Consensus on this was reached among officials from China's Ministry of Agriculture, several western provinces and autonomous regions and the United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) during a seminar which concluded Wednesday in Chengdu, capital of southwest Sichuan Province.

Guaranteed food supply is a key issue in western China, experts say. Figures show that in 2000 the net per capita annual income of farmers in the western areas was 1,632 yuan (197 U.S. dollars), with their per capita annual consumption totaling 1,306 yuan (157 U.S. dollars), lower than the national average by 27.6 percent and 21.8 percent respectively.

In 2000, farmers in the western region sold an average 170 kilograms of grain per person. The per capita grain consumption of urbanites in the region was 363 kilograms. Both were under the national average.

Poor climatic conditions, a worsening eco-environment, shortage of resources and underdeveloped social, economic and cultural status have all hindered agricultural growth in western China, say experts.

In 1995, FAO initiated a special plan for food security in China and other developing countries, aiming to help increase grain output.

The plan has been a success in China, according to officials from the UN organization. In 1998 in Renshou and Jianyang, two villages in Sichuan selected for a trial implementation of the plan, grain output soared 61.1 percent and farmer's per capital annual income by 127.1 percent.

Further promotion of this plan will unquestionably assist the implementation of China's strategy for agricultural development in western China, says Tang Zhengping, an official from the Ministry of Agriculture.

"It will provide technical and financial aid in the construction of natural grassland and grain production bases, as well as dry farming and water conservation projects," he said.

According to an FAO official, an extensive survey will be carried out prior to its broader implementation, and an efficient mechanism will be worked out to involve farmers in the management of the project.

(Xinhua News Agency March 21, 2002)