Chinese Vice Premier Hui Liangyu on Sunday encouraged farmers to start their own businesses as a way out of poverty.

Hui made the remark at the Seventh National Meeting to award elite private businessmen, which was held in Beijing on Sunday.

The meeting is designed to award farmers or migrant workers who successfully start their own businesses and share their experiences. Over 500 people from across the country attended the meeting.

Increasing farmers' incomes is the current priority for governments.

"The construction of a new socialist countryside and a comprehensive and sustainable economic and social development require new types of farmers who have basic knowledge of both farming techniques and business," he said.

He noted that governments at all levels should establish favorable policies and laws to encourage entrepreneurship.

China has a huge rural market that offers a lot of potential for rural labor employment and farmer-initiated businesses, Hui said. Governments should provide technical education to farmers who want to cultivate the land and those pursuing business ventures.

He also called on farmers to strictly abide by laws and regulations in their business operations. 

(Xinhua News Agency May 29, 2006)