China's northeastern province of Jilin plans to increase its annual grain production by five billion kilograms over the next five years. The provincial governor says they will achieve this goal by creating 170,000 hectares of farmland, while maintaining ecological balance in the process. Our reporter Shuang Feng has more.

China is planning to raise its annual grain output to 40 billion kilograms by 2020. As an important grain production base, the northeastern province of Jilin has answered the call with a promise to increase its annual grain output by five billion kilograms, or 25 percent, over the next five years.

Provincial governor Han Changfu says the move would help to boost food reserves nationwide.

"Jilin generally provides 20 billion kilograms of grain every year. While maintaining food consumption within the province, we will take the extra grain as commodity grain. As the biggest grain producer in the country, Jilin will be sure to help strike a balance between food supply and demand. We will play an important part in meeting the nationwide goal of increasing grain output."

The governor notes the extra five billion kilograms of grain would come from corn and rice.

Jilin will create 170,000 hectares of farmland in the coming five years. Han Changfu says the most important thing is to properly address the ecological problems in reaching this goal.

"We have problems of land desertification and basification in western Jilin, which is due to water shortages. So we will try to solve the water problem first. We are also planning to plant more trees to prevent more farmland from being harmed. Protection and exploration are equally important. The protection of wetlands and grasslands are being given top priority while the major task is to deal with saline land and explore wastelands."

Covering an area of about 190,000 square kilometers, Jilin is currently responsible for 1/20th of the country's yearly grain yield.

The province has conducted successful experiments by growing rice on saline farmlands, which the governor says has boosted their confidence in the plan to increase grain output.

Shuang Feng, CRI news.