Chinese farmers' income to be doubled

The nation has set a goal of doubling per capita disposable income of rural residents by 2020 from the 2008 level, top decision-makers announced in Beijing Sunday.Per capita rural disposable income in 2007 was 4,140 yuan ($605), a year-on-year gain of 9.5 percent in real terms. A rise of at least 6 percent is expected this year, according to the government annual report issued in March.The rural population mired in absolute poverty was reduced to 15 million last year, down from 250 million in 1978.In the communiqu, the CPC promised to allot more government funds to public services in rural areas, including education, healthcare, employment, housing and pension.Agriculture will be modernized in tandem with rural progress, and agricultural productivity will be raised, with national grain security and product supplies ensured, the communiqu said.It warned that the global economy was slowing, threatening to dent Chinese growth, and said the country would be turning to home markets to counter the fallout.