Zhou Guangzhao, vice-chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), said that agricultural technology associations would play a key role in modernizing China's agriculture.

Zhou, who is also chairman of the China Association of Science and Technology, said that these associations will help forge a vital link between agricultural scientists and farmers and promote advanced agricultural technologies.

China will further support the development of agricultural technology associations, encourage scientists to teach farmers new technologies, increase their income and improve the quality of agricultural products. These associations will also be important in maintaining social stability in rural areas.

According to statistics, there are 115,600 of these associations with 6.2 million rural households who have been members, accounting for 2.5 percent of China's 240 million rural households.

In the past 20 years, more than 30,000 kinds of advanced agricultural technology have been disseminated among farmers and at least 34 million farmers have taken part in training classes organized by these associations. (Xinhua)