China's Minister of Agriculture on rural land reforms, food safety

China's Minister of Agriculture, Han Changfu, took questions from the press this morning, on China's agricultural development.... questions that ranged from improving food safety and security to the implementation of farming subsidies. (TAKE VIDEO) The Minister says the government is determined to ensure the adequate supply of grain, to maintain China's self sufficiency and to meet 2020 grain production targets. He said the government will stick to its minimum of 120 million hectares of dedicated land for grain production. The minister also addressed food safety concerns, admitting there is much room for improvement. He highlighted the need to switch from an emphasis on low cost production towards higher quality and safety. He said government supervision must be strengthened and large scale production and distribution methods must be unified across the country. The minister announced that farming subsidies would increase by between 10 and 15 percent this year, although the final figure was still under deliberation. And the government will strive to make sure that money reaches the hands of farmers themselves. Han Changfu also says China will step up efforts to uphold laws and regulations on the sale, import, and production of GM crops, and take a prudent approach to the development of the GM sector.