Agencies that teach farmers new skills and help them tap market demand will have their credentials evaluated for the first time under proposed reforms.

Sources from the Ministry of Science and Technology revealed plans to set up the new evaluation system to improve services for farmers yesterday in Beijing at a conference on agricultural intermediary agencies.

The ministry suggested regional governments make the creation of agricultural intermediary agencies a priority to help boost local agricultural development.

Some 190,000 agricultural intermediary agencies have been set up across the country over the past two decades. Concentrating on planting, animal husbandry, aquatic production and farming technologies, these agencies have played an active role in equipping farmers with advanced skills.

In Luxian County of Southwest China's Sichuan Province, for example, an association of high-quality crop seeds has been in place for 20 years. A household that joins the association can earn on average more than 19,000 yuan (US$2,289) in net income each year by selling high-quality crop seeds, according to the China Rural Special Technology Association.

In Baoji of Northwest China's Shaanxi Province, 32 agricultural specialists' groups have been set up since 2000 and have helped more than 230,000 farmers. These groups have popularized the technologies of cattle breeding, tree and flower growing and milk product processing, while disseminating information on market demand.

Through these groups, Baoji has imported 20 new species of vegetables from Japan, the Republic of Korea and the United States.

However, a lack of funds has meant some agencies have offered poor service or even shut their doors, said Yao Jianfu, a professor with the China Rural Special Technology Association.

In developed countries, an average of 2 per cent of total agricultural production capital is invested in farming research. Even in some underdeveloped nations, the ratio is 0.67 per cent. But in China, the ratio is only 0.2 per cent, according to Yao.

Ministry of Science and Technology sources said government funding will increase to guarantee the success of agricultural intermediary agencies, but could not say by how much the budget would grow.

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