Central Budget to Enhance Fiscal Support to Agriculture, Rur

China Central Government fiscal¹ support to agriculture, rural areas and farmers will amount to 339.7 billion yuan in 2006, an increase of 42.2 billion yuan over the actual amount used in 2005, up by 14.2%, 21.45% of the total increase in expenditure² by Central Government.

　　It is learnt that central budget allocation for “agriculture, rural areas and farmers” amounted to 297.5 billion yuan in 2005, an increase of 34.9 billion, up by 13.3%, over the actual used amount in 2004. Increase in input³ in agriculture, rural areas and farmers reached the highest level in history in some regions. In 2006, the new expense on education, culture and health will be maintained and enhanced, of which the main expense focuses on durative and stability of the policy in the countryside.

　　In addition, Central Government will arrange 78.2 billion yuan financial expense annually from 2006 and the local governments will arrange relevant issues to support and consolidate the achievements of tax-for-fee in the countryside