BEIJING -- China will strive to maintain steady grain yield and boost farmers' income in 2015 as part of the efforts to modernize agriculture, a minister has said.

Minister Han Changfu told Xinhua in an exclusive interview that the central government will strive to keep grain output well above 550 million tons and make the income of farmers grow by more than 7.5 percent in 2005.

He promised more favorable measures to bolster agriculture, which is significant in ensuring healthy economy, stabilizing employment and building up market confidence.

Han's words came after a high-level national rural work conference concluded on Tuesday. During the meeting, it was decided the government will strive to push forward agricultural modernization.

Han said stronger agriculture will be a new driving force to consumption and give policymakers more room to fine-tune the economy.

China's grain output grew 0.9 percent year on year to 607.1 million tons in 2014, marking increase for 11 years in a row, and the rural net income per capital increased 9.7 percent from a year ago in the first three quarters.