The State Council, China's central government, has decided to
change the way it promotes new farming technologies to its 900
million rural population.
A report from a State Council meeting, presided over by Premier
Wen Jiabao on Wednesday, said a comprehensive
agricultural technology promotion program will replace the current
system, which has been deemed inefficient.
In the new program, government-run institutions for extending
agricultural technology will play the leading role, and the
government will encourage the development of local organizations
for promotion of new agricultural technology.
More companies will also be encouraged to enter the agricultural
technology service sector by investing, building and running
infrastructure projects for local agricultural technology promotion
agencies.
The government will also increase financial support to these
agencies, according to the meeting.
The farming technology program is seen as an important way for
the government to introduce new technologies, seeds and products to
the country's 900 million rural people.
(Xinhua News Agency June 8, 2006)