The China Banking and Insurance Regulatory Commission published a 2026 work notice on financial support for comprehensive rural revitalisation, directing banking and insurance institutions to increase and better target credit and insurance for agriculture and rural development alongside tighter controls to curb misuse and misconduct. Sector indicators cited in the release show inclusive agriculture-related loans at CNY 14.52 trillion at end-February 2026, up 10.34% year on year, with new inclusive agriculture-related lending in January to February priced at an average 4.05%, 0.46 percentage points lower than a year earlier. Agricultural insurance provided CNY 0.9 trillion of risk protection for 21 million farmer household instances over January to February 2026. Priorities include greater finance for grain and edible oil production, 'vegetable basket' industries, agricultural technology innovation, county-level income-generating industries, and rural construction and urban-rural integration, supported by special credit incentives and ongoing targeted assistance for households and regions at risk of falling back into poverty. In 2026 the Agricultural Development Bank and large and mid-sized commercial banks should continue to set standalone agriculture-related credit plans and work towards sustained growth in comparable agriculture-related loan balances versus the start of the year, including via agricultural supply-chain finance, expanding first-time borrowers, strengthening rural small-bank capacity, and providing loan renewals and extensions for agribusinesses and farmers. Insurers are also directed to strengthen cover for rice, wheat, corn and soybeans, develop insurance for locally distinctive products, and use agricultural insurance to support disaster risk reduction. The notice also calls for improvements to the rural financial service environment through rural credit system development and information sharing, and for enhanced monitoring to prevent agriculture-related credit being diverted to non-agricultural uses. It prohibits using agriculture finance to add illegal new hidden local government debt, and targets fraud risks including collusion with illegal intermediaries to obtain loans or insurance payouts, alongside stronger oversight of rural inclusive finance service points to guard against illegal fundraising and other illicit financial activity.
China Banking and Insurance Regulatory Commission 2026-04-08
China Banking and Insurance Regulatory Commission issues 2026 rural revitalisation finance directive requiring earmarked agricultural lending plans
The China Banking and Insurance Regulatory Commission issued its 2026 notice on financial support for rural revitalisation, directing banks and insurers to expand and better target agriculture- and rural-related credit and insurance while tightening controls on misuse. Priorities include more finance for key agricultural sectors, continued standalone agriculture credit plans at major banks, and stronger insurance coverage for staple crops and distinctive local products. The notice also calls for improved rural financial infrastructure and stricter monitoring to prevent credit diversion, hidden local government debt, fraud, and illegal fundraising.