Chinese Vice Premier Hui Liangyu on Thursday urged local governments in Jilin Province to ensure autumn grain production and increase incomes for rural residents amid the widespread drought.

The relative departments should strengthen anti-drought efforts and improve technological services for agriculture, including pest control and crop management, in a bid to stabilize grain output, said Hui during his tour in Jilin from Tuesday to Thursday.

Local government agencies were asked to increase investment in infrastructure projects in rural regions and consolidate farmland irrigation construction.

Hui ordered relative departments to guarantee the basic income for farmers through increasing direct subsidies and enhancing policy-making regarding minimum purchasing price for agricultural products.

(Xinhua News Agency August 20, 2009)