The State Council, China's central government, has decided to change the way it promotes new farming technologies to its 900 million rural population.

A report from a State Council meeting, presided over by Premier Wen Jiabao on Wednesday, said a comprehensive agricultural technology promotion program will replace the current system, which has been deemed inefficient.

In the new program, government-run institutions for extending agricultural technology will play the leading role, and the government will encourage the development of local organizations for promotion of new agricultural technology.

More companies will also be encouraged to enter the agricultural technology service sector by investing, building and running infrastructure projects for local agricultural technology promotion agencies.

The government will also increase financial support to these agencies, according to the meeting.

The farming technology program is seen as an important way for the government to introduce new technologies, seeds and products to the country's 900 million rural people.

(Xinhua News Agency June 8, 2006)