The central government will spend 65 billion yuan ($9.5 billion) on infrastructure and services in rural areas to help farmers cope with the economic downturn, the State Council said yesterday. The move to support the agricultural sector includes investment in pig raising and dairy farming and improving grain production.

Thousands of factories, mainly in the manufacturing belts along the eastern coast, have closed or reduced production, forcing millions of migrant workers to return to their rural families who depend on their incomes.

AP