The drive to build a new countryside began months ago. The leadership and academics are now warning of the possible challenges in the implementation process.

Among the warnings are a lack of active involvement from farmers, government-controlled programs that do not encourage farmers' involvement and "image projects" that jeopardize the interests of farmers.

Investigations and surveys by the Ministry of Agriculture (MOA) in more than 200 counties of 18 provinces this spring show that these concerns are well grounded.

Some farmers remain in the dark about their role in the nationwide drive. On the other hand, some local officials have ignored the participation of farmers in drafting local development blueprints.

More serious is the scheme of some local officials coaxing farmers into demolishing their houses and building new ones simply to create a "new" image, according to the ministry.

The efficacy to solve those problems at the next stage will largely determine the future of the ambitious national drive to build a new and prosperous countryside. Without the involvement of farmers on a voluntary basis, the campaign may be at risk of flopping.

The current development, as demonstrated in the ministry's investigations, shows many local governments are yet to get a firm grasp on the core values of the new drive.

In putting forward the concept of building a new countryside, the central policy-makers have explicitly suggested five goals for the drive. They include higher productivity, a better-off life, community civility, democratic management and a clean and tidy village look.

It will justifiably take much time and effort to accomplish all of those tasks. But it seems some local officials have cut corners in carrying out the policy by concentrating on revamping the village look, which may be the most convenient action that will consume the least time.

Such superficial image-building, rather than genuine village-building, is set to disengage farmers and let them down, brewing disbelief in the central program.

All the problems found in the MOA's investigations boil down to the lack of a serious attitude towards, and sober-minded assessment of, the national drive.

The realization of the ambitious goal of building a new countryside requires long-term efforts from local officials to engage farmers, get them properly organized and gradually develop the local economy.

Any hope to force rural development through unilateral government-controlled campaigns would risk derailing the cause in the long run.

(China Daily April 26, 2006)