China's Central Conference on Rural Work is underway in the capital Beijing. The annual gathering sets the tone for the following year's agricultural and rural development.

Following years of reform in rural development, farmers are now officially allowed to transfer their land rights to individuals or conglomerates. Guidelines issued by the central government also call for the separation of farmland ownership rights, contract rights, and operating rights. This would allow farmers to retain the rights to their allotted land even if they choose to lease the land to others.

The separation of the three rights would put operating rights on equal footing with ownership and contract rights -- a big step forward in protecting the interests of farmer-operators.