Farmers' harvest festival celebrates agricultural success and rural vitalization

The 9th Chinese Farmers' Harvest Festival, which falls on the Autumn Equinox, will be celebrated with 47 key events along with numerous locally organized activities across the country, officials said at a news conference on Wednesday.

The main national venue will be located in Dongjiao village, Zaoyang city of Hubei province.

Lei Liugong, director of the market and informatization department of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs and director of the festival's organizing committee office, said this year's summer grain output increased, early rice production remained stable, and autumn grain planting areas expanded with generally normal crop growth, laying a solid foundation for a full-year bumper harvest.

A series of farmer-friendly policies and support initiatives will be rolled out during the festival, he said.

The festival will integrate traditional farming wisdom and modern rural civility into celebrations through cultural exhibitions, international academic seminars, and rural civility promotion activities, Lei said.

With the "golden autumn consumption season" as the centerpiece to foster a "harvest economy", the festival will create new consumption scenarios such as harvest markets that integrate agriculture, commerce, culture, tourism and sports.

Over the past eight years, the festival has grown from a simple celebration into a significant national symbol honoring farmers and agriculture.

"The festival has gradually become a symbol of the farmers themselves and a vivid representation of the emphasis on agriculture in the new era," Lei said.

Dongjiao village, this year's main venue, is a model of rural vitalization with a history of dedicated village leadership, integrated development of agriculture and tourism, and a harmonious community, Yang Jing, Party secretary of Zaoyang city, said. The village has transformed from barren land into a thriving area with high-quality farmland, peach orchards and aquaculture ponds, he said.

Local authorities aim to convert the festival's momentum into long-term development by channeling visitor flows into specialty industries, transforming festival facilities into permanent service platforms, and expanding celebration enthusiasm to broader regional revitalization efforts, Lei added.