March 30, 2009

Diseases may limit China wheat, rapeseed output this year

China is experiencing greater incidence crop diseases this year, severely damaging the outlook for wheat and rapeseed production in key producing areas, the Ministry of Agriculture has said.

As of last Wednesday, 1.39 million hectares of standing wheat was hit by wheat stripe rust, a fungus that affects yield, the ministry said in a statement posted on its website. This was 52 percent more than the area affected by the fungus at the same time last year.

China's wheat acreage this year has been estimated at 24 million hectares.

While conditions in already affected wheat growing areas may worsen in the weeks ahead, the fungus is also expected to spread further to the northwestern and eastern areas of the major producing region, said the ministry.

The area hit by stem rot - a disease affecting rapeseed crops - has also increased by almost 50 percent on year to 1.43 million hectares, the ministry said. The area planted to rapeseed this year has been estimated at 7 million hectares, according to data from China National Grain and Oils Information Center.

Stem rot is also expected to spread to rapeseed crops in mid and southwest China, the statement said.

The ministry said it has been taking measures to limit the spread of these diseases with some success already seen in areas first hit by the wheat stripe rust fungus.