BEIJING, April 17 -- China is to provide one-off subsidies to crop-growing farmers with the aim of boosting grain production, according to the Ministry of Finance.

The central government has issued a 10 billion yuan (about 1.46 billion U.S. dollars) fund for granting one-off subsidies to crop-growing farmers in light of the costs of farming supplies and the agriculture production situation, said the ministry.

The subsidies will be provided to actual grain growers, including farmers who grow grain on their own contracted land, big farming households who grow grain via transferred land, family farms, farmers' cooperatives, agricultural enterprises and other new types of agricultural operating entities, as well as individuals and organizations that provide services for grain production.

The move aims to support spring farming production and further motivate farmers to grow grain, the ministry said, adding that the subsidies should be issued in good time and in full.