The vast grassland in south China will become the country's third largest livestock farming base with an output value surpassing that of the northern grassland, experts say.

Ren Jizhou, one of the founders of modern grassland science, also a member of the Academy of Engineering of China, said that the nation's demand for fodder grains will soar to hit 500 million tons by 2020 despite an estimated fall in grain demand.

"China should raise its security capability of foraging supply with the rapid development of urbanization," said Ren.

According to the expert, developing the southern grassland can not only maintain the stock at a safe level but also contribute to the improvement of the regional ecosystem. It can also help increase farmers' income with more farmers engaged in stock raising and trading.

"If we succeed in making an artificial grassland here covering 13.3 million hectares, we can expect an annual output of livestock products which equals to double of that in New Zealand," said Long Ruijun, president of Gansu Agriculture University.

(Xinhua News Agency November 27, 2005)