Chinese farmers witnessed the highest annual income increase in eight years last year, according Agricultural Minister Du Qinglin.

 

The per capita annual net income of farmers topped 3,255 yuan (US$401.9), a year-on-year increase of 6.2 percent, Du said at a Standing Committee meeting of the 10th National People's Congress (NPC) held in Beijing on Saturday.

 

Analyzing the structure of farmers' income, Du said income generated by migrant workers constituted a major part of the increase. Other factors for the increased income included more income from crop cultivation and off-farm employment.

 

Meanwhile, Du said, migrant workers across the country were helped to recover wages valued at 4.05 billion yuan (US$500 million) delayed by their employers in 2005.

 

However, China still faces great challenges such as growing surplus farmers. Government statistics show that China has 150 million surplus farmers, and the figure will grow by 6 million in each of the next few years.

 

The Ministry of Agriculture will increase input in training young farmers who wish to work in cities. Last year, 2.8 million farmers received such training and 2.4 million of them found jobs in cities.

 

farm products trade grows 

 

China's trade in farm products grew steadily in 2005 to reach US$55.8 billion, reducing the trade deficit by 70 percent in a year. Exports of farm products topped US$27.18 billion in 2005, up 17.7 percent on the previous year, according to Du.

 

Imports rose 2.4 percent to reach US$28.65 billion, Du said, adding that the trade deficit was under control, dropping from US$4.88 billion in 2004 to 1.47 billion in 2005.

Despite a heavy blow to domestic poultry raisers following the bird flu outbreak, the export of poultry and related products rose 26.6 percent to reach US$1.35 billion last year, he added.

 

Though trade of farm products developed well in 2005, most of China's farm products were not so competitive in the international market, with the technical trade barriers increasing, Du said.

 

(Xinhua News Agency February 26, 2006)