China to raise farmers' income, upgrade agricultural products

A central rural work conference has stressed the need to improve quality and efficiency in agriculture and raise farmers' incomes.

Efforts will be made to improve the agricultural production pattern and management mechanism, raising yields and improving resource utilization as well as increasing productivity, according to a statement released after the work conference on Tuesday.

The meeting stressed structural improvement in product mix, management and regional planning as priorities.

The meeting also urged efforts to accelerate scientific and technological innovation to add momentum to agricultural development, push integrated development and optimize industrial structure.

Work should be done to promote the environmentally friendly production and sustainable agricultural development, while particular attention should be paid to water conservation.

The country will rationalize the relationship between the government and market, the statement said.

Efforts will also be made to push forward reforms in the pricing mechanism and reserves systems of major farm produce, rural property rights and financial innovation in rural areas, the statement added. Endi