The annual per capita disposable income of farmers in Shanghai exceeded 10,000 yuan (about 1,369 U.S. dollars) for the first time last year, according to information released from an enlarged meeting of the leading group of Shanghai City on rural work.

Last year was also the fourth successive year in which the city's farm incomes grew by more than 10 percent, according to the data.

The city added more than 17,333 hectares of irrigated farmland and vegetable plots last year, and improved strains of major crops were sown on more acres of land. Also, more improved varieties of livestock were bred.

Vice Mayor Hu Yanzhao pledged that greater efforts would be made this year to improve conditions in the city's rural outskirts and lead China in finding solutions to problems caused by urban-rural economic disparities.

(Xinhua News Agency January 11, 2008)