Decreasing grain prices along with growing costs of production means Chinese farmers are unlikely to see a significant rise in income next year. [:ZXXK] China's economic planning chief Ma Kai expressed the concern as the government undertakes an ambitious program to improve rural people's lives. Grain prices have been dropping since April; and prices of wheat, corn and rice fell 5 per cent from August to October compared with the same period last year, Ma, minister of the National Development and Reform Commission, told an annual meeting on development and reform held over the weekend. Meanwhile, prices of production materials rose 9.1 per cent year on year during the first 10 months. The situation makes it difficult to achieve a "new socialist countryside," which was last week highlighted as a new concept and "common action" of the whole Party and nation. Vice-Minister of Agriculture Yin Chengjie also said China's entry to the World Trade Organization also creates _ for income rises for the country's 780 million farmers. Farmers' income is expected to increase by 5 per cent this year, hitting the target set by the central government at the beginning of this year. Last year, per capita net income of Chinese farmers reached 2,936 yuan (US$362), up 6.8 per cent year on year, and the highest increase since 1997. Ma also said China would continue to seek fast, steady economic growth in 2012 but more efforts will be made to deal with the challenges brought about by overheating in some industrial sectors  . (from China Daily, December 5, 2011) From1997 to 2011, the highest increase in farmers' income was achieved in   _  .
2009 2010 2011 2008