In the vast fields, farmers plough and sow seeds, and their lives are closely connected to the land. However, when we talk about the "self" of the peasant, the farmland and homesteads do not seem to belong to them exactly. This can't help but lead to thinking: what is the real "self" of farmers in modern rural society?
1. Farmland and Homestead: Superficial Ownership and Deep Rights
First, let's look at farmland through the eyes of farmers. Farmers toiled in anticipation of a bountiful harvest, but ownership of the land was often not in their hands. The state has collective land ownership, and the peasants only have the right to use it. This is a major feature of the mainland's land system, which is designed to guarantee food security and rural stability. However, the longevity and stability of tenure is crucial for farmers, as it is the cornerstone of their lives and part of their identity.
The situation with homesteads is slightly different. Farmers build homes on their homesteads and seem to have real "private property". However, the right to use homesteads is also restricted by policies, and with the advancement of urbanization, some farmers may face the risk of homestead transfer or expropriation, which undoubtedly touches their vital interests.
2. The "self" of the peasant: the value of immaterial assets
So, apart from farmland and homesteads, what do farmers really belong to? The answer may lie in the immaterial realm. The intangible heritage of farmers' cultural heritage, traditional skills, and family history constitutes their unique community identity and spiritual home. The wisdom, customs and emotional bonds they have accumulated in their farming culture are an important embodiment of their individual values and a valuable asset that they have passed down from generation to generation.
In addition, the social networks of peasants, including kinship, friendship and local friendship, also form part of their lives. This connection between people, although not a material possibility, gives them emotional support and security, and is an important pillar in their lives.
3. Security and Transformation: Seeking a New Self-Identity
Faced with the uncertainties that farmland and homesteads can bring, farmers need to find a new self-identity. At the policy level, we need to further improve the rural land system and give farmers greater protection of their rights and interests, so that they can enjoy the benefits of land while sharing the fruits of development. At the same time, farmers are encouraged to participate in the diversification of rural industries, such as rural tourism and the development of special agricultural products, so as to transform their knowledge and skills into economic value.
At the social level, we should respect and protect the cultural heritage of farmers, and through education and inheritance, let their traditional skills and customs be inherited and developed, and form a unique rural cultural brand.
Summary: Farmland and homesteads are not all that farmers have, their "self" is more reflected in non-material community identity, cultural inheritance and interpersonal relationships. In the process of modernization, we need to redefine the identity of farmers, protect their rights, and guide them towards a more diverse and dignified future. Only in this way can we truly realize the ideal vision of "the cultivator has his land, the dweller has his house, and the soul has something to rely on".