Jiangsu govt pledges brighter future for farmers

NANJING: Authorities in Jiangsu province have vowed to raise subsidies for farmers and increase their incomes.

Farmers' annual incomes are expected to reach 12,000 yuan ($1,800) by 2012 and 14,000 by 2017, up from 7,000 yuan today, Huang Lixin, deputy governor of Jiangsu, said.

Also, subsidies for quality agricultural products, agricultural machinery and other production materials are to be increased this year to help farmers counter falling prices, she said.