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 four-volume 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, laws, and the knowledge for farmers to do away with superstitions.

President Jiang's comments were echoed by Vice-Premier Li Lanqing, who wrote a letter of congratulations for a book publication ceremony here.

Li pointed out that lots of problems in rural areas are closely associated with the quality of farmers and grassroots officials, and that education is the main solution.

The government has decided to present three sets of the books, published by the China Agriculture Publishing House, to every township in the country.