More than 6 million Chinese farmers who became landless in land requisitions have been covered by the basic living or old-age security programs, said a senior Chinese legislator.

"More than 40 billion yuan (about US$5 billion) of funds have been raised for the old-age security of these farmers," said Oyunqemag, vice chairwoman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), at an ongoing session of the committee.

She urged all localities to set proper compensation standards in land requisitions and establish social security systems to protect the interests of landless farmers.

Lack of such standards and systems in some areas have triggered hosts of protests, a threat to social stability, she pointed out.

The legislator also called for pushing intensive and economical use of land, strictly controlling land requisitions and improving arable land protection system.

She said shortage of arable land has become a very prominent problem.

China has set a target of maintaining 120 million hectares of arable land by the end of the 11th Five-Year Plan period (2006-2010), yet the current level stands at only 122 million hectares.

Official statistics show per capita arable land in China stands at 0.093 hectares, only 40 percent of the world average.

(Xinhua News Agency December 30, 2006)