China's railway sector is shifting its freight transport focus to agricultural goods during the spring farming period, said sources with the Chinese Ministry of Railways.

 

Statistics with the ministry said since February, the railways have transported 10 million tons of fertilizer for farmers, an increase of 1.18 million tons year on year.

 

The ministry said its freight transport sector has also transported 11.46 million tons of grains and nearly half a million tons of cotton since February, both exceeding that of the same period of last year.

 

The Shanghai Railways Bureau has opened a number of farming express trains recently.

 

Officials with the ministry said the railway sector will continue its low-price policy in transporting agricultural goods in the future to support the country's strategic plan of building new socialist countryside.

 

(Xinhua News Agency March 16, 2006)