BEIJING, April 5 (Xinhua) -- China has made major progress in making its agriculture sector and rural areas greener, according to the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS).

It has registered negative growth in the use of fertilizer and pesticide, and seen high-level utilization and recycling of farm waste, the CAAS said in a report.

The utilization rate of livestock manure has reached 70 percent and that of crop straw surpassed 83 percent, while over 60 percent of used agricultural plastic film is recycled.

The report also pointed to the increase of farmland quality, higher irrigation efficiency and better garbage and sewage disposal for rural residents.