China completes 83 percent of its spring planting

China completed 83 percent of its spring planting as of Tuesday (May 19), said the Ministry of Agriculture Thursday.

Farmers have planted oilseeds over 4.7 million hectares and grains across 45.7 million hectares, or 82 percent and 80 percent, respectively, of the area over which they were to be sown, said the ministry in a statement published on its Web site.

Cotton has been planted over more than 4.53 million hectares, or 92 percent of the planned area, it said.

Oilseeds planting have lagged behind last year while grain has been faster, the ministry said.

Cotton sowing has been the same as a year ago, and sugar planting has ended, with an acreage of over 1.47 million hectares, it said.