Modernising agriculture key to boosting China's food output

BEIJING (REUTERS) - China must push forward with modernising agricultural technology as it faces increasing difficulty in meeting local food demand, Premier Wen Jiabao said in a recent essay published on Monday.

'The fundamental way out is to enhance the construction of modern agriculture to boost the complex agricultural productivity continuously,' Mr Wen said in an essay released by the Communist Party's influential magazine Qiushi, or Seeking Truth.

The essay, which echoes China's annual white paper on agriculture to be released soon said the country must 'give agricultural technology a more prominent status', reflecting the government's concerns about its ability to realise persistent and stable development of the sector.

The agricultural sector faces challenges as demand for farm products grow alongside an expanding population and food's use for industrial purposes, while a shortage of land and water resources, rising production cost, reduced labour as well as environmental pollution threatens the sector, Mr Wen said.