China will take five major measures in agriculture in order to cope with challenges brought about by China's WTO entry, said She Qinglin, minister of Agriculture at a press conference.
China will focus on structure adjustment, optimize agricultural production. Major tasks will be centered on high quality wheat production in the Yellow River and Huaihai areas, sweet corn and soybean production in northeast China and eastern part of Inner Mongolia, cotton production in Xinjiang Autonomous Region, beef and lamb in central plains, and dairy products in North China, oranges, rape-seeds planting in the Yangtze River, apple cultivation in Shaanxi and Bohai Sea, aquatic products in coastal and watery areas.
China will carry out grain and major food development plan to increase agricultural production capacity. Animal husbandry development plan will be carried out alongside with the grain development plan and efforts will be made to develop the industry into one of a large scale as soon as possible. China will also focus on horticulture, fishery, soybean, dairy, crops and other harmless foodstuffs.
A batch of major agricultural industries will be cultivated. On the basis of scientific planning, China will set up a batch of demonstration areas to guide its agriculture to a better development.
Quality standard of produces and examining system will be established to ensure agricultural products' quality and safety.
China will also strengthen agricultural structure adjustment and increase farmers' income on the basis of high-tech agriculture and infrastructure construction.
(People's Daily February 5, 2002)
