China plans planting areas to upgrade agricultural pattern

BEIJING — China is planning to define the country's agricultural production areas in two functions in three years, to assure the effective supply of agricultural products, Minister of Agriculture Han Changfu said Tuesday.

A total of 900 million mu (60 million hectares) of arable land will be allocated to main grain products including rice, wheat and corn, and 238 million mu (15.9 million hectares) will be assigned to five key agricultural products including soybean, cotton, rape seed, sugarcane and natural rubber, according to a State Council statement.

The move is in line with a national strategy on food supply, with future supply-demand relations taken into consideration, said Han.

It is aimed at optimizing agricultural production pattern and better orienting supportive policies, according to Han.

He urged more investment in agriculture infrastructure construction in these areas, such as water conservation and water-saving projects.

More innovative financial support, including loans and insurance for farmers, will be encouraged, Han said.

Han also pledged more supervision and inspection in these areas to prevent occupying the farmland for other purposes.