ST. JOHNS, DECEMBER 17, 2009 … Consultant within the Ministry Of Agriculture, Lands, Housing & the Environnent Carlos Browne is reporting that the which was organised by the Training Center of the Ministry of Commerce in China, from November 20-December 10th ended on a high note.

 Browne and Wilbert Burke, Inspector at the Development Control Authority (DCA) were in China for the duration of the seminar.

He explained that the seminar took the form of presentations and field trips. Browne said achievements of rural development were highlighted with respect to China successfully solving food problems for billions of people.

 “Rural reform has provided incentives to farmers to develop agriculture, therefore output of major agricultural products have increased significantly.

 During the last three decades, China has addressed the long-standing shortage of food supply, and balanced food supply and demand,” Browne said.

Browne explained that, China’s productions of grain, oil-bearing crops, vegetables, fruits, meat, and aquatic products have topped the world for many years.

In 2006, China’s grain production took up 20% of the world’s total, cotton 26%, oil-bearing crops 13%, vegetables 50%, fruits 18%, meat 30%, poultry and eggs 45%. China’s arable land, which represents less than 9% of the total arable land in the world, supports over 20% of the world’s population.

China has proved to the world that it can not only be self-sufficient, but also contribute greatly to world’s agriculture development and food security.

 He said now that officers have been receiving training from China, Antigua & Barbuda could move towards adopting their policies regarding food security.

 He said,  that living standard of farmers in China has been greatly improved and the net income of China’s farmers has been increased from 134 yuan in 1978 to 4,140 in 2007.

“With an annual increase rate of 7.1%. The number of people below poverty line has been reduced from 0.25 billion to 14.79 million. The increase of farmers’ income has stimulated consumption, and expanded rural market.”Browne said.

 These are presentations where Chinese experts, scholars and government officials will brief on China’s reform and opening –up policies, China’s urbanization process and coordinated development between rural and urban areas, reform and development of agriculture in China, the project of rural retailing development, Urban and rural tax systems, township enterprises of China and poverty alleviation in China. Participants from approximately 57 countries attended the seminar.