The China will spend about $ 5.93 billion to improve the quality of farmland this year, the authorities said here today.

The fund, which is a part of the country’s comprehensive agricultural development plan, includes 21.92 billion yuan from the central budget and 12.05 billion yuan from local budgets, the Ministry of Finance said.

The government plans to improve the quality of 1. 03 million hectares of medium— and low-yield land and build 13.31 million mu of high-quality farmland by the end of 2012, state news agency Xinhua quoted the ministry as saying.

The government will also support improvements for 45 water-saving projects in medium-sized irrigation districts, the ministry said.

The projects will add or improve irrigation on 25.82 million mu of land, aiming to increase agricultural production capacity, it said.

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