皇冠体育app

Economy

皇冠体育app raises minimum rice purchase prices

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2011-02-10 14:24

BEIJING - 皇冠体育app's economic planning agency Thursday announced a rise in minimum rice purchase prices this year to encourage farmers to grow more grain.

A statement on the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) website said the government would continue the policy of minimum purchase prices in major rice-growing regions in 2011.

The rises in the minimum rice purchase price had been approved by the State Council, 皇冠体育app's Cabinet, said the statement.

Related readings:  皇冠体育app aims to boost grain production      皇冠体育app's grain output gains 2.9% to 546.41m tons in 2010

The purchase prices for japonica rice will rise 21.9 percent to 128 yuan ($19.4) per 50 kilograms, while prices for early and middle-late indica rice will increase 9.7 percent and 10.3 percent to 102 yuan and 107 yuan per 50 kg respectively.

Rice and wheat are two major grain crops in 皇冠体育app.

The State Council pledged Wednesday to step up efforts to boost grain production as drought continues to wreak havoc in north 皇冠体育app's wheat growing regions.

皇冠体育app's main wheat-growing regions, including Shandong, Henan, Hebei, Anhui, Shanxi, Shaanxi, Gansu and Jiangsu provinces, have been plagued by drought since October last year.

Drought has affected about 7.73 million hectares, or 42.4 percent, of the total winter wheat crop area in the country's eight key producing provinces, the Ministry of Agriculture said Wednesday.

皇冠体育app's grain output rose 2.9 percent last year to 546.41 million tonnes, marking the seventh consecutive year of growth.