May 24, 2007

China's largest wheat producing region begins harvest
 

China's largest wheat producing region, Henan province, started harvesting its wheat crop Wednesday, the official People's Daily reported Thursday.

Growing conditions are good for wheat this year, China's Minister of Agriculture Sun Zhengcai was quoted as saying.

However, weather conditions during the month-long harvesting season are not expected to be favourable, it said.

Wheat output in Henan province usually accounts for 27 percent of China's total wheat production.

The province planted 5.04 million hectares of wheat this year, the largest in area in almost three decades, the report said.