(CN) Domestic dairy upgrade planned

[Guest guest]

China Daily http://www1.chinadaily.com.cn/cndy/2002-10-21/90334.html

 

(FU JING)

10/21/2002

 

A further step has been taken in China's arduous agricultural reform, this

time in the dairy sector.

At the weekend, the government announced a national project to upgrade its

dairy industry at a cost of 405 million yuan (US$48.8 million) to central

and local governments and businesses.

 

It is aimed at speeding up scientific innovation, the construction of milk

resource bases and development of major dairy businesses.

 

The science, technology and agriculture ministerial departments are backing

the project, which has been listed among 12 projects as essential to the

nation's basic needs and people's health in the coming years.

 

Recently, the Ministry of Science and Technology said the government and

enterprises are planning to spend about 20 billion yuan (US$2.4 billion)

within the next five years to sharpen China's water-saving measures for

agriculture, in addition to boosting its high-tech competitive edge in

software and car electronics.

 

In the agricultural sector, projects such as product processing and food

safety, which are important for restructuring the sector, increasing the

income of farmers and protecting society's health and safety, have already

started.

 

China plans to set up eight model zones soon in major dairy bases, Science

and Technology Vice-Minister Li Xueyong said at the weekend launch.

 

Li said about 1,000 technicians involved in the milk industry and 100,000

farmers will be trained under the project.

 

" In all, we will quicken the development of the sector by two or three

percentage points every year through the project, " Li said.

 

China's milk industry has enjoyed a rapid development during recent years.

 

On average, the annual output of the industry has increased by 12 per cent

during the previous years.

 

However, Li said many problems remain and they are bottlenecks for further

development.

 

He said well-bred dairy cows for milking are not enough, breeding management

within the country is poor and it is urgent to complete a milk production

quality control assessment.

 

Han Changfu, vice-minister of agriculture, said China's dairy industry has

huge room to develop as an increasing number of Chinese people have become

aware of the benefits of consuming milk and milk products.

 

He said the State should encourage farmers and companies to raise more dairy

cows to produce more raw milk because an inadequate supply, to date, has

restricted the development of the industry.

 

HARBIN

 

Compensation

 

The family of Zheng Wei, a worker killed by a tiger at a wildlife park in

Northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, recently received compensation of

150,000 yuan (US$18,000).

 

Zheng was attacked by a six-year-old male tiger who had escaped from his

cage on October 3 in the Siberian Tiger Park in Harbin, capital of

Heilongjiang Province.