East China's Zhejiang Province has declared its ambition to become the country's major base for organic agricultural products.
The economic powerhouse province started to introduce market forces to its agricultural sector last year and exports of agricultural products have risen steadily since.
Meanwhile, domestic demand for healthy foods has also boosted the motivation for the "Green Food Action" plan, said Zhao Zongying, director of the Provincial Agriculture Department.
The program aimed to improve food quality and meet both international and domestic demands for healthy food, said Zhao.
Under the program, a set of quality standards for agricultural products would be established and supervision measures would be stepped up.
Organic food licenses would soon be adopted and production bases of green vegetables, tea, fruit and rice were expected to be built in a couple of years, Zhao added.
(eastday.com July 20, 2002)
