A draft law on promoting agricultural mechanization was handed Thursday to the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC) for review.

The eight-part draft includes 35 items, mainly involving agricultural machine research and development, quality control and expansion of usage of and non-state maintenance services for such machines.

Agricultural mechanization is crucial to accelerating economic development in rural areas and increasing farmers' income, but now the farmers themselves are the main source of investment. Mechanization desperately needs the State’s legal backing and policy support, said Liu Mingzu, chairman of the NPC's agricultural and rural committee.

The average mechanization rate in farming and harvesting is now only about 30 percent in China. Machinery is mainly used in grain production, but is still relatively rare in cash crop production and animal husbandry. Mechanization of processing, preserving and storing agricultural products is lagging significantly.

In 2002, there were about 14.5 million tractors in China, or about 0.74 per 100 mu (6.7 hectares).

The central government has issued documents promising to increase investment in rural areas and offering subsidies for buying agricultural machines.

"These important and effective policies should be incorporated into the law, " said Liu.

(Xinhua News Agency February 27, 2004)