Jilin province in northeastern China reaped a record high grain output of 63.42 billion jin (31.71 billion kilograms) in 2011, which is an 11.5 percent increase over the previous year.

It marks the first time provincial grain production had surpassed the 60-billion jin benchmark.

Grain harvests per mu (0.07 hectare) in Jilin reached 930.2 jin last year, which is 242.7 jin more than the national average and ranks the top among all provinces.

Net incomes for farmers had increased along with a boost in grain production. Last year, per capita net income of Jilin farmers stood at 7,510 yuan ($1,191.1), a 20.5 percent rise over a year earlier. The number has been increasing for 11 consecutive years, when it was less than 2,000 yuan in 2001.

Jilin Party secretary Sun Zhengcai said the government attaches great importance to problems related to agriculture, rural areas and farmers since they play a pivotal role in the province.

He said the government would increase agriculture capacity, develop technologies, enhance infrastructure and public services in rural areas in the coming years.

The target for this year would be to maintain the provincial grain output above 60 billion jin to gain a new record, said Ren Zhijun, director of the provincial agricultural commission.

Ren said the upcoming planting area will be more than 76.9 million mu, among which 54 million mu will be for corn, 12 million mu for rice and 5 million mu for soy beans.

(China Daily 02/09/2012 page12)