BEIJING - China is facing a stern challenge of farmland protection as many construction projects are encroaching on arable land and exceeding the scale envisaged in the country's land-exploration plan, according to a report delivered to the top legislature.

Uyunqimg, vice-chairwoman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), made the remarks Wednesday when she delivered a report concerning China's farmland-use on behalf of a NPC law enforcement inspection team.

The most outstanding problem is the illegal occupying of farmland in road and railway construction, Uyunqimg said.

Among some local governments, illegal land-grab conduct, such as exploration against relevant regulations and non-transparent distribution of compensation, has violated the rights of farmers, she noted, urging greater transparency and supervision in this area.

The top legislature sent a team to ascertain how a law on rural land contracts has been implemented in order to prevent farmers' land rights from being violated.

The team went in six separate groups to the provinces of Hebei, Jilin, Anhui, Shandong, Hunan and Gansu from August to October.