BEIJING -?China's legislature on Friday adopted an amendment to the Law on the Popularization of Agricultural Technology which will grant free agro-technical popularization services.

The amendment, to take effect from January 1 next year, explicitly stipulates that the main principle for agro-technical popularization is to help the sustainable development of agriculture and the rural economy as well as to increase the income of farmers.

All government-run agro-technical popularization institutions should observe their duties for public welfare by offering free agro-technical popularization services to agricultural workers and organizations, the amendment says.

The duties include introduction of key agricultural technology and implementation of the monitoring and prevention over crop pests and agricultural disasters.

The government also encourages other institutions and organizations to provide similar paid services and the government may consider to purchase the services from them.

Moreover, in order to promote quality, the amendment adds requirements for agro-technical personnel and management.

Government-run institutions should employ professionals with college degrees or greater, and the technicians should also pass a technical examination organized by related government departments, the amendment says.

The government will increase investment in agricultural technology popularization and the funds will be guaranteed in fiscal budgets of governments at all levels, according to the amendment.

Lawmakers of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), China's top legislature, voted and passed the amendment Friday morning, when the NPC Standing Committee concluded its bimonthly session that started on Monday.