CHINA RAISES GRAIN PURCHASE PRICES China has raised the state purchase prices of corn, rice, cottonseed and shelled peanuts from April 1 to encourage farmers to grow them, the official China Commercial Daily said. The paper said the price paid for corn from 14 northern provinces, cities and regions has increased by one yuan per 50 kg. A foreign agricultural expert said the rise will take the price to 17 fen per jin (0.5 kg) from 16 fen. The paper said the price for long-grained rice from 10 southern provinces and cities was raised by 1.5 yuan per 50 kg. The paper said the price for round-grained rice from 11 provinces, regions and cities in central, east and northwest China has been increased by 1.75 yuan per 50 kg. It gave no more price details. It said local authorities must inform farmers of the price increases before farmers begin planting, to encourage production of grains and oilseeds. Chinese officials have said farmers are unwilling to grow grain because they can earn more from other crops.