The Chinese agriculture is facing pressures from both natural risks and market risks, said Minister of Agriculture Du Qinglin at a press conference for the Third Session of the 10th National People's Congress on March 10.

Natural disasters have taken place frequently in China every year. China had suffered an annual loss of 50 mln tons of grains due to natural disasters from 1998 to 2003. The loss of grains still amounted to 30 mln tons last year even though the climate of 2004 was the best in recent years.

In regard to market risks, instable price of farm products, in particular rise of means of production's price has affected farmer's enthusiasm for production, because grain output increase doesn't necessarily mean increase of income for them, Du pointed out.

By People's Daily Online