BEIJING, April 29 (Xinhuanet) -- China's mainland has been active in promoting the sale of Taiwan's farm produce to help alleviate difficulties of Taiwan farmers.

    The heavy influx of foreign farm produce has dealt a serious blow to Taiwan farmers over the past few years. Unable to find buyers, farmers sometimes leave their vegetables and fruits to rotin the fields.

    Hu Jintao, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, has urged efforts to facilitate the sale of Taiwan farm produce on the mainland. Jia Qinglin, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, has pledged the mainland will actively promote the sale of Taiwan farm produce on the mainland.

    The trade of farm produce across the Taiwan Straits has been expanding in recent years, with annual trade hitting 421 million US dollars in 2004. Of this, the mainland took the delivery of 116 million dollars worth of farm produce from Taiwan, up 10.4 percent year on year.

    Currently, Taiwan's aquatic products, fruits, food stuff and tea have entered the mainland market, where no special restrictions are set against the entry of Taiwan's farm produce.

    The biggest obstacle to the sale of Taiwan's farm produce on the mainland is the absence of direct flights. As the Taiwan authorities ban direct cargo and passenger flights across the Straits, the farm produce of Taiwan has to be transferred to the mainland via a third place, resulting in more cost, time of shipment and risks.

    Analysts say the selling price of Taiwan fruits and vegetables on the mainland could be lowered by more than 10 percent if they were shipped directly to the mainland. Enditem