The State Council yesterday urged local governments to intensify their efforts to ensure a bumper harvest this summer.

Premier Wen Jiabao told an executive meeting of the State Council that efforts should be made to strengthen technical guidance and services in agriculture, popularization of advanced planting methods and technologies, field management, disease and pest control.

Wen said local governments should ensure the allocation of farming-related funds from the central budget, as well as the supply of farming resources, including diesel and fertilizer.

(Xinhua News Agency June 5, 2008)