Premier Wen Jiabao presided over an executive meeting of the State Council Tuesday on increasing farmers' income and dealing with the aftermath of SARS.
The State Council heard a report submitted by the Ministry of Agriculture and concluded that severe acute respiratory syndrome had significantly affected farmers' income even though the basic development of the rural economy remained stable.
The meeting decided to promote adjustment of the rural economy, add supply of environment-friendly products and support the development of stock raising and aquaculture.
The State Council also determined to allocate an additional 3.25 billion yuan (US$391 million) to construction of infrastructure, power facilities and schoolhouses in the countryside.
(Xinhua News Agency July 9, 2003)
