March 6, 2007

China's Henan 2007 wheat output may not exceed 2006 level
 

Wheat output in 2007 from China's largest wheat-producing province, Henan, might not exceed last year's, a senior provincial official said Tuesday.

"I'm not sure whether it can beat last year's output; the overall growing condition is good, but there are droughts in some places that might affect production," Zhang Dawei, vice governor of Henan province, said on the sidelines of the National People's Congress.

In 2006, wheat output in the province totalled 50.55 million tonnes, Zhang said, but declined to give the target for this year.

China's National Grains and Oil Information Centre said in its latest report released in early February that estimated wheat production for the whole country is likely to fall by 3.4 percent on-year to 99.5 million tonnes in 2007, pressured by unfavourable weather conditions and a decline in acreage.

The area planted to wheat is estimated to fall by 2 percent to 22.8 million hectares, CNGOIC said.