Recently, in Linze County, Zhangye City, Gansu Province, the town government was exposed for forcibly imposing fees on farmers under the guise of “field leveling” and “high-standard farmland construction”, sparking controversy and leading to the establishment of a local investigation team.
On June 13, the official Chinese media outlet “Voice of China” reported that several villagers in Linze County, Zhangye City, Gansu Province, reflected that a few years ago, the village promised “state funding” for farmland construction, but after completion, they changed their stance and demanded 200 yuan per mu annually for construction fees for 15 consecutive years. It was reported that during the process of promoting farmland construction projects, the local government forcibly collected 200 yuan per mu annually from maize seed farmers, intending to deduct the amount for 15 years.
According to “Kan Kan News”, the local town government explained that they resorted to this measure because a collective land transfer plan had failed in the past year, thus had to charge farmers to repay bank loans.
After an on-site verification by the Gansu Provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, it was determined that the actual deduction project in the area was not the high-standard farmland construction supported by financial aid, but a maize seed base enhancement project carried out by Linze County through bank loans. It was deemed as an unreasonable imposition of fees on farmers under the guise of farmland construction.
On June 14, the label “Gansu area accused of forcibly collecting farmland construction fees from farmers” sparked online attention.
Netizens expressed their discontent, stating, “Farmers, the hardest-hit group in China, are still being taken advantage of. Where is their conscience?” “In such a drought-prone region, farmers already have it tough, and yet they are being treated with such lack of bottom line!”
“Seeing this news, to be honest, I am extremely angry and outraged. Throughout history, farmers have been the hardest-working, most honest, and humble group. I think of the days when my parents tilled the land and provided grains to the state, the hardships they endured.”