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China's Agriculture Expects Big Changes
Adjustment of China's agricultural policies, highlighted in the Outline of the Tenth Five-Year Plan (2001-2005) for National Economic and Social Development, is sure to give a push to the country's agricultural modernization.
This is a view share by many members of the Ninth National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) after they have examined the outline delivered by Premier Zhu Rongji at the opening ceremony of the fourth session of the Ninth National People Congress here Monday.
Agricultural structural adjustment accounts for a considerable part of the premier's elaboration on the Outline of the Tenth Five-Year Plan.
Member Yu Zongzhou said that at present, China has abundant grain supplies, which constitute an essential condition and a good guarantee for a major agricultural structural adjustment.
In the past, China paid great attention to grain output but neglected the quality of agricultural products.
He said grain consumption in both urban and rural areas of the country has dropped markedly and China's pending accession to the World Trade Organization is expected to render a strong impact on China's agricultural products. "That is why agricultural restructuring geared to improving the quality of farm produce is urgent," he said.
Said Member Li Renlin echoed this view and regarded deep processing of agricultural products as an effective way of improving agricultural efficiency and increasing farmers' income.
Member Liu Chengguo said that the government should pay more attention to strengthening the competitiveness and quality of agriculture.
He said governments at all levels should provide services to farmers, including looking for markets for farm produce, rather than give production instructions.
Greater efforts are also needed to vitalize agriculture through scientific and technological advancement, he stressed.
China is an agricultural giant, Member Yang Xingkai said, adding "The national economy would enjoy faster growth only if agricultural modernization gets underway."
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