BEIJING, March 21 (Xinhua) -- China will provide skills training for up to 100 million farmers over the next five years, the People's Daily overseas edition said on Tuesday.

    Quoting sources from the Ministry of Agriculture, the report said 50 million farmers will undertake training programs in agricultural technology, while the other 50 million will receive training in other professions than farming.

    China's 11th Five-Year Plan (2006-2010) gives priority to the development of agriculture and the increase of farmers' income. It is expected that farmers' income will increase by 5 percent a year.

    To achieve the goal, the ministry said it will improve its services for migrant workers and the monitoring of labor flow.

    Measures will also be taken to make farming more profitable, to encourage the development of cash crops and rural industry as well as the development of small towns.

    Government shall also increase its direct subsidies to farmers by expanding the areas of subsidies and raising the standards of subsidies, the report said. Enditem