Province aims to keep farm incomes growing
By Lu Chang and Liu Mingtai
( China Daily )
2012-02-04
CHANGCHUN - The government of Jilin province in Northeast China, one of the country's top grain producers, is aiming to help its farmers increase their incomes by 12 percent after a 20 percent growth last year.
Farmers' per capita net income is expected to reach 8,288 yuan ($1,315) this year, the 12th consecutive annual increase, a top provincial official said on Friday.
Wang Shouchen, deputy governor of Jilin province, said on the sidelines of the annual session of the Jilin people's congress that farmers should be rewarded for agricultural improvements and the local government will spare no efforts to increase their income and boost agricultural production.
"There is plenty of room for further growth. We will increase another 30 to 50 percent in productivity by promoting science and technology and the use of agricultural machinery," said Wang.
"Corn is a pillar industry for agriculture, and we will further support the development of corn industrialization in Jilin, making the golden corn the golden hope for local farmers."
His pledge is in line with central government's blueprint focusing on the rural sector for the year to come.
The document, issued on Wednesday by the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the State Council, includes a series of new policies to support farmers and improve scientific innovation and development to ensure the quality and safety of agricultural products.
Jiao Benguo, a farmer in Gongzhuling, said his income has increased substantially because of the price surge for corn and a favorable government subsidy program that guarantees farmers sell their grain.
"It's been a good harvest year with favorable weather and a good price for crops, so I was able to pull in as much as 15,000 yuan ($2,380) per hectare," Jiao said. "I'll double the planting area to make more money."
Chi Renli, a professor at China Agricultural University, said that as farmers have been encouraged to grow more crops, the supply will keep pace with the growing demand of Chinese consumers so the consumers will no longer suffer from price hikes.
"Even though the consumers now see a more moderate price rise, basically, we can satisfy the domestic market," he said.
