Vice-Premier Wang Yang urged increasing efforts to put in place an Internet Plus modern agriculture strategy while attending a meeting in Suzhou, East China’s Jiangsu province, on Sept 6-7.

Wang highlighted that the strategy is critical to improving agriculture, farmers’ income and rural society management and services. He said that focus must be on application and promotion of information technology for the healthy development of modern agriculture.

Internet growth in rural areas should serve agriculture production, agricultural products circulation, rural residents’ daily life and social management, Wang said.

Wang urged stepping up construction of internet infrastructure, multilevel service platforms and logistics networks. He also encouraged enterprises and farmers to take initiative in the development of rural e-commerce, taking advantage of supply and marketing cooperatives.

Government should strengthen guidance and regulation, encourage grassroots and other various market players to carry out innovation and promote their success, said the vice-premier.

He also stressed that personnel is the key to developing modern agriculture, saying efforts should be made to cultivate new-type professional farmers who excel at information technology and vocational skills, improving their technical capabilities in production and operating management.

Technological personnel, college graduates, returning migrant workers and retired soldiers are encouraged to start businesses in rural areas, according to the vice-premier.