ZHENGZHOU — China has plans to increase grain output and do more to prevent wildfires, to help farmers, according to a central meeting on March 20.

Governments at all levels shall guarantee spring farming and year-round grain harvests, Premier Li Keqiang stressed in an instruction to the meeting. He demanded farmers improve production efficiency.

Vice Premier Wang Yang presided over the meeting, saying stronger technical guidance, capital supply and credit support will help deal with new challenges in agricultural production this year.

Better meteorological services and more water conservation projects are expected to help farmers resist flood and drought, and diseases of animal and plants shall be prevented, Wang said.

He mentioned that many places are now facing high risks of forest and grassland fire, and local authorities have to avoid such accidents and casualties.

Meanwhile, the vice premier said innovation in planning, guidance, information service and quality monitor will be promoted to boost agricultural restructuring and improve the industry’s efficiency.