Farmers worrying about expensive medical treatment have received a boost with the news that the Chinese government plans to improve medical care for 900 million rural residents.
      
      The central government decided to double government allowances of 20 yuan (2.5 U.S. dollars) this year for each farmer participating in the rural cooperative medical care system, according to the government work report delivered by Premier Wen Jiabao to the fourth session of the 10th National People's Congress on Sunday.