A proposal on establishment of Chinese Farmers' Day was
submitted to the Fifth Session of the 10th National People's
Congress (NPC), China's top legislature, on March 4, 2007.
It was presented by Jiang Deming, vice director of the
Agricultural Promotion Center, Sheyang County, east China's Jiangsu Province, together with 36 other local
NPC deputies.
Jiang said about 900 million, or 70 percent, of the national
population is farmers. Therefore, since Chinese population growth
is mainly in the countryside, Chinese farmers should have a
red-letter day of their own.
"Many red-letter days were established by vocations or social
identities, like International Women's Day, Chinese Youth Day,
International Children's Day and Army Day," Jiang said, "Teachers'
Day (September 10), Journalists' Day (November 8) and Nurses Day
(May 12) have also been set up since the 1970s, contributing much
to raising their social status."
Many foreign countries have such a day for farmers, and
especially in consideration of agricultural importance to China's
development, it would be appropriate to add one here, Jiang
added.
Agriculture, countryside, and farmers are important issues among
China's national work, with farmers at the heart of the matter.
However, farmers are still an underrepresented group in China. To
establish Farmers' Day will not only strengthen their sense of
confidence and pride, but can urge the whole nation to further take
care of farmers as well.
The deputies suggested the best time for a Farmers' Day would be
in spring or autumn, since spring is a slack season and autumn is
the harvest season.
If spring is chosen, the day could be selected either at
Beginning of Spring, the first seasonal division point, usually
falling on February 4 or 5, or at Rain Water Day, the second
seasonal division point, usually falling on February 19 or 20.
Or, if autumn is preferred, the best day would be September 1,
since nine is a heavenly number that is referred to as "many" or
"huge". The day would be perfect for Chinese farmers, by far the
largest group in the nation, to enjoy such an honor.
(China Development Gateway by Unisumoon March 9, 2007)