December 04, 2003

China Aims To Raise 2004 Grain Output To 455 Million MT

China aims to raise grain production in 2004 to 455 million metric tons, according to a report from China Daily Thursday.

"It is difficult to achieve the goal, but we must take concrete steps," said Ma Kai, minister of China's State Development and Reform Commission, or SDRC.

The SDRC is the top economic policy-making body of China's cabinet.

China has to take tough measures to protect farmland from turning into real estate projects and industrial development zones, the report cited Ma as saying.

China's grain production in 2003 is estimated at a 10-year low of 435 million tons, the report said.

Chinese farmers are now more willing to grow grains, encouraged by the recent rally at the grains markets, the report said. Local governments in major grain producing provinces such as Henan and Hubei have been instructed to offer higher procurement prices to buy surplus grains from farmers in efforts to maintain stable grain output, said the report.

China's government is also aiming to raise farmers' incomes by 5% in 2004, the report said.