On February 8, 2004, in view of the situation that the per-capita net income of farmers had increased slowly, the CPC Central Committee and the State Council issued Opinions Concerning Some Policies on Promoting the Increase of Farmers' Incomes, or the sixth No. 1 Document since reform and opening-up.

The document said, "Among the many problems facing agricultural and rural development, the difficulty of increasing farmers' incomes is the most prominent."

The document prescribed a number of measures, stressing raising farmer's incomes was a significant issue both economically and politically and raising agricultural incomes was key to maintaining China's economic growth. The measures included adjusting agricultural structure, increasing jobs for farmers, enhancing rural investment, deepening rural reform, and quickening agriculture-related science and technology.

(Source: Xinhua)