10 billion yuan will be paid to help strengthen production in 13 key provinces
State leaders have decreed that direct subsidies for grain farmers in 13 key producing provinces will be paid early this year.
The decision was announced after a Politburo meeting on Monday chaired by President Hu Jintao, who is general secretary of the Communist Party, according to Xinhua.
'At present, our urgent task is to strengthen the magnitude in reducing the agriculture tax,' a statement said. 'We must realise the direct subsidies for grain farmers in key producing provinces in the first half of the year.
'All departments and regions must faithfully execute the order to strengthen the agricultural sector and raise farm output.'
The new schedule - following comments this month by Finance Minister Jin Renqing, who said at least 10 billion yuan of direct subsidies would be paid by the end of the year - indicates top leaders are eager to speed up the programme.
The subsidies are part of a series of measures to help farmers.
