Farmers whose land is taken back by the government should be fairly compensated and relocated, said an article in Nanfang Metropolis Daily. An excerpt follows:

South China's Guangdong provincial government and its Land and Resources Bureau have jointly drafted stricter regulations on government expropriation of farm land. Farmers are supposed to be informed of the reasons for their land expropriation. They should also know the compensation standard and the follow-up relocation arrangement. And they have every right to register their disapprovals at public hearings. Farmers in Guangdong Province could also enjoy higher compensation fees to ensure their living standard would not suffer a deterioration because of loss of land.

Guangdong's new moves are the representations of China's newly revised land policies tightening management on arable land. Among all the concerning issues listed in the new land policies, the compensation and relocation fees for farmers losing land top the list.

Sweeping urbanization has landed China in a series of tricky conundrums, one of which is the compensation for those who have lost their land. The cause of the problem is deep rooted in our malfunctioning land system as well as misleading managerial principles followed by government.

Local governments can often reclaim farmers' land under the guise of farming use so that they can compensate the land owners at a very low price. But then they lease out the land for other construction projects, which, of course, is offered at a much higher price. They benefit a lot in such deals.

As for government managerial principles, the prevailing idea is that the perfect urban image could fully display the government's achievement, while the wellbeings of farmers cannot.

Some governments, misled by such mindsets, have exhausted too much energy and money in putting up gaudy image projects, ignoring farmers whose lands were misused and therefore so much in need.

If cities continue to sacrifice farmers' interests for their glitzy skyline, farmers will be exposed to harsher problems, such as unemployment, housing, education, healthcare and social security.

Farmers' voices are often under-represented in government, yet they deserve more favourable treatment.

Guangdong's move to issue favourable land compensation policies should be applauded and promoted.

Editor: Olivia