June 27, 2007

China's Northeast sees 8 percent increase in corn acreage

China's northeastern region saw an 8-percent increase in corn growing areas this year.

This meant that corn is planted on 8.15 million hectares of land in the region. North-east China is the country's main grain production region.

Corn acreage in Heilongjiang saw a 16-percent increase to 3.33 million hectares, whereas Jilin and Liaoning provinces saw a 3.6 percent increase and 4.6 percent increase respectively. (3.003 million hectares and 1.807 million hectares). 

Rising grain prices and favourable government policies has led to an increase in corn acreage, analysts said.