Premier Li Keqiang called on all regions to exchange experiences and prepare for irrigation and water conservation in the winter and coming spring in an instruction to a national teleconference.

Premier Li, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said irrigation and high-standard farmland construction is key to agricultural production, national food safety and modern agriculture development.

He urged timely reconstruction of projects damaged by floods and an early start to some major water conservancy projects to enhance disaster prevention and mitigation.

As for farmland construction, Premier Li said higher grain output should come from better farmland and skills. He added the governor responsibility system should be well-implemented to improve farmland protection and management.

Vice-Premier Hu Chunhua, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, addressed the meeting.

He said irrigation and water conservancy for the winter and spring will provide solid support to the nation's grain safety, water supply safety, flood control and overall rural revitalization.

High-standard farmland should focus on better grain output, and construction standards and output quotas should be set based on different regions and land types, he added.

By 2022, he said, a stable grain output of 1 trillion jin (500 billion kilograms) should be met when 1 billion mu (67 million hectares) farmland is well-built, to ensure self-sufficiency of grains and absolute grain safety.

He also urged solid progress for drinking water projects in rural areas and accelerated infrastructure construction against floods and drought.

Risk screening of reservoirs, river hazard and torrent control and support facilities in irrigation areas were also addressed at the meeting.