Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao talks with a village official as they walk along a country road in Poliwang village, in Changge city, Central China's Henan Province, on Wednesday June 9, 2010. Wen spent Wednesday and Thursday inspecting the wheat harvest in Henan, visiting farmers' families and grain depots. [Xinhua]

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao has called on local authorities and farmers to achieve a quick summer grain harvest.

Wen made the call during his inspection tour of Henan Province, a major wheat-producing area in central China, from June 9 to 10.

He asked local governments to harvest crops as soon as possible, strengthen field management, intensify pest- and disease-prevention efforts, and ensure adequate supplies of fertilizers, pesticides and seeds.

Wen said a good summer harvest and stable farm produce prices are crucial for managing inflation expectations and for realizing the nation's macro-economic targets this year.

A bumper summer harvest will lay a solid foundation for the full-year harvest as summer grain output accounts for a quarter of annual grain output, he added.

Agriculture is a cornerstone for the national economy and the nation must always attach great importance to agricultural production, he said.