A total of 810,000 farmers have benefited from a reward system Chinese government launched for some rural families that practice family planning in 2004. More than 310,000 farmers in areas where the reward system is trialed have received around 210 million yuan in cash rewards in 2004, said Pan Guiyu, vice minister in charge of the National Population and Family Planning Commission (NPFPC), in Beijing on June 9, 2005.

China plans to expand the pilot project to most areas in 23 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities including Hebei, Shanxi and Jilin. 12 counties of Tibet Autonomous Region and 22 cities of Shandong Province will test the project too. In addition, six provinces and municipalities including Tianjin and Beijing will raise funds by themselves to test the project.

The central and local finance will allocate 400 mln and 200 mln yuan respectively to expand the trial project. About 930,000 people will be covered by the national pilot project. The total number of farmers who will benefit from the project will amount to 1.35 mln if those living in eastern regions where local governments start the project on their own is accounted.

By People's Daily Online