The primary sector reported a steady growth last year in east China's Zhejiang Province, with efficient, ecological agriculture gaining momentum.

 

According to the provincial statistical bureau, the primary sector, involving agriculture, forestry, animal husbandry and fishery, realized 87.3 billion yuan (US$10.8 billion) in value-added output last year, up 1.6 percent from the previous year.

 

A total of 2.8 million hectares of farmland were sown to crops in Zhejiang last year, 2.1 percent more than the year-earlier level. The total included 1.5 million hectares sown to grain, up 3.9 percent, the bureau said.

 

However, Zhejiang's grain output went down 2.4 percent year-on-year to 8.15 million tons.

 

Last year the province turned out 1.65 million tons of meat products, up 2.2 percent; and 4.8 million tons of aquatic products, down 2.7 percent.

 

(Xinhua News Agency February 5, 2006)