March 15, 2007

 

China's corn production to hit record again this year, weather permitting

 

 

Depending on weather conditions, China's corn output may hit another new record to 146 million tonnes this year, a 2-million tonne increase over last year's record of 144 million tonnes.

 

Fine weather conditions during the later stages of cultivation in Northeast China was the main reason for China's record corn harvest last year, China's National Grain and Oil Trade Centre said.

 

China's corn production last year hit a record 144 million tonnes, 3.3 per cent more than in 2005.

 

China cultivated 27.1 million hectares of corn last year, a 3 percent increase over 2005, the centre said.

 

This year's forecast is a 1-percent increase in cultivating area to 27.4 million hectares.

 

Higher profits from corn are prompting more Chinese farmers to devote a larger portion of land to the crop as the increased use of bio-fuels pushed up prices for corn, which is used as a raw material. 

 

Last year's wheat production increased 6.6 percent on-year to 103.8 million tonnes.

 

This year however, wheat-growing area is expected to fall 2.9 percent to 22.8 million hectares, causing a 4.3 percent drop in production, the centre predicted.

 

Drought in Northern China had prompted farmers to grow winter wheat last year, causing areas for spring wheat

to be lessened. Some farmers have switched from wheat to other crops.

 

Both rice cultivation area and output are expected to be unchanged this year.

 

Forecasts are expected to be adjusted further after April, when spring sowing begins.