Fishers net fish raised in a rice field in Qingtian in November 2024. [Photo provided to CHINA DAILY]

Fan Qingwei, member of the 13th Zhejiang Provincial Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, emphasized the need to strengthen the protection and utilization of Zhejiang's agricultural heritage systems.

These systems, including the Qingtian Rice-Fish Co-Culture System, the Yunhe Rice Terraces Agricultural System, and the Jinyun Water Bamboo-Duck Symbiosis System, represent a profound legacy of harmony between people and nature.

As a leading province in this field, Zhejiang has identified 205 Provincially Important Agricultural Heritage Resources to date.

Among these, six have been recognized by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations as Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems, and 17 have been designated as China Important Agricultural Heritage Systems, ranking first nationally in both categories.

Fan added that these heritage systems hold profound cultural and nostalgic value. However, his research indicates that rapid modernization and the evolving needs of urban-rural integration pose significant challenges to their preservation and continuation.

During Zhejiang province's two sessions, Fan submitted a proposal calling for enhanced protection and utilization of important agricultural heritage systems.

His key recommendations included establishing a dedicated provincial fund, developing quality standards for products from these heritage sites, and enhancing provincial coordination to create agricultural heritage corridors.

These measures aim to comprehensively improve the overall appeal and competitiveness of the province's agricultural heritage.