August 4, 2006

China aims to raise grain output and farm incomes

China's government announced plans to increase its annual grain production to 500 million tonnes and keep farm incomes growing at an annual rate of five percent over the next five years, in its 11th 5-year plan for agricultural development.

The plan, released on Thursday (Aug 3) emphasises the need to narrow the income gaps between rural and urban areas by developing commercial farming and urban migration.

The report states that China's cropland is expected to be at least 103.33 million hectares, with steady growth expected in vegetables, fruit, meat, eggs and milk.

The plan aims to upgrade China's agricultural structure, with livestock accounting for 50 percent of the total output value and development of the processing industry.