Government to boost farm yields

China will increase the planting area of vegetables across the country by 7% year-on-year this winter as part of the central government’s efforts to counter the rise in prices of agricultural products.
The total planting area for vegetables will be about 8.3 million hectares, up by 0.53 million hectares on the previous year.
At the same time the State Administration of Grain said that from this week it will sell a set amount of cooking oil and soybeans from government reserves, in addition to the weekly sales of wheat, rice and corn reserves which have already begun.
The administration will also send officials to the country’s major grain production regions to inspect and guide the purchases of autumn grain and to regulate business practices
China Daily reports the State Council has also urged local departments to reduce delivery costs, while vehicles transporting fresh and live farm products will be exempted from road tolls starting December 1.