The reporter learned from the State Administration for Financial Supervision today (3rd) that as of the end of December 2024, the balance of national inclusive agricultural loans was 14.4 trillion yuan, an increase of 14.4% year-on-year. The loan balance in key grain areas was 4.46 trillion yuan, an increase of 20% year-on-year. In 2024, the average interest rate of newly issued inclusive agricultural loans fell to 4.9%, a year-on-year decrease of 0.51 percentage points and a decrease of 2.49 percentage points from 5 years ago.

In 2024, the State Administration for Financial Regulation continued to increase credit support related to agriculture by strengthening regulatory guidance, guiding banking institutions to improve internal professional mechanisms, optimize financial products and services, strengthening technological empowerment and guarantee credit enhancement, and reasonably determine loan interest rates. At the same time, guide all financial institutions to optimize the layout of physical outlets, strengthen mobile Internet financial services, and increase the frequency of mobile services. Remote poverty-stricken areas and border ethnic areas will be regarded as key areas for basic financial services construction to achieve full coverage of basic financial services.

In terms of agricultural insurance, in 2024, the protection level and coverage of staple grain crop insurance will be further improved, and the three major staple grain full cost insurance and planting income insurance will be expanded to all regions across the country. The full cost insurance and planting income insurance policies of soybeans will cover 50% of the planting area in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Heilongjiang Province and other provinces. The insurance coverage of local specialty agricultural products has increased significantly, and the level of protection has been significantly improved. In 2024, agricultural insurance provided a total of 5.22 trillion yuan in risk protection to 148 million farmers.

The State Administration for Financial Regulation stated that in 2025, it will further increase investment in agricultural-related financial resources, improve the adaptability of credit products in the "three rural" fields, focus on key key areas such as food security, rural industries, rural construction, and agricultural science and technology, and increase the supply of medium- and long-term loans and credit loans. Continue to promote precise insurance claims for agricultural insurance and improve the timeliness and accuracy of agricultural insurance claims. Develop and promote property insurance and liability insurance products that meet the needs of agricultural enterprises, and improve risk prevention capabilities in agricultural and rural production and operation, technological innovation, sudden disasters, cargo transportation, etc.

(CCTV reporter Wang Lei)