CRI听力：Deputies Highlight Rural Economic Growth

Rural development always tops the agenda at the annual sessions of China's top legislature.

This year, as the number of deputies from the countryside has increased by 70 percent compared with last year, it has given Chinese farmers better representation at the ongoing session of the National People's Congress.

The rural deputies say that farmers' income has increased the fastest, thanks to modern agricultural technology and easy access to small loans.

Our reporter Dan Dan has the details.(www.hxen.net)

The per capital income for Chinese farmers reached 4,000 Yuan last year. It is equivalent to 560 US dollars and a record high.

A deputy to the National People's Congress, Lin Zhelong says this cannot be realized without modern agricultural technology.

"The last five years of development has been significant. And it is innovation oriented. You see, the size of arable land space is limited. So, production volume on the limited land space must be maximized through technology."

The deputy from rural Fujian details the use of modern technology in his village.

"For instance, we replaced scull boats with larger boats that travel much faster and carry more goods each time. our village neighbors the water and we often need to load and unload cargo at dockside. We now use cranes, greatly reducing the labor force and improving work efficiency."

In addition to modernized transportation, Lin Zhelong says the village is currently using a mechanized agricultural production line and has updated production methods such as the seedling technique.

Thanks to advanced technology, the income of farmers in this village reached 18,000 Yuan last year. A local villager, surnamed Zhang, shares his happiness with us.

"We don't worry about our daily expenses at all. Instead, we have been able to purchase many home electrical appliances. The quality of our life and our spare time activities have really gotten better."

Another deputy to the National People's Congress, Li Liancheng says that easy access to small loans helps to boost the rural economy.(www.hXen.com)

"In recent years, my village has developed continuously; largely through the use of small loans. A small loan of several thousand Yuan can greatly increase my fellow villagers cash flow. They can use the money for livestock breeding, agricultural machinery and fertilizer."

Li Liancheng himself is a farmer in Henan Province. He suggests the government should consider a small cut in the interest rates for small loans.

"The profits that farmers make from livestock breeding or agricultural processing is comparatively low. Therefore, a monthly interest rate of more than 1 percent is still a bit too high for us. We wish that the country could re-adjust the rate to a lower level."

The Chinese government has been offering increasing financial assistance to the rural areas. The trend will continue this year as government spending on agriculture and the rural community jumps to 130 billion Yuan, a 30 percent increase over last year.

Meanwhile, some experts are calling for more given the 800 million rural residents. They suggest the country further financial reforms in the rural areas and provide financial services in more different forms.