The Shandong Government will invest 83 billion yuan (US$13.5 billion) to support the development and reform of rural areas, according to information from the Department of Finance of Shandong Province on March 15.

It will appoint 45.47 billion yuan (US$7.4 billion) to improve rural living conditions and support the construction of small villages and towns. Additionally, it will also support education, health care and social security in the rural areas.

As agricultural modernization and sustainable development is the key area supported by the government, it will spend 18.48 billion yuan (US$ 3 billion) on establishing a compensation mechanism in major grain producing areas and improve the science and technology capacity of agriculture.

As for the agricultural infrastructure establishment, it will spend 14.76 billion yuan (US$2.4 billion) on creating high-standard farmland and improving irrigation and water conservancy conditions.

In addition, it will use 3.53 billion yuan (US$574 million) to promote the cooperative development of family farms and enhance the level of agricultural industrialization.