Hunan rice production sets new goals

As grain production province, Hunan promoted the spring farming work and put forward new goals. These goals covered "double adds, three rises" on Feb 4, which is the first solar term of the lunar calendar and means "beginning spring".

At present, 50 percent of the seedling nursery fields in the Hunan province have been ploughed, more than 40 percent of farmers signed contract on seed purchases, and 70 percent of seeding nursery funds have become available.

According to agriculture department, Hunan province is striving to realize the target of "double adds, three rises". "Double adds", means the increase of both rice and drought grain area. The grain planting area should increase to approximately 0.5 million ha of output and 60 billion kilograms in total.

"Three rises" means the improvement of per unit area yield level, the comprehensive production capacity of grain and the economic benefit. The scale of rice land should break through 0.5 million ha and the unit production should increase 5 percent. At the same time, high quality rice areas should be increased and the government should support large-scale grain-planting households with over 2 ha farmland.

Investment in grain production in Hunan province this year has continued to swell in order to meet these goals. Approximately 170 million yuan will be invested into the development of grain production, of which 120 million yuan will support 40 key demonstrative counties, 30 million yuan to support the Xiang (Huanan) rice project, and 20 million yuan to support the development of drought grain production, such as maize.