Chinese President Jiang Zemin has encouraged millions of farmers in China to improve production - - and in turn their standard of living -- through more education.

He said improvement of farmers' overall quality through education and vocational training is the foundation of economic and social development in rural areas, and is also vital to socialist construction of the whole country.

"For China, which has 900 million of its 1.2 billion people living in rural areas, issues concerning the agricultural industry and farmers are key issues," Jiang commented in a preface to a series of textbooks of basic knowledge for Chinese farmers.

The content of the newly-published textbooks varies from practical techniques for planting, cultivating, and processing of farming products, to marketing and management skills. The books also include chapters on health care, family planning, environmental protection and laws.