China's major rice and live pigs provider, Hunan province, this month launched a training program for its farmer-brokers to help them enter markets, said an official with the Hunan provincial government.

He said Hunan, with 25 billion kg of grain produced and 60 million heads of live pigs raised annually, craves qualified farmer-brokers with knowledge of marketing, management, and pre- and post-sale service.

In the countryside of Hunan, many agriculture brokers are local farmers who have a close relationship with markets and rural residents and act as information and technology bridges, yet lack the knowledge necessary to be a professional broker.

The official noted that the quality of farmer brokers directly influences agriculture structure regulation and production efficiency.

So far more than 60 farmer brokers have attended the training program, which is taught by professors from Hunan Agriculture University and Zhongnan University.

Qualified trainees will receive certificates issued by local industrial and commercial administrations.

Source: Xinhua