China’s wheat harvest drives highest grain output in 9 yrs

China reported its highest grain output increase in nine years this summer, with a strong wheat harvest leading the way. The country harvested about 346 million mu (23 million hectares) of wheat, up by 475,000 mu from last year.

Ensuring food security is a key focus for China, with the government taking steps to increase grain production by expanding high-quality farmland and promoting advanced agricultural technologies.

The summer grain harvest for this year reached a record high of 149.78 million tons. China has maintained a grain output of over 650 million tons annually for nine consecutive years.

Han Jun, Party chief of China’s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, noted that there has been a significant focus on increasing soybean production, leading to a nearly four per cent rise in self-sufficiency.

He also mentioned the ample supply of various farm products like meat, fruit, and tea. Due to droughts and floods affecting grain-producing areas, Han emphasised the importance of quick relief efforts to minimise the impact on the autumn harvest, which contributes to three-quarters of the annual output.

To support farmers, technicians and agricultural officials have been dispatched to villages to offer tailored services, Han added.

Attribution: Xinhua