The transformation of agriculture into housing should give farmers a sense of gain.

With Beijing's announcement of the "conversion of agriculture to housing", 31 provinces, cities and autonomous regions across the country have announced that they will abolish the distinction between agricultural and non-agricultural hukou and uniformly register as resident hukou. This means that the dual household registration system is about to withdraw from the historical stage, which is of far-reaching significance.

There is a clear distinction between agricultural non-agricultural hukou, the dual economic and social development between urban and rural areas, and the gap between urban and rural areas, which brings great damage to the rights of farmers. Speed up the reform of the household registration system, the full implementation of "rural housing", farmers will no longer be a status symbol, but only a professional title. Its historical significance and far-reaching political influence will help to break the dual structure of urban and rural areas, so that urban and rural residents can equally share the fruits of modernization. Specifically, after the abolition of agricultural hukou, it will be difficult for all kinds of social welfare distribution to be treated differently because of the differences in household registration between urban and rural areas; after the restrictions on household registration are liberalized in small and medium-sized cities, the reform process of urbanization will inevitably be accelerated, and there will be greater protection for free movement; the rural property right system will be more perfect, and a brand-new and beautiful countryside can be expected.

To break the dual structure, the first priority is the equality between urban and rural areas. "changing agriculture into residence" is not only a change of title, nor is it just a change from a piece of agricultural hukou to a resident hukou, but also to allow new citizens to enjoy all kinds of benefits attached to the urban hukou book. We will continue to improve services and security in rural education, medical care, employment, and old-age care, so that farmers can have a sense of achievement in the process of "changing agriculture into housing".

At the same time, we should also be vigilant that "changing agriculture into housing" cannot change the legitimate rights and interests of farmers. The first reaction of many farmers to the cancellation of agricultural hukou is, is it necessary to move their own land? We must resolutely prevent the phenomenon of infringing upon the legitimate rights of farmers by canceling agricultural hukou. In particular, we should be on guard against the compulsory tie-in sale of "land for social security" in the "cancellation of agricultural hukou" and force farmers to withdraw from contracted land and homestead. If we take advantage of "changing agriculture into housing" and infringe upon the land and property rights and interests of farmers, it may cause a large number of farmers who have lost their land to go to the cities, endangering the good momentum of steady economic and social development, and the loss outweighs the gain.

Of course, we should also encourage a new generation of migrant workers to go to the cities and encourage them to withdraw from the contracted land for a fee, but this is by no means an excuse for coercion. The withdrawal of farmers from contracted land and homestead must be voluntary and there must be compensation. Every farmer who is unwilling to give up his land should be patient and can afford to wait.

The household registration management, which restricts mobility and separates urban and rural areas, is out of date, and it is high time to abolish the agricultural hukou. However, behind the reform of the household registration system is the complex adjustment of interests, and it is impossible for urbanization to succeed in one battle. The gap between urban and rural areas cannot be filled in an instant, and urbanization is by no means achieved in a day.

We might as well take this opportunity to improve various systems such as rural education, medical care, social security and agricultural subsidies, gradually eliminate the gap between the level of various welfare benefits in weak rural areas and urban residents, and strive to raise the level of equalization of basic public services. we will promote the better and faster development of urbanization to co-ordinate the interests of farmers and citizens.