China to introduce various policies for 2010 rural work

The recently concluded China's Central Rural Work Conference has marked a comprehensive deployment of the agricultural and rural work for the country in 2010.

According to China's Finance Minister, Xie Xuren, the country will increase the size of agriculture-related subsidies as well as improving agricultural subsidies and price support policies next year in order to aid farmers to raise their incomes.

Meanwhile, Han Changfu, China's Agriculture Minister, said the state will launch a comprehensive national program in 2010 to achieve the target of an additional 100 billion kilograms of grain production capacity.

In promoting the state's grain production capacity, strengthening irrigation infrastructure is essential. Minister of Water Resources Chen Lei said, large-scale irrigation and large pumping station projects are expected to complete basic construction by the end of March 2010 and they will start to generate incomes during spring irrigation the next year.

In addition, the ministry of commerce will improve the agricultural information service system to guide production and operation and to stabilise market supply and demand. It will also strengthen its emergency response capability and enhance the authority of published market information.