etc. Indexes like technical level, daily performance and the capability to solve problems are not rigid standards, and are therefore not credible. While the assessment standard itself is questionable, the value of the titles is even more suspicious. As a result, perhaps titles given to farmers will not have universal recognition.

Owing to its own deficiencies, the professional title system is now the target of criticism and some even suggest its abolishment. Under these circumstances, the government must be cautious in granting farmers professional titles.