China's State Grain Administration announced late Thursday the minimum purchase prices for mid-late crop rice harvested in seven major rice producing provinces.

In a statement on its Web site, the administration said minimum purchase prices of CNY1,440 PMT for mid-late crop long grain rice and CNY1,500 PMT for japonica rice will be effective in Anhui, Jiangxi, Hubei, Hunan and Sichuan provinces from Sept. 16 to Dec. 31 and in Jilin and Heilongjiang provinces from Nov. 10 to Feb. 28.

In 2004, China introduced the minimum purchase price plan as part of efforts to protect farmers' incomes. Under the plan, the government sets a minimum purchase price for each crop, and if domestic market prices fall below the set level, farmers have the option to sell their crop to the government at the set price.