Land for quality forage grass to reach 9 million hectares

A guideline has been issued to promote the high-quality development of China's forage grass industry, guaranteeing the supply of dairy and cattle products, and improving the dietary structure of urban and rural residents.

The guideline, issued by the State Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs and the National Forestry and Grassland Administration, sets a goal for the country to have 9 million hectares of high-quality forage grass land by 2030, according to a news release.

To achieve the goal, it calls for the reasonable use of farmland, grassland, idle land, unoccupied land in orchards and forest land to produce forage grass.

The guideline also calls for planting forage grass in saline-alkali soil in exploring ways to improve the infertile land.

Efforts should be enhanced to develop relevant infrastructure, build areas that produce high-quality forage grass and increase the output of fresh forage grown in natural grassland, the guideline said.

It encourages core technological breakthroughs, as well as the development of new species of forage grass that are high-yield, high-protein, stress-resistant and saline-alkali tolerant, so that by 2030, 75 percent of the forage grass seeds used by the country will be produced domestically.

Specialized departments for elderly to be set up in hospitals

The National Health Commission has issued a notice, asking health commissions in provinces, autonomous regions, municipalities and the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps to improve medical services for the elderly.

General hospitals at level two and above, if they have the right conditions, should set up specialized departments for the elderly according to relevant guidance, the notice said.

It sets a goal that by the end of 2027, some 80 percent of general hospitals at level two and above in the country will have such a department.

The notice urges local health authorities to strengthen efforts to train doctors, nurses and pharmacists for the elderly department, the notice said, asking general hospitals at level two and above to conduct training on a regular basis and come up with a sound plan to develop related talent.

Departments for the elderly should strengthen early diagnosis and treatment of diseases associated with older people, and focus on maintaining or improving older people's functional status, enhancing their ability to live independently and improving the quality of their life, the notice said.

They should also strengthen the management of syndromes associated with the elderly and the treatment of comorbidities, and pay attention to the mental health of older patients.

Elderly departments of general hospitals at level three should strengthen guidance for lower-level hospitals, while general hospitals at level two should strengthen cooperation with health institutions at the grassroots level, the notice said.

More NEVs recommended to promote sales in rural areas

The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, together with four other departments, has issued the category of the second batch of new energy vehicles for the country's campaign to promote the consumption of NEVs in rural areas.

The category contains 45 types of NEVs made by a number of automobile manufacturers.

The five departments launched the national campaign to further tap into the potential of NEV consumption in rural areas in May, when they issued the first category containing 99 types of NEVs that suit the rural market and have a good reputation and reliable quality.