Science, Technology Help Western China's Development

Science and technology will help western China to boost its agricultural development and improve the environment, China Daily reported today.

Science and technology administrations there will be encouraged to work out state-of-the-art development plans with help from the Ministry of Science and Technology.

About 20 million yuan, invested by the ministry, plus cash from regional governments, will be used to fuel the campaign, said Liu Yanhua, director of the ministry's Department for Rural and Social Development.

New techniques of anti-desertification, afforestation and growing high-yield cash crops, which ill help improve the living standards of farmers there, will be funded with the money.

The ministry will implement the "Spark Plan", which has yielded remarkable results in eastern rural areas since it was launched in 1986, in the western regions to boost agricultural production through advanced technology, Liu said.

In the meantime, officials from western China will receive administration skills training to better manage the long-term development in western regions, according to sources from the Rural Development Center of the ministry.



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