October 13, 2009

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao on Monday (Oct 12) stressed the growing of autumn and winter crops at an executive meeting of the State Council.

According to the meeting, the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the State Council would continue to strengthen the fundamental status of agriculture and boost the support for agriculture and grain output.

The meeting emphasised that all provincial areas and departments should put into practice the central government's policies, especially policies for the benefits of farmers.

Despite uncommon droughts and the global economic downturn, China is expected to have a big harvest this year, underpinning the country's stable and fast economic growth.

Although China reported grain output increases for consecutive years, the relationship between grain demand and supply would be strained in the long term due to China's unstable grain output infrastructure, relatively low grain planting efficiency as well as frequent natural disasters.

During the meeting, it was also stressed that autumn and winter plantings are important to next summer's harvest and even next year's harvest. Thus, measures should be taken to promote grain output.

The measures should include promoting subsidy policies and stabilising autumn and winter planting acreage. Additionally, market prices should be stabilised to protect farmers' interests as well as promoting technology services to farmers.