An official with the Ministry of Agriculture said that China will give priority to mechanizing paddy production in its drive to accelerate agricultural mechanization.

Paddy production mechanization in China lags behind wheat, corn and other staple grains. In 1998, only 4 percent of rice planting and 10 percent of harvesting were conducted with mechanized equipment, said Niu Dun, director of the Agricultural Mechanization Department attached to the Ministry of Agriculture.

"This does not conform to the important status of paddy production in China," Niu said.

China's paddy acreage accounts for 30 percent of China's total grain acreage while its output accounts for 40 percent of China's grain output, making up 23 percent and 37 percent respectively of the world's paddy acreage and output.

Niu attributed China's relatively low mechanized paddy production to inadequate research and development of new technologies and implements. He said that China should introduce more advanced technologies and implements from other countries.

The Agricultural Mechanization Department will host an international seminar on the mechanization of paddy production in Beijing on April 10 to 11 next year, inviting officials, experts and business people from around the world to discuss ways of improving mechanized paddy production in China and put forward development strategies.

The seminar will be held in conjunction with the Agro-Foodtech Exposition April 11-14.