June 20, 2007

China seeks to boost grain output through better water usage
 

China could greatly increase its grain production capacity if the country made better use of its water resources, the Ministry of Agriculture said Wednesday (Jun 20).

One cubic metre of irrigation water can produce one kilogram of grain and one millimetre rain per 0.067 hectare produces 0.5 kilogram of grain, both figures half that of developed countries, Vice Minister Wei Chaoan said.

If China can increase its grain output by 0.1 kilogram per cubic metre of irrigating water and by 0.1 kilogram per millimetre rain per 0.067 hectare in regions with less rain, its grain output can increase by at least 50 million tonnes, Wei said in a report published on the ministry's website.

The country's grain output exceeded 490 million tonnes in 2006, and the ministry said earlier that grain output this year would likely grow for a fourth straight year.

Agriculture areas consume 64 percent of China's water resources but utilise just 45 percent of what they get, Li Yuanhua, an official from Ministry of Water Resources, said in the report.

China aims to increase this utilisation rate to about 50 percent, and increase grain output capacity by 25 million tonnes by 2010, said Li.