Abstract: Economic compensation for cultivated land protection is an important measure for the implementation of farmland protection in the new period. In order to scientifically and rationally build economic compensation system for cultivated land protection, this paper analyzed the key issues of constructing cultivated land protection economic compensation system in main grain-producing areas. From farmer-willingness perspective, a questionnaire survey was conducted in Hua County of Henan Province, one of the major grain-producing counties, and the data statistically analyzed. The survey built data on the necessity for construction, compensation basis, compensation period, compensation fund assignment, acceptance and payment subjects, capital management subject, etc. Results suggested that:1) Farmers' cognition of cultivated land protection was high. 2) For constructing economic compensation mechanisms for cultivated land protection, farmers' cognition was low. However, they thought that economic compensation for cultivated land protection was very necessary. 3) In terms of compensation standard, high, medium and low compensation standards were respectively 5 446.43 ¥·hm^-2·a^-1, 4 910.71 ¥·hm^-2·a^-1 and 4 481.71 ¥·hm^-2·a^-1. The average compensation standard was 5 209.92 ¥·hm^-2·a^-1. 4) Compensation funds collected by central and local governments were completely distributed to farmers annually by using farmers' individual accounts. The main body for the payment and management was the central government. 5) For recommendations, there were needs of the establishment and improvement of active economic compensation system for cultivated land protection. Actual economic compensation standard for cultivated land protection improvement could be conducted by increasing farmers' subsidy for cultivated land protection behavior. It was necessary to set up management organization of economic compensation system of cultivated land protection in order to strengthen raising, using and managing funds for economic compensation of cultivated land protection. Finally, the publicity of cultivated land protection also should be strengthened.