Food security, protecting farmland, maintaining rural vitalization focus of government, report says

Boosting agricultural production and promoting all-around rural vitalization is one of China's major tasks this year, Premier Li Keqiang said while delivering the government work report at the opening of this year's session of the 13th National People's Congress in Beijing on Saturday.

China will strengthen policies to support agriculture, continue promoting development in areas that have shaken off poverty, ensure good harvests, and promote the growth of rural incomes.

"We will step up efforts to ensure the stable production and sufficient supply of grain and other important agricultural products," Li said, adding that the production of soybeans and other oil crops will be increased.

China will also raise the minimum purchase price for rice and wheat.

"The provision of agricultural supplies like chemical fertilizers will be ensured at stable prices, and agricultural supply subsidies to grain growers will continue to be provided," Li said.

Last year, China issued a one-off subsidy of 20 billion yuan ($3.16 billion) to grain farmers, according to the report.

To ensure the area of farmland remains above the red line of 120 million hectares, the country will prevent attempts to use farmland for nonagricultural purposes. Meanwhile, it will increase the area of high-quality farmland by 6.67 million hectares.

All parties must work together to ensure that the country's "rice bag" and "vegetable basket" are well-filled, and that there is a secure food supply for more than 1.4 billion people, Li said.

China will consolidate its achievements in poverty alleviation and implement better monitoring and assistance systems to prevent people from sliding back into poverty, the report stated.

It will support areas that have been lifted out of poverty in developing distinctive local industries and will work harder to clear wage arrears owed to rural migrant workers, support rural migrant workers in finding jobs and starting businesses.

More channels will be created for rural residents to increase their incomes from nonagricultural work, the report added.