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Official urges more support to help farmers lift incomes

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-08-28 23:47

BEIJING - A top Chinese agriculture official on Thursday called for more technological and financial support for the rest of the year to help farmers increase their incomes.

Measures should be taken to promote the comprehensive development of the agricultural sector, said Sun Zhengcai, Minister of Agriculture.

More efforts would be given to exploit agricultural potential to boost grain production, Sun said in a report to the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), China's top legislature.

Stronger technical support and services would help boost harvests, he said, adding improved market control of farm goods would benefit farmers.

The government also planned to inject more investment in rural areas and provide farmers with more long-term job opportunities, he said.

More efforts would be given to the construction of infrastructure in the countryside, he said.

Farmers' incomes had rapidly increased since the government pledged to give more support to rural economic development and infrastructure construction, he said.

Wu Bangguo, chairman of the NPC Standing Committee, attended the meeting.