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SHANGHAI, Feb 24 (AFP): China will invest 10 billion yuan (1.2 billion dollars) this year to preserve its rapidly dwindling farmland, state press reported Thursday.
Chinas Ministry of Land and Resources has approved the cash allocation to try and halt a shrinkage of farmland and grain growing areas, the China Business News said.
The world's most populous country has seen its farmland reduced by 100 million Chinese mu (16.5 million acres) to 1.85 billion mu (304.8 million acres) in the seven years to 2003, the newspaper said.
In 2003 alone, the country's arable land area dropped two percent, adding to pressure on farmers' trying to feed one fifth of the world's population.
Adding to the woes, officials believe arable land continued to fall in 2004, the newspaper said, without giving further details.
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