BEIJING — China has earmarked 605 million yuan (around $90 million) from the central budget to bolster eco-agriculture.

The funds will be used for 61 circular projects, projects which create economic development through environment and resource protection, including water recycling and standardized production, in 23 provincial areas to develop a sustainable rural economy, the Ministry of Finance (MOF) said in a statement on Aug 22.

The provinces of Hebei, Shanxi and Inner Mongolia autonomous region were highlighted in the statement, which also said that leading agribusinesses, farmers’ cooperatives and other entities will receive stronger support.

The MOF plans to build agricultural demonstration zones with a total area of 670,000 mu (nearly 45,000 hectares), where 92 percent of waste can be recycled and the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides will be reduced by 32 percent.