Chinese farmers' income up 8% in 2008, but official warns of tough 2009

Chen Xiwen, director of the Office of the Central Leading Group

on Rural Work,speaks ata press conference held by the

State Council Information Office, Feb. 2,

2009. (Chinese media/Gao Xueyu)
Photo Gallery

BEIJING, Feb. 2 (Chinese media) -- Chinese farmers' net per

capita income rose 8 percent last year, but it would be difficult to maintain

that pace of growth in 2009, a senior agriculture official told a press

conference here Monday.

Chen Xiwen, director of the Office of the Central

Leading Group on Rural Work, said the figure was 4,761 yuan (697 U.S. dollars)

in 2008, the fifth consecutive year of 6-percent-plus growth.

Reporters raise their hands to ask questionsata press

conference held by the State Council Information Office. Feb. 2,

2009. (Chinese media/Gao Xueyu)
Photo Gallery

However, he said, farm incomes would be affected by

the global economic crisis, which has reduced demand and prices of many

commodities.

Declining agricultural commodity prices and

unemployment among migrant workers would constrain farmers' income growth in

2009, he said. The government would offer more subsidies and provide more

advanced technology and improved public services to help farmers, he said.

The Chinese Academy of Sciences forecast in a report

last month that growth in farmers' net income this year would drop to 6.2

percent as the economy cooled.