JINAN, March 17 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice Premier Hui Liangyu on Tuesday urged local governments to support spring ploughing work to promote grain production.

    Speaking at a national meeting held by the State Council (Cabinet) in Jinan, capital city of eastern China's Shandong Province, on Monday and Tuesday, Hui called for great efforts to support the harvest of summer grain and oil crops.

    He called on local authorities to give priority to spring farm work, maintain steady and relatively fast rural and agricultural development, help farm incomes rise and improve water conservation in rural areas.

    He urged authorities to provide agricultural science and technology services to farmers, strengthen pest and animal disease controls, help farmers rise out of poverty and provide more jobs for returning migrants.

    China harvested 528.5 billion kilograms of grain last year, up 5.4 percent from 2007, the fifth consecutive increase.