Two vice-ministers from the Ministry of Agriculture and the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) vowed yesterday to help farmers in major grain production bases increase their incomes.

Farmers have found that they will earn less by growing grain than working at rural factories or becoming migrant workers in cities.

"As top political advisers pointed out, it is a big issue to increase incomes of farmers at the 13 major grain production bases," Wei Chaoan, vice-minister of agriculture, told the plenary session of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) National Committee.

Before 2003, incomes of farmers, especially those living in major grain production areas, increased slowly, Wei said.

"Some farmers growing grain even earned less year on year," he said.

During the past two years, because of favourable agricultural policies and grain prices, incomes of farmers increased more rapidly than before, Wei said without providing any figures.

He admitted it is a problem to guarantee grain safety and keep farmers' income increasing as well.

"We will step up efforts to solve the problem of low incomes of farmers any way we can," Wei said.

At the meeting, Du Ying, vice-minister of NDRC, agreed that grain prices should be kept stable to maintain the farmers' confidence.

"The move of increasing investment at major grain production bases is very good," he said.

Du vowed to conduct investigations on the issues to try to help increase the incomes of farmers who grow grain.

(China Daily March 8, 2006)