China's economic planning commission said on Friday that it has set the minimum purchase price for early indica rice at 102 yuan (15.8 U.S. dollars) per 50 kg in order to protect the interests of rice farmers.
The price will apply to major indica rice production regions, including the provinces of Anhui, Hubei, Hunan and Jiangxi and the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, the National Development and Reform Commission said in a statement on its website.
Government reserve houses will buy the rice at the minimum price from July 16 to September 30 if market prices for the crop fall below the minimum price for three consecutive days, according to the commission's plan.
Local governments in other regions will also have the option of trying out the policy, the statement said.