Grain output tipped to rise
MINISTER of Agriculture Liu Jiang painted a rosy picture yesterday of the farming industry to national legislators inspecting the Government's work in Beijing.
He said it was certain China would reap a bumper harvest this year with an annual grain output of more than 450 million tonnes.
The per capita income of peasants would reach 1,500 yuan (HK$1,395) if the inflation rate could be kept within 15 per cent. It would be a rise of five to eight per cent compared with last year's figure, he said.
He told visiting deputies of the National People's Congress that measures approved by authorities had benefited the rural economy. The problem of diminishing farmland in prosperous provinces like Guangdong and Zhejiang was under control, Mr Liu said.
Farm production was increasing, he was quoted as saying by Xinhua (the New China News Agency).
The congress deputies heard that an expected increase in the cost of agricultural products had sparked action from peasants.
Farmers had invested more in production, with a per capita expenditure of 355 yuan in the first nine months. That represented a 12 per cent increase after inflation compared with last year's figure, Mr Liu said.
The agricultural chief also claimed the promotion of modern technology had raised farm yields.
The deputies also inspected the Ministry of Foreign Affairs yesterday.
A drought has hit 667,000 hectares of farmland in Jiangsu. A serious drop in water levels in reservoirs will hurt this year's autumn seeding and next spring's rice planting, the Xinhua Daily said.
