March 24, 2009
Drought to cut China '09 wheat output
China's wheat output is seen to drop 1.5 million tonnes, an on-year decrease of 1.3 percent, to 111 million tonnes this year due to the severe drought, according to China’s National Grain and Oil Information Centre (CNGOIC) on Monday (Mar 23).
In its first forecast on grain and oil-bearing crops, the NGOC said the severe drought early this year would have a negative impact on wheat yield.
However, Chen Xiwen, director of Central Rural Work Leading Group, a government advisory body, said the drought would have no obvious impact on China's grain output as most of the winter wheat crops have been irrigated.
Meanwhile, the planting area of rapeseed will reach 7 million hectares this year, an on-year increase of 0.5 million hectares. Rapeseed output is expected to reach 13 million tonnes this year, up 1.2 million tonnes or a year-on-year increase of 10.2 percent.
The centre will conduct a new forecast on grain output in May in accordance with their growth.
